Christopher Newport University

Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science

Major with Distinction

To obtain the “Major with Distinction” designation in Biology or Environmental Science, students must graduate with an overall GPA of 3.25 or greater.  A current copy of the student’s transcripts must accompany the application to verify the GPA.

To obtain the “Major with Distinction” designation, students must actively participate in discipline-specific clubs, organizations and events.  These clubs and organizations should include active membership in at least one (BCES) departmental or (CNU) university club (e.g. Biology Club, Ecology Club, Prehealth Club) and at least one discipline-specific professional organization external to the university.  In addition, students should participate in departmental events and seminars (e.g. Graduate Student Association seminars).  Some suggested organizations (external to CNU) are listed in Table 1 (below); many others are acceptable, pending approval of the student’s faculty sponsor.

In order to document participation, the student must keep an updated log of attendance at, and participation in, all activities that will be used to fulfill the participation requirement. 

Documentation of a minimum of 30 events (15 per academic year for each of the student’s junior and senior years) will be required to receive the “Major with Distinction” designation. The log should identify the event and the date on which it occurred, a brief description or abstract of the activity, followed by the student’s (or, if available, the club/activity’s sponsor’s) signature confirming attendance.

Note:  As a special consideration for seniors applying for the “Major with Distinction” designation during the first year it is offered (2007-2008), students will need to document only 15 events, rather than 30.  This is because seniors graduating in 2007-2008 will not have been aware of the need to document their attendance at these events before fall semester, 2007.  Seniors graduating any time after May, 2008 will be required to document the full 30 events.

Table 1. Some acceptable professional organizations for membership and participation.

Note:  This is not intended to be an exhaustive list; it is for illustrative purposes only

To obtain the “Major with Distinction” designation, students must perform at least 45 documented hours of service that is related to the Biology or Environmental Science major and approved in advance by a BCES faculty member. An unlimited number of service opportunities can be found in the department (e.g. volunteering with labs, special department projects assigned by Department Chairman) and on campus (e.g. maintaining grounds, tutoring non-majors), as well as in the local, regional or global community (e.g. volunteering at the Virginia Living Museum or a local hospital, developing a program for a school group, volunteering in an environmental restoration project).  Service, in the context of the “Major with Distinction” designation, is not compensated; therefore, students are not allowed to obtain either class credit or monetary compensation for activities claimed as “service.”  However, work over and above that which is compensated may form a satisfactory Service experience (see Note below).

In order to document service activities, the student must present a letter, signed and on official letterhead, from the recipient of the service (e.g. the Virginia Living Museum, the professor whose students you tutored or whose lab you assisted, etc.) documenting the details of the service performed (e.g. details of service activities, dates and hours of service(s) performed).

Note:  If a student is enrolled in BIOL 496 (Internship) and the requirement for the course is to spend a certain number of hours in service to a specific organization, then all hours above and beyond the required number of hours can count toward “service” because the student is not being compensated for those hours.  Also, although students cannot be compensated monetarily for the work they count as service, it is perfectly acceptable if their service leads to future paid compensation with an organization.

To obtain the “Major with Distinction” designation, students must perform a minimum of 45 hours of scientific research. Research, in the context of the “Degree with Distinction” designation, can be either compensated or not; therefore, students are allowed to obtain class credit (BIOL 495) and/or monetary compensation for activities claimed as “research.” 

In order to document research activities, the student must submit a written log of hours spent in the laboratory or field and have the professor or the principal investigator of the project sign the log to verify the hours.

Numerous undergraduate research opportunities exist in the BCES department; however, it is important to point out that undergraduate research projects are not limited to those involving BCES faculty.  If the opportunity arises, students may conduct research at other universities and institutions, either during the academic year or during the summer, provided this research is adequately documented.

To obtain the “Major with Distinction” designation, students must work collaboratively with a faculty mentor to expand their effort in either service (Area 3) or research (Area 4).  They will do this in either of the following two ways:  students will present their findings (as either a poster or an oral presentation) at an appropriate scientific meeting, or they will submit a manuscript of their work to a journal.

In order to document scholarship, the student must present evidence that the work was either presented at a meeting or submitted for publication. If it was presented at a meeting, the student must include the abstract of the talk or a single sheet size (8.5” x 11”) printout of the poster along with documentation of the presentation (i.e. a copy or printout of the meeting program outlining the date and/or time of the presentation).  If it was submitted for publication, then the student should include the submitted paper in its entirety as well as documentation of its publication status (e.g. accepted for publication, in press, etc.).

Scholarship may be an extension of work performed by the student either as the Service or Research requirement; however, any project approved in advance may suffice.

Table 2. Some acceptable conferences for presentation.