The Honors-in-Chemistry Program
Department of Chemistry
East Tennessee State University
The Honors-in-Chemistry program is designed to provide an enhanced program of study for chemistry majors who seek a challenging and stimulating college experience. Students enrolled in any of the major concentrations in chemistry, and who are eligible, may participate in the Honors-in-Chemistry program. Honors-in-Chemistry students must complete all department degree requirements including a total of 12 hours of honors courses within the department plus a Senior Thesis research project in chemistry.
Chemistry is an experimental science. We believe the laboratory component to be the underpinning which illustrates chemical principles and generates enthusiasm among students. With this philosophy, the Honors-in-Chemistry program seeks to:
1. Enrich the student's experience in chemistry by providing challenging opportunities for study in and beyond the classroom.
2. Provide an environment that encourages individual investigation of chemical principles and phenomena in the laboratory.
3. Develop mentoring relationships with faculty and peers through small group interactions in classes, seminars, and investigative projects.
4. Involve students in independent research in close cooperation with a mentoring faculty so they may experience the excitement and satisfaction of scientific discovery.
Admission, Retention and Graduation Criteria.
Entering Freshmen must have a High School GPA of 3.2 or an ACT composite score of 25 (SAT 1180).
ETSU students entering after their Freshman year must have an overall GPA of 3.2 with a GPA of 3.5 in their major field.
Transfer students must have an overall GPA of 3.2 with a GPA of 3.5 in chemistry. Transfer students should transfer no later than their Sophomore year.
To remain in the Honors-in-Chemistry program, a student must remain registered for a minimum of 12 hours per semester and maintain an average GPA of 3.0 for the first 30 hours, 3.1 for 30-45 hours, and 3.2 after 45 hours. A total of 12 hours in Honors courses in chemistry plus the Senior Honors Thesis in addition to the major program requirements are required for graduation.
To apply for the program, click the Application Form.
Program of Study
Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of honors courses in chemistry and complete an original Senior Honor Thesis project in conjunction with a member of the chemistry faculty. Courses may be chosen from the following selection, however, at least two credit hours must be chosen from upper division courses. We envision incoming Freshman Students will take the General Chemistry sequence and complete their requirements from the selection of higher level courses. Students entering the program in the second year after General Chemistry should take the Honors Organic Chemistry Laboratory and the Honors Enriched courses. We recommend that as many of these courses as possible be taken by the end of the junior year in order that the senior year may be reserved for the Senior Thesis requirement.
a) Honors General Chemistry
CHEM 1110 plus CHEM 1111-088 (4 hours)
CHEM 1120 plus CHEM 1121-088 (4 hours)
Students may enroll in any of the General Chemistry lecture sections plus the honors laboratory section for each semester. These Honors Sections of General Chemistry laboratory will offer students the opportunity to study chemical phenomena in an independent, investigative manner. The prerequisite for this laboratory sequence is AP chemistry or equivalent background in high school. The keeping of a laboratory notebook in correct scientific manner as well as several formally written laboratory reports will be required.
b) Honors Organic Chemistry Laboratory, CHEM 2521-088 (2 hours).
This course will consist of experiments which are geared to achieve the expectations of the organic laboratory course but also provide the student with the opportunity to explore organic chemistry in greater depth and in a broader scope. The selected experiments will have relevance to everyday life and provide an exciting learning experience. In carrying out these experiments, students will work closely with the supervising faculty. Some of the experiments will involve small research projects and "hands on" experience with a number of instrumental techniques. Formal laboratory reports will enhance the writing skills of the students. We recommend this laboratory course be taken with CHEM 2020
c) Honors enriched courses will include:
Honors Quantitative Analysis Laboratory, CHEM 2221-088 (2 hr).
Honors Introductory Integrated Laboratory, CHEM 3611-088 (2 hr).
Honors Advanced Integrated Laboratory; Dynamics, CHEM 4611-088 (2 hr)
Honors Advanced Integrated Laboratory, Structure, CHEM 4621-088 (2 hr)
Honors Advanced Integrated Laboratory, Analytical Techniques, CHEM 4631-088 (2 hr)
d) Senior Honors Thesis.
All Honors-in-Chemistry students will be expected to complete a Senior Thesis as a capstone course. This will involve original research completed in conjunction with a faculty member in the department. The project should be chosen near the end of the junior year and a literature search and written proposal of the project should be completed by the beginning of the student's final year. The student will give an oral presentation as a departmental seminar and is encouraged to give this in a professional setting at the completion of the project. A formal thesis will be submitted and publicly defended at the project's conclusion. In addition to the faculty adviser, two faculty members, one from outside the department, will serve as a committee to review the thesis and will be invited to attend the oral presentation and defense.
Enrichment Activities
The Chemistry Department strives to foster a close relationship with its students. In this manner students can gain insight into professional activities in chemistry outside the classroom. A variety of opportunities are available; membership in the Student Affiliate Section of the American Chemical Society, attending professional lectures, presenting chemical demonstrations at the Hands On! Museum in Johnson City, and attending professional meetings.
For additional information or application forms contact:
Department of Chemistry
P. O. Box 70695
East Tennessee State university
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423) 439-6910
