Should a research experience be an integral component of an undergraduate chemistry curriculum was a question first debated in the chemical literature in the 1920-30s. The debate continued during the ensuing decades, but by the mid-19<sup>th</sup> century the arguments favoring adding research experiences became more compelling. In recent years the traditional curriculum has been reformed by many chemistry departments to include more research-intensive experiences in traditional laboratories and/or, more frequently, mentor-guided research experiences designed to produce peer-reviewed publications. The evolution of chemistry curricula to incorporate more undergraduate research will be discussed and examples will be provided for some of these changes. External “drivers” that both called for and supported these reforms will also be examined.

Incorporating undergraduate research into the chemistry curriculum: A historical perspective

251st National Meeting (2016)

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