Honors Degree (revised 4/08)

Students who complete coursework beyond the minimum requirements and who do research may be eligible for department honors.   Honors degrees are awarded to students who complete all major requirements for one of the chemistry major plans and who meet the following additional requirements:

• Complete two semesters of CHEM 403: Supervised Research with a grade of at least 3.3 each semester.

• Complete an additional unit of 300-level or (500-level) chemistry for a total of three 300-level chemistry courses.

• Write an acceptable thesis and meet all department deadlines for thesis submission.

• Participate in department senior research oral/poster presentations.

• Maintain a chemistry GPA of at least 3.7 (effective with the Class of 2010).

Students with a strong interest in biology or biochemistry may wish to consider working toward the A.B. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry. Requirements for a major in chemistry must be fulfilled, including Chem 345 as one of the two required 300-level courses. In addition, the student must complete two semesters of work in biology at or above the 200 level. The courses must be approved by the major adviser, must not duplicate work done elsewhere in the chemistry curriculum, and should broaden the student’s experience in basic biology. Thus, courses for generalists (e.g., Biology and Public Policy) or those which focus biochemistry (e.g., Neurochemistry) do not count toward the concentration. Note that introductory biology at Haverford is a two course sequence at the 200-level. Students who elect to take Haverford 200-level biology may count only one of these two courses toward the requirements for the biochemistry concentration. Details about requirements for the Biochemistry Concentration and other concentrations/minors are here.

Whom should I speak with if I’m thinking of majoring in chemistry Any chemistry faculty member can answer your basic questions, but Krynn Lukacs (Room 184 PSB, klukacs@brynmawr.edu, 610-526-5109) is the major adviser. If you are thinking about being a major, let Dr. Lukacs know right away so that she can discuss your program of study with you and help you avoid the difficulties in meeting major requirements which can result from poor planning. Be sure to ask Dr. Lukacs to add your name to her majors email list. That way, you’ll get information about course offerings in the department, special events, summer internships, etc. While Dr. Lukacs can provide some advice about applying to medical school, premedical chemistry majors should also consult with the health professions adviser.

What do chemistry majors do when they leave BMC? Our majors take several career paths. About 70% go directly to some professional program and the remaining 30% find jobs in fields as diverse as business consulting and medical research. Of graduates choosing professional study, about half enter graduate programs in chemistry or biochemistry, about half enter medical schools, and a few (but growing number) enter materials science and public health programs. Our majors who choose graduate study in chemistry are accepted into some of the finest programs in the country: Harvard, MIT, Yale, Cal Tech, UNC-Chapel Hill, UT-Austin, Stanford, etc.

Can I major in engineering at BMC? Yes and no! There is no BMC engineering degree offered, but you can participate in the 3/2 program offered in conjunction with the California Institute of Technology. In this program, students complete three years at BMC and then two at Cal. Tech., receiving both an A.B. in chemistry from BMC and a B.S. in chemical engineering (or some other engineering field) from Cal. Tech. There are other routes to engineering which the major adviser will be happy to discuss with you.

Can I major in biochemistry at BMC? The department does not offer a degree in biochemistry. However, you may work toward the A.B. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry (see above), do your 300-level work entirely in biochemistry, and even do research in biochemistry while at Bryn Mawr. A degree in chemistry with advanced work in biochemistry provides a solid foundation for graduate work in biochemistry.

Can I do JYA and still be a chem major? Although the department prefers to have its majors do all their degree work at BMC, you can complete the major and do JYA. This requires careful planning to ensure you can meet all graduation requirements, so you should consult the major adviser as early as possible (no later than fall of the sophomore year). The principal difficulty with JYA for chemistry majors is that chemistry curricula are not uniform from department to department. Thus, students who choose JYA may be sacrificing a coherent major program, no matter how excellent the JYA institution might be. Another concern is that students who are away during the junior year often do not make strong connections with the department and, as a result, research opportunities may suffer.

Can I do laboratory research as an undergraduate? Absolutely! Research is not required for the major (except for honors degrees), but the department strongly encourages students to consider participating in a faculty-supervised research project. Any student planning graduate work in chemistry should become involved in research while an undergraduate. Senior research students typically enroll in Chem 403: Supervised Research for which they receive one unit of credit each semester.

When and how do chem majors start research? Most students interested in research begin working in the summer between the junior and senior year. Some students start earlier than this, particularly if they have completed advanced laboratory courses ahead of the usual schedule. If you are interested in research, you are welcome to contact any faculty member directly (set up an appointment by email) to discuss the possibilities. The major adviser can also assist you in making your choice. Students who wish to do summer or senior year research should speak with potential faculty sponsors early in the spring semester of the junior year. A limited number of stipends for summer research at BMC are available, and it is important for faculty to know of your interest well before awards are made in March.

Are there any employment opportunities in the department? Undergraduate teaching assistants are often needed in the 100- and 200-level courses. Course instructors usually contact students directly about these positions, but you can also let Dr. Lukacs know of your interest in working as a TA and she will relay the information to the appropriate instructor. There are preparation assistants for the general and organic chemistry laboratory courses. Contact Dr. Lukacs and Dr. Nerz-Stormes, respectively, if you are interested in one of these jobs. Lecturers of large courses sometimes hire juniors and seniors to assist with problem and small group sessions. Summer research students receive a stipend for their work. Many of our majors are involved in tutoring students in general and organic chemistry.

Can I do a double major or complete a minor in another field? Yes, it’s possible but you should realize that there are serious drawbacks in doing so. Double majors must meet all of the requirements for both majors, and finding the time to do so can be difficult or impossible. Even if you can work out a plan for completion of two majors, you will almost certainly sacrifice the depth that students who focus on a single major are able to develop. Graduate schools in chemistry will be more impressed with candidates who have completed advanced work in several areas of chemistry than with someone who has completed only the minimum requirements for two majors. If you are contemplating an additional major or a minor, be sure to speak with the major adviser in both departments as early as possible.

How and when should I sign up as a major? The official sign up for majors coincides with spring preregistration in early to mid-April. All sophomores will receive notices from the Dean’s Office in March detailing the general procedures to follow. Once you receive the notice, make an appointment with Dr. Lukacs well before the preregistration deadline to fill out major work plan forms. You should also plan to attend the department’s major tea held in late March.