Honors in Chemistry

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Available through the Department of Chemistry , College of Arts and Sciences , the Honors in Chemistry program is a mark of distinction for undergraduates interested in pursuing a graduate training and research career in chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, biomedical, or related fields. The goal of the program is to prepare undergraduates for independent specialized research and to provide additional mentorship on professional practices and ethics that will allow the student to become creative, productive, collaborative colleagues in the future.

Admission to the Program

Students should apply for the Honors in Chemistry program in the spring of their sophomore year. Students may apply in their junior year, but it is their responsibility to ensure that all requirements will be met by the end of the senior year.

At the time of the application, students must have a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA; have completed or be enrolled in six of the following with a minimum 3.50 GPA: CHEM-110 General Chemistry I FA5 (4) , CHEM-210 General Chemistry II FA5 (4) , CHEM-310 Organic Chemistry I (3) , CHEM-320 Organic Chemistry II (3) , MATH-221 Calculus I (4) , MATH-222 Calculus II (4) , and MATH-313 Calculus III (4) or STAT-203 Basic Statistics with Calculus (4) ; and submit a written application that includes an application form, an essay describing the student’s academic and professional goals, and a CV or résumé. Application materials require the sponsorship of one Chemistry faculty member.

Program Requirements

9-12 credit hours of Honors in Chemistry coursework
4 semesters of professional chemical experience outside of the major credit hour requirements:
- 2 semesters comprise the Capstone project
- 2 semesters may be satisfied by but are not limited to:
  - independent reading or research project
  - summer research project
  - REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) or similar program
  - internship at a national lab
  - internship at a corporation
Minimum 3.67 major GPA in Biochemistry (BS) or Chemistry (BS)

Course Requirements

Required (6 credit hours)

6 credit hours in chemistry, biochemistry, or related fields at or above 300-level, beyond the major requirements

Capstone (3-6 credit hours)

Note: Students are encouraged to enroll in CHEM-498 Honors: Senior Year (1-3) and CHEM-499 Honors: Senior Year (1-3) to meet this requirement.

3-6 credit hours of the Capstone project during two semesters, outside of the standard curriculum