Undergraduate research provides an experience in which students can gain and exercise critical thinking and problem solving skills.  An effective research experience also provides students with the opportunity to integrate chemistry concepts learned in classes into the broader context of a research question.  Finally, it provides students with the opportunity to investigate previously unanswered questions or to synthesize and study new molecules.  In recognition of the important role research plays in the education of professional chemists, the guidelines for bachelor’s degree programs allow research to count for up to 180 of the 400 laboratory hours or for as much as four semester credit hours toward the four in-depth courses required for certification.  In this talk, the role of research in the undergraduate curriculum and the expectations of the experience for certified chemistry majors will be explored.  Some new resources that will help departments with safety considerations specific to student work in a research laboratory undertaking independent projects will be described.<br/>

Role of undergraduate research in the certified chemistry major

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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