• Students who have a grade of A or S with distinction in a majority of their concentration courses are eligible to pursue Honors
• Poster presentation (generally a week or two before Spring break) on your research
• Thesis that has been approved by advisor and department
• (Chemistry Department Guidelines for Senior Theses for Chemistry Concentrators)

AB Candidates

AB candidates are also eligible for Honors if you satisfy these criteria (i.e. earning the ScB is not a requirement for Honors.)

Oral Presentations

Oral presentations (typically held during Reading Period) are required for students who want their thesis to be considered for the Clapp Prize, but others are welcome to present as well.  

• A strong grade record in concentration courses.(See Quality Grades below)
• Two semesters of Independent Study (CHEM 0970, CHEM 0980) or equivalent. Guidelines and requirements associated with Independent Study are in the Undergraduate Concentration Handbook. Please note students enrolled in BIOL1950/1960 must complete a project proposal form, please see the Biology website for more information and discuss with your concentration advisor.
• A Thesis in a form approved by the research advisor, and recommended by the research advisor. Additional information about thesis guidelines will be provided by the Concentration Advisor in the first half of the fall semester.

Students who have earned a majority of "A" grades in courses required for the concentration and who are are in good academic standing are eligible to apply for honors at the start of their penultimate (typically 7th) semester at Brown. Classes taken S/NC will count as qualifying towards that majority if they are marked "S* with distinction" indicating that had the student taken the course for a grade, the grade would have been an "A". Courses with a grade of S may be counted when a Course Performance Report indicates a grade of A. Students just shy of meeting the grade requirement for honors are encouraged to apply. Grades earned in penultimate semester concentration courses will be accounted for in the determination of quality grades made in the final semester. For students in the classes of 2022 and after: Students must have a majority of either As or S with distinction grades in concentration courses.

The BDR is Brown University's online archive of student and faculty scholarship maintained by the Brown University Library. By choosing to deposit your honors thesis in the BDR, you are making your scholarly work discoverable and accessible into the future.  Information on access and licensing are provided in the form.

Congratulations to all the Chemistry Department Undergraduates! 

View the 2024 Chemistry Department Undergraduate Ceremony here!