Environmental and Plant Biology

The HTC program in environmental and plant biology offers exceptional students the opportunity to study the many aspects of plant biology, including functional genomics, physiology, ecology, plant identification and classification, and plant evolution in one-on-one relationships with 13 faculty members. Maximum opportunities will be afforded for the student to progress well beyond the material found in conventional courses. The primary purpose of the tutorial program is to serve as preparation for graduate study. Students will receive a degree of Bachelor of Science from the Honors Tutorial College.

Tutorials

Students are required to complete eight tutorials, including two devoted to the thesis for three credit hours each. In maintaining an open format to permit students to develop tutorial-based degree programs to challenge and to inspire their creativity and learning, only key departmental and extradepartmental courses in chemistry and mathematics are required for providing foundational knowledge. The rest of the program involves student-driven tutorials with faculty.

In addition to the tutorials, the student must complete one Written Communication course (ENG 1510) and one Advanced Writing course (FAW); the core plant biology courses; courses in professional development; independent research; extradepartmental courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics; and an appropriate number of approved electives. Internships and/or study abroad may be included within the program with special permission from the director of studies (credit will only be given once). Honors Tutorial students take a minimum of 15 hours per semester.

Advising and Monitoring

Each student receives initial advice from the director of studies regarding selection and sequencing of courses, choice of a thesis advisor, and other procedural matters. A committee of the director of studies and the advisor will help guide the thesis proposal and monitor the thesis work. A typical tutorial will meet on a weekly basis for a minimum of one hour. The student and the tutor can discuss the current reading and written assignments, discuss problems and solutions, debate and offer critical analysis and/or conduct an experiment. The tutor continuously evaluates the progress of the student and a final grade is made based on many facets of evaluation available to the tutor; written assignments, exams, discussions, presentations by the student, field work, etc.

The Honors Thesis

The honors thesis is a reflection of the student's special interests. Its acceptance, dependent upon an appropriate mixture of research and analysis, relies upon the judgement of their committee and the director of studies. In the case of a duel major with a single thesis, the committee will be the director of studies from each major and the thesis advisor. It is expected that this major paper will constitute work of the highest quality in investigating a problem of concern to both scholars and practitioners. Although an intensive study of relevant theoretical and research literatures is the underpinning of the thesis, students are encouraged to augment this scholarly base with field data whenever possible.

Evaluation

Students throughout the program earn letter grades consistent with the University grading system and are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students who earn less than a B (3.0), or who maintain less than 3.5 GPA will need to confer with the director of studies and/or the Dean of the College. In addition to letter grade assessments, tutors complete course descriptions and evaluations of each student's work each semester. In these assessments both the student's academic standing and academic aptitude are evaluated.

• Top 13-45% of their graduating high school classes
• Average composite ACT score of 21-26
• Average combined SAT score of 1050-1230 (math and evidence-based reading and writing)
• Average high school grade point average of 3.58 (on a 4.0 scale)

• Provide a recent TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score. See minimum requirements below. IELTS reports should be sent directly from the testing agency. TOEFL results should be sent electronically directly from the testing agency (school code 1593). Duolingo English Test results can be shared online with Ohio University once your test has been certified.

  English Proficiency Minimum Score Requirements
  TOEFL Paper: 520 (composition score of 5)
  TOEFL Internet (IBT): 68 (writing subscore of 17)
  IELTS: 6.0 (no sub-score below 5.5)
  Duolingo English Test: 95

• Complete at least three years in a high school in an English-speaking system, including three years of high school English (not ESL) courses with a grade of B or better.

• Submit an ACT composite score of 21 with 21 ACT English and 21 ACT Reading subscores.

• Submit a 1060 SAT Total with 540 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing subscore.

• Have completed the equivalent of Ohio University's English 1510: Writing and Rhetoric I (Freshman Composition) with a grade of C or better. Course equivalency will be determined during the application process.

Most students graduating from the program go to top-quality graduate schools across the country or abroad, leading to M.S. and PH.D. degrees. A few pursue employment directly in private industry or governmental agencies dealing with agriculture/horticulture/floriculture, biotechnology or pharmaceutical firms, conservation agencies and museums of natural history, environmental consulting firms, food companies, plant nurseries, greenhouses, botanical gardens and arboreta.

• Application form
• USD $70 international application processing fee
• Academic records from every secondary/post-secondary institution you have attended, with a certified or attested translation if the original document is not in English. Unofficial academic records may be submitted via email to [email protected] to receive an admissions decision. Official academic records must be provided upon arrival to campus, before the first day of classes, or sent by mail in envelopes sealed and stamped by one of the following:
  • Your school or university
  • Ministry of Education of your home country
  • EducationUSA or related binational organization
    
    Please note: We cannot accept scanned or faxed copies as official results. ​​​​​​​​Official academic records must be submitted by mail, as previously noted, to:
    
    Undergraduate Admissions
    Chubb Hall 120
    1 Ohio University
    Athens OH 45701 - USA
• Official proof of English proficiency, if available. TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exams should be taken within the last 12 months.
• Proof of citizenship: a copy of your passport information page.
• Evidence of sufficient funding to support your educational and living expenses for a 9-month period. Learn more about the necessary amount on our Costs & Aid page. Your financial documentation must include:
  • A letter from your sponsor confirming the amount of funding that will be provided and stating your relationship to the sponsor (a PDF sample sponsor form is available but not required) and a letter or statement from your sponsor's bank confirming that the funding is available in an accessible account. The name on the bank document must match the sponsor letter and must be written in English.
  • If you will receive a government or other external scholarship, please provide proof of nomination of the award with your application packet.
• Optional materials can be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions via postal mail or by emailing [email protected]. Optional materials may include:
  • Standardized test scores, if applicable. Ohio University has adopted a test-optional pathway for freshman applicants to the Athens campus. If you choose to submit standardized test scores, they must be submitted directly from the testing agency: SAT (school code 1593) or ACT (school code 3314). Ohio University considers the Evidenced-based Reading and Writing scores from the SAT.
  • Essays
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Lists of extra-curricular interests and activities