Biology majors must complete the capstone requirement in their senior year. Seniors choose one of the following two options:

1. One semester of Senior Seminar in Biology (BIOL BC3590)

In Senior Seminar, enrolled students participate in a seminar class focused on primary literature and present a senior thesis in the format of a literature review. Topics vary by semester and instructor.

• Requires department permission to enroll
• 1 semester, 4 points
• Offered fall or spring
• Seminar course only (no lab research component)
• CAN be taken at the same time as BIOL BC3591/3592 Guided Research & Seminar, which counts as two upper level labs

-OR-

2. One year (two semesters) of Senior Thesis Research and Seminar (BIOL BC3593 & BIOL BC3594)

In Senior Thesis Research and Seminar, students complete an original research project in a lab, and compose and give a presentation on a senior thesis in the format of a primary research paper. Students may NOT be enrolled in both Senior Thesis Research and Seminar and Guided Research and Seminar at the same time.

• Requires department permission to enroll
• 2 semesters, 8 points
• Yearlong course that begins in the fall
• Seminar course AND 9-10 weekly hours of lab research
• Requires an independent research project with a local research mentor. Students must request an internal mentor if their PI is not a Barnard faculty member
• CANNOT be taken at the same time as BIOL BC3591/3592 Guided Research & Seminar