Current Students

If you have decided to major in Biochemistry or Chemistry, then declaring your major as soon as you know is good.  Declared majors receive regular updates via email about internships, summer research opportunities, and job openings.

The first step in declaring your major is to select a new advisor.  Biochemistry and Chemistry majors select their own advisor.  Any faculty member in the Chemistry Department would be happy to serve as your advisor.  Some students prefer a current or former teacher as their advisor, while other students prefer an advisor who has not taught them in class; the decision is up to you.  All you have to do is ask the professor whether they will serve as your advisor.

Once your new advisor has said yes, then the two of you should sit down together and fill out the Declaration of Major Form.  This form can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office in Trinity Commons, or from the Chemistry Department Office in Clement 208.

Once the Declaration of Major Form is completed, it requires the signature of both the student and the Department Chair.  When the Department Chair has signed, all you have to do is bring the completed top copy to the Registrar’s Office in Trinity Commons, and you will be an official Biochemistry or Chemistry major!

Students intending to pursue a senior thesis project should first find a faculty advisor to oversee their project.  Ideally, students should have found a thesis advisor by the end of their junior year, or during the summer between their junior and senior year.  The student should work with the thesis advisor to draft the thesis proposal.

The thesis proposal constitutes the application for the senior thesis. This proposal must be submitted electronically to the department chair no later than the first Monday of the Fall semester. Download the cover page and instructions for the thesis proposal.

Students should assume that their application will be accepted, so they should register for Chem-498 (Senior Thesis Part 1) for the Fall semester of their senior year.  Students must complete the special registration form for a senior thesis and submit it in person to the Registrar’s office before the end of the Fall semester Add/Drop period.  Copies of this form are available in the Chemistry Department office (Clement 208).  The signature of the thesis advisor is required on this form.

Upon receipt of the thesis applications, the faculty of the Chemistry Department will read the documents and vote on whether to accept or reject the application.  If the application is accepted, the department chair will appoint a three person thesis committee, consisting of the thesis advisor and two other faculty members.  The chair will notify the applicants whether their thesis applications have been accepted or rejected.

At the time of acceptance, each thesis student will be notified of the due dates for when specific parts of the thesis are due to the members of their thesis committee. In the Spring semester thesis students will present their work publicly during the Friday afternoon seminar, usually at the end of April.

Each student will be provided with a bound copy of their thesis. Normally, the bound thesis will be mailed to the student during the Fall semester following their graduation.