Honors Program
As part of the Arts and Sciences Honors Program, the Chemistry Department’s honors program gives motivated students the opportunity to pursue independent research and develop an honors thesis under the mentorship of a faculty advisor. Each semester, a small group of students complete this capstone experience, developing advanced research and communication skills while making original contributions to their field.
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Why Pursue Honors?
- Conduct Original Research: Design and carry out a multi-semester research project with a faculty mentor.
- Write and Defend a Thesis: Develop the ability to communicate complex scientific ideas through a formal written thesis and oral defense.
- Strengthen Graduate or Professional School Applications: An honors thesis demonstrates independence, persistence, and advanced research experience.
- Work Closely with Faculty Mentors: Build relationships with faculty who guide your research and provide mentorship.
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What is an Honors Thesis?
An honors thesis is a substantial research project completed under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Students design experiments, analyze results, and present their findings in a written thesis (typically 25-40 pages) and oral defense to a panel of faculty members.
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Timeline
The majority of a student's honors thesis is completed during their junior and senior years, though freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to meet with chemistry faculty, contact current honors students, and explore potential research topics.
During a student's junior and senior years, the student should meet with their thesis advisor regularly to receive guidance and ensure their thesis work meets A&S and Chemistry honors requirements.
Honors at a Glance
24
Chemistry Honors Theses Completed Between 2017 and 2025*
70%
Of Honors Graduates Pursued Graduate or Professional School (2017-2025*)
18%
Of Chemistry Majors in the Spring 2026 Graduating Class Earned Latin Honors
Sample Grad School Destinations: University of Colorado Boulder, Harvard, MIT, Northwestern, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin - Madison
*Aggregated from theses in CU Database tagged with the Chemistry Department ().
Getting Started
- Review the College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program guidelines, which the Chemistry Honors Program closely follows.
- Learn about the program by attending honors thesis defenses or speaking with current honors students.
- Research and reach out to potential faculty advisors, using the resources linked in step 2 of the Honors Program Instructions.
- View the full instructions below and contact Prof. JL Jimenez with any questions.
Eligibility
- Be a declared Chemistry major in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- Have a cumulative CU GPA of 3.3 or higher.
- Students with GPAs between 3.0–3.29 may request consideration by the Chemistry Honors Committee.
- In exceptional circumstances, students with GPAs between 2.8–2.99 may also be considered.
- Have sufficient time remaining before graduation to complete an honors research project and thesis. Students are encouraged to begin honors research by junior year or earlier.
