Degree Requirements
Chemistry Honors Program
Qualified students may be admitted to the Departmental Honors Program during their second or third year. The program involves work beyond the minimum course requirement for the B.S. degree with emphasis on independent studies.
The Honors Program in Chemistry at Wright State University is designed to provide recognition to the intellectually gifted student who pursues a program of advanced study and independent work. Original work is encouraged and expected. The honors student will be expected to interact closely with faculty and graduate students. The student’s scholarly achievements will help to create a dynamic intellectual atmosphere to be shared especially with undergraduate colleagues. The Chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee will provide advice and explain procedures.
Who qualifies?
Any Chemistry major with:
1) Junior standing.
2) A 3.25 overall grade point average (GPA) and a 3.6 GPA or better in the four most recent chemistry lecture courses as determined by the original transcript. For transfer students, two WSU chemistry lecture courses must be completed and will be used in conjunction with the most recently completed transfer course for GPA calculation.
When, where, how to apply?
Applicants must:
1) Apply for admission by the end of the sophomore year but no later than the end of the junior year.
2) Provide the following information: a letter of intent (one page), a project description with a time line, and a support letter from the Honors faculty advisor(s).
3) Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University.
The Undergraduate Studies Committee will review this information and the student's transcript. Approval of the request by a simple majority of the Undergraduate Studies Committee admits the student to the program. Advice of the full Chemistry Faculty will be sought as needed.
The Program
Honors students must:
1) Maintain GPA requirementsl as stated above.
2) Maintain good academic and disciplinary standing with the university.
3) Pass with a minimum of a B grade two 4000 level elective lecture chemistry courses.
4) Complete at least 9 credit hours of "A" research work, of which at least 6 credit hours will be CHM 4990. An additional 2 credit hours of "A" research work may be completed as collaborative research as specified in the letter of intent (e.g., BIO 4950, PHY 4990).
5) Present the research results
- at a local or national ACS meeting or other specialized conference (as determined by the Undergraduate Studies Committee) in the form of a poster or oral presentation OR as an accepted manuscript.
AND
- as an oral presentation as part of the CHM 8000 seminar series.
lStudents whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.25 or chemistry GPA below 3.6 (in the three most recent chemistry lecture courses) will be continued in the program on probation for no more than 1 semester. If, after 1 semester the GPA's are not at the 3.25 and 3.6 levels, respectively, the student will be dropped from the program.
