Honors Program

On this page:

• About
• Eligibility
• Application
• Requirements

About the Departmental Honors Program

If you are a qualified student, you may be admitted to the Departmental Honors Program during your second or third year. The program involves work beyond the minimum course requirement for the B.S. degree with an 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. You will be expected to interact closely with faculty and graduate students. Your 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.

Eligibility

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 Wright State chemistry lecture courses must be completed and will be used in conjunction with the most recently completed transfer course for GPA calculation.

Application

You must:

1. Apply for admission by the end of your sophomore year but no later than the end of your junior year.
2. Provide the following information: a letter of intent (one page), a project description with a timeline, 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 your transcript. Approval of the request by a simple majority of the Undergraduate Studies Committee admits you to the program. Advice of the full chemistry faculty will be sought as needed.

Requirements

Honors students must:

1. Maintain GPA requirements* 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.
6. Present the research results as an oral presentation as part of the CHM 8000 seminar series.

*If your cumulative GPA falls below 3.25 or chemistry GPA below 3.6 (in the three most recent chemistry lecture courses) you will be continued in the program on probation for no more than one semester. If, after one semester the GPAs are not at the 3.25 and 3.6 levels, respectively, you will be dropped from the program.

Contact Rachel Aga at rachel.aga@wright.edu for more information.