Students must apply to the honors program using the Application for Independent Study form on the Chemistry Department website. While there is no specific deadline, we recommend requesting participation in the honors program no later than the fall term of your senior year.

Once a student applies to the honors program, they will receive an email stating whether they have been approved or denied for the program, along with an explanation for why they have been denied, if applicable. 

During the winter term of your senior year, the chemistry department will confirm which students are participating in the honors program. At that time, the department will request a tentative title for your thesis and will begin working to identify two faculty members who, along with your research advisor, can serve on the thesis committee. 

At the end of the winter term of your senior year, you will receive an email with a list of three faculty members who will serve as your examination committee. You will need to work with your research advisor to identify a time and place for your thesis defense. A room for your thesis defense can be reserved by contacting the chemistry department office staff. We recommend scheduling your thesis defense within a week or two of your oral presentation. Your thesis defense must be completed by the last day of final examinations for the spring term. 

During the spring term of your senior year, you will write a thesis detailing your research. Your thesis is due to your thesis committee at least two weeks before your oral defense. A typical thesis is double spaced and between 50 and 150 pages, including all figures and references. Sample theses are available for students to check out from the chemistry office in Burke. We recommend including the following sections in your thesis: 

Title page with a location for the signatures of the examining committee. 

List of abbreviations, figures, and contents

Abstract

Introduction 

Results

Discussion 

Materials and Methods or Experimental Procedures

References

The introduction, results, and discussion sections are frequently included as individual chapters. However, depending on your research field, it may be appropriate to combine some sections, such as the results and discussion, into a single chapter. In addition, you may have more than one results chapter. You may also include the materials and methods or experimental procedures section within your results chapter or as a separate chapter. We recommend that all students consult their research advisor to determine the most appropriate format for their thesis.

The department will invite you to give a 15-20 minute presentation on your thesis research. Anyone is welcome to attend these presentations. Students may invite family, friends, colleagues, teammates, etc. to attend these presentations. The department will schedule your presentation, which typically occurs in the last two weeks of May during the departmental colloquium time slots. While not required, we encourage participation, and students typically enjoy sharing their results as a celebration of their research accomplishments.

After you complete your thesis defense, your committee will provide feedback and assign a grade for each term of CHEM80 or CHEM87.0x that you have completed, converting any ongoing (ON) grades to letter grades. Your committee may also ask you to make corrections to your thesis. Subsequently, the full chemistry faculty will vote to award honors or high honors for each honors thesis.