The Bioenvironmental Sciences (BESC) Undergraduate Honors Program at Texas A&M University offers an opportunity for highly motivated, curious, and scholarly students to participate in challenging classroom and laboratory experiences. The BESC Honors curriculum is progressive, multi-disciplinary, flexible, and relevant for students interested in complex environmental issues.
Departmental Requirements to Graduate with BESC Honors
To achieve BESC Honors, a student must complete 18 hours of Honors coursework:
- Twelve (12) hours of honors-level BESC coursework.
- At least six (6) hours of BESC courses must be at the 300/400 level.
- Upper level may include 6 hours of Independent Study/Directed Research.
- Six (6) additional hours of honors-level coursework.
To be certified for Honors Distinction in Bioenvironmental Sciences no grade of D* or F* in any course on the transcript and no grade on the transcript of ‘D’ or ‘F’ in an honors class can be recorded. (An asterisk [*] on the transcript of a graduating student indicates that the student was given a grade penalty for academic dishonesty and the student did not complete the remediation program that is required in order to have the asterisk removed from such a student’s transcript.)
Honors Recognition and Graduation with Honors
All completed Honors coursework taken at Texas A&M University is designated as such on a student’s official transcript, showing that the student has taken part in this enhanced curriculum. After graduation, the transcript will designate that the student has achieved the distinction of “Bioenvironmental Sciences Honors”, as well as any other University academic distinctions.
Admission to the Honors Program in Bioenvironmental Sciences
Current and potential BESC majors who have an overall GPA of ≥ 3.5 are eligible for admission to the Department Honors Program. Students are encouraged to consult with the BESC Academic Advisor as early as possible in their academic career to plan their course sequence. A cumulative 3.5 GPA and a 3.25 GPA in Honors courses is required to graduate with BESC Honors.