Undergraduate Programs

Chemistry Honors Program

This program is designed for well-qualified students who wish to acquire an unusually strong foundation in chemistry. Honors classes differ significantly in the depth and breadth of subject matter. Admission to the honors program is through superior performance on a departmental placement examination given each fall. Enrollments are limited to ensure strong faculty-student interaction. Most students completing the program enter graduate or professional school.

Participants are expected to complete the requirements for a B.S. in Chemistry or a B.S. in Biochemistry. Special courses for honors students are offered in general chemistry (S105, S106, S125, S126), and in organic chemistry (S341, S342, S343, S344). Equivalent courses in regular sections can also be taken by students in the Honors Program.

Undergraduate research, the heart of the Honors Degree Program, normally begins during a student's junior year, although it can start as early as the freshman year. Each student works closely with a faculty advisor and his or her research group and is expected to participate in all aspects of the research problem by becoming familiar with the original research literature, participating in the design and evolution of his or her project, and aiding in the interpretation of the results. Results of the research are submitted as a written Honors thesis prior to graduation.

In order to graduate with Honors in Chemistry, a student must have completed a C409 thesis, taken the B.S. Chemistry or B.S. Biochemistry program, and maintained a minimum grade-point-average of 3.3.