Information for Majors

CLICK HERE to access Chemistry Major forms and documents, including:

• Degree Tracking Sheet
• CHEM Majors After Graduation: 2019 - 2023
• Latin Honors Flowchart (through Dec 2026)
• CHEM Summer Fellowships Application and FAQ
• Information on Joining a Research Group in CHEM
• Professional Development Fund Application
• Internship, Fellowship, and Job opportunities

The department supports students who are interested in K-12 education after graduating from Cornell. Chemistry majors can choose from a number of elective courses that count toward completion of the chemistry degree and the Education minor at Cornell. In addition, Cornell Chemistry partners with the ACS-Hach Land Grant Scholarship to provide financial assistance for up to two students each year who show interest in teaching high school chemistry after graduation. Students can contact chemundergrad@cornell.edu to learn more.

Students graduating before December 2026

The department will continue to awards Latin honors* (cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude) to students who have distinguished themselves in research and/or coursework during their academic career at Cornell University.

The department will assign the cum laude designation to a student who completes the honors curriculum while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better. Students who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.1 or better, and complete four or more credits of chemistry-related research (or the equivalent in paid, non-credited research), can enroll in the CHEM 4980 Honors Seminar with a nomination from their research advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students in the Honors Seminar produce a research thesis for evaluation by the course instructor. At the end of the seminar, the instructor evaluates a number of additional factors (e.g. overall coursework, department leadership and service, and research scholarship evident in seminar participation and the written thesis) before assigning honors to each student. Only students who complete the Honors Seminar are eligible for magna cum laude or summa cum laude.

*Students graduating before December 2026 may request a "Latin Honors Flowchart" by emailing chemundergrad@cornell.edu.

Students graduating December 2026 and beyond

The department can no longer award a Latin honors distinction for honors in chemistry, either through research or the curriculum. The department will begin using "Honors in Chemistry" as the new departmental honors designation for students who complete the Chemistry honors curriculum with a Chemistry GPA* ≥ 3.3 at the time of degree conferral, and who submit a research proposal or thesis in the CHEM 4980 Honors Capstone course.

*The Chemistry GPA is different from the cumulative GPA. The chemistry GPA factors in all Chemistry (CHEM) courses at the 2000 level or above that are taken for a letter grade at Cornell University. The Chemistry GPA will not include grades from other degree requirements (e.g. math and physics), non-chemistry electives, AP credit, or approved transfer credit from other institutions.

Thus, the three criteria used for determining honors in chemistry will be:

• Successful completion of the honors curriculum
• Successful completion of the Honors Capstone course (CHEM 4980) with submission of a research proposal or research thesis
• A Chemistry GPA ≥ 3.3 at the time of degree conferral

The department encourages students to pursue research opportunities while attending Cornell University. More than half of all Chemistry majors engage in research at some point during their undergraduate career, with many beginning in their sophomore or junior year and continuing their research through summer fellowships and outside laboratory positions. Approximately half of every graduating class, or about twenty students, enroll in the CHEM 4980 Honors Seminar and submit a written thesis prior to graduation. Areas of focus outside of Chemistry may include Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Biology, Food Science, and at the Veterinary School. The department offers a variety of workshops and seminars each year that explore best practices for joining a research group, and co-sponsors the CHEM research symposium with Alpha Chi Sigma, the co-ed chemistry fraternity at Cornell.

The availability of research opportunities can change with each new semester. Students should carefully consider their availability before pursuing a research position in the department. Performing advanced research under the guidance of a faculty member and/or graduate student may require an average commitment of eight to twelve hours each week. Students interested in conducting research in C&CB should contact chemundergrad@cornell.edu before seeking a research advisor in the department.

Undergraduate research can be conducted for academic credit or pay (as arranged by the research advisor and department). Credit can be earned through any of the following research listings:

• CHEM 4210 - Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry Research
• CHEM 4330 - Introduction to Analytical Chemistry Research
• CHEM 4430 - Introduction to Chemical Biology Research
• CHEM 4610 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry Research
• CHEM 4770 - Introduction to Physical Chemistry Research

Once an arrangement has been made between a student and a research advisor, the student must complete the independent study form provided by their respective college. For Arts & Sciences students, please complete the College of Arts & Sciences Independent Study Form.