Graduation with Distinction

Graduation with Distinction

Majors may be considered for Graduation with Distinction honors provided they have all of the following: 

 At least a B average in chemistry major courses is required at the time of application and at graduation. 

  1. Satisfactory completion of at least two semesters of independent study in chemistry or in an approved chemistry-related area.   
  2. Enrollment and participation in CHEM 295, Introduction to Research Independent Study, preferably concurrently with their enrollment in their first independent study course. 
  3. Enrollment and participation in CHEM 496, Graduation with Distinction in Chemistry, in the spring semester of the senior year.  No formal declaration of candidacy is required.  A major automatically becomes a candidate for GwD by enrolling in CHEM 496. 
  4. Submission of a high-quality research thesis based upon the results of independent study. 
  5. Formal nomination for GwD by the research advisor based on the completed research thesis. 
  6. Presentation of a poster based on the results of the independent study. 
  7. Oral defense of the research thesis, completed as part of CHEM 496. Suggestions for preparing and delivering oral reports are given at http://www.chem.duke.edu/undergraduate/oral-reports 
  8. Selection for the honor by the Chemistry Department Undergraduate Awards Committee.  

 The process for awarding Graduation with Distinction is as follows: The student's work is evaluated first by the supervising professor and then, upon his/her recommendation, by a committee of Chemistry faculty. Final decisions on Graduation with Distinction rest with the departmental awards committee. In recent years approximately 40% of majors have earned Graduation with Distinction.