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BIOL 448 - Directed Studies Biology 448 is a course that allows students to carry out an individual research project under the supervision and guidance of a faculty member. Biology 448 projects may be library, field lab-based, the nature and scope of the project is to be negotiated between the student and the prospective supervisor. Students can only be registered for this course through the Biology Office (Room 2521). There, they can acquire the Biology 448 application form, which they can fill out with the help of their prospective supervisor. An abstract of the project should be entered on the Biology 448 form, and the supervisor should sign the form. The abstract will include a summary of the project and a statement indicating how the evaluation will be conducted. On the recommendation of the supervisor and with the concurrence of the director of the biology Program, three credits of Biology 448 may be used as a program elective in biology major programs other than general biology. Biology 448 projects are encouraged for general biology, but must be included as science electives and not as part of the 12 credits of upper level BIOL courses required for graduation. This is because of the reduced number of upper level course required for this program (15-18 credits of program electives are required in other major program options). The completed form should be returned to the Biology Program Secretary in Rm. 2521 to be signed by the Director of Biology. How much work is required? Roughly 120 hours are typical for a 3 cr. BIOL 448 project and 250 hr for a 6 cr. project. This corresponds roughly to a full day per week for one term for 3 credits or for two terms for 6 credits. Typically, 3 credit library projects require the equivalent of two major term papers. Library research projects re almost always 3 credits. Note that, depending on the project, students may have to include time to attend safety courses in addition to the above. How are the projects to be evaluated? Projects are to be evaluated by the supervisor, and require some sort of written report or paper. The exact nature of this report is to be worked out between the supervisor and the student. Often laboratory projects also require the presentation of the project at a lab meeting and / or an oral exam on the project. This is fairly common in the case of lab projects used as program electives. The written report may be in the format of a scientific paper. This is encouraged, but not absolutely necessary. The supervisor may prefer a different format, and should make it clear to the student what sort of report is expected and when it is due. BIOL 448, directed studies courses are intrinsically diverse and many require unique assessment schemes. However, an example that has worked well in the past with a variety of projects is as follows: Work and effort (25%) Initiative, independence, problem solving and understanding (25%) Written Report (50%). Factors include, Clarity of presentation of the problem, review of literature, Presentation of results, Discussion of the results and their significance. Who can supervise BIOL 448-Directed Studies? Any faculty at UBC can supervise a BIOL 448 as long as the subject material is Biology. Faculty outside Zoology and Botany cannot make the determination of whether the BIOL 448 would qualify as a program elective or a general elective (this would be done by an advisor in the area of the project). Possible places to look for supervisors… When must marks for projects be in? Project cannot be extended beyond their original credit value. Students may however submit a new project proposal. Grades must be submitted by the grade submission deadline for the term indicated on the submitted project proposal. Marks must be submitted by the supervisor to the Biology Program Secretary in the Biology Office via email or phone at the end of the course. For example, term 1 during the winter session the grades should be submitted in early January, for term 2 in the winter session the grades should be submitted by early May, and finally for the summer session grades should be submitted when the course is finished before the end of August. If extenuating circumstances prevent the supervisor from submitting grades by the submission deadlines please contact the Biology Office and reschedule a termination date for the project. If supervisors fail to respond to grades submission requests the Biology Office will be forced to submit a grade of “0” for the project. Instructors should keep in mind that median marks for Biology 448 projects are in the low to mid 80s and that marks above 90 are rare, and indicate a truly exceptional project and presentation. For any further questions please contact the Biology Program Secretary at (604) 822-4260 or tromba@zoology.ubc.ca!
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