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The chemistry honors program gives outstanding chemistry majors the chance to get even more out of their degree experience. It is designed to enhance problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills, and it is excellent preparation for graduate school or professional careers.

Students in the program will have access to a faculty mentoring program that fosters a spirit of inquiry, independence, and initiative. It also integrates prior coursework into a working knowledge of chemistry in the laboratory. You apply what you have learned to real-world science problem-solving, When you complete the Honors program and the Chemistry degree, including writing and orally defending an Honors thesis, you will graduate “With Honors in Chemistry.”

  • To be accepted into the Chemistry honors program, you must have:

    • a 3.25 GPA in required chemistry courses
    • a 3.0 GPA overall
    • completed General Chemistry I and II, and Organic Chemistry I and II
    • arranged with a faculty mentor to do a research project in chemistry
    • submitted an Honors Program application form and a one-page Honors research proposal to the Chemistry Honors Director — contact either Mr. James Grimes, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Dr. Gary Gray, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., for application
    • the approval of the Chemistry Honors Director
  • To successfully complete the program you will need to:

    • complete 6 semester hours of undergraduate research (CH 497)
    • complete CH 499: Honors Thesis, which requires a senior thesis written in ACS format for a scientific paper
    • give an oral presentation and defense of your thesis before the student’s Honors Research Committee

    Where appropriate, the Honors Committee may recommend that chemistry honors students make a formal presentation of their work at the annual meeting of the Alabama Academy of Science or a regional or national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Questions?

For more information about the Chemistry Honors Program, or how to get started in undergraduate research, contact:

Mr. James Grimes
Academic Advisor III
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or, for specific questions about the honors thesis component, contact:

Dr. Tracy Hamilton
Associate Professor
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