Departmental Honors

Administered by the Honors College, the Departmental Honors Program allows exceptional students to receive special recognition for their academic achievements. Departmental Honors is bestowed upon students who have maintained high academic standards in their course work, completed an acceptable two-semester, four-hour thesis, and passed an oral examination. Graduation with Departmental Honors is recorded on the academic record and on the diploma. The departmental thesis allows each honors candidate to deepen knowledge and increase skills in a particular discipline. Typical theses include original research or literary analysis, scientific experimentation, or artistic expression. Admission to Departmental Honors requires an institutional cumulative grade point average of 3.2 and a grade point average of 3.5 in the major. Any student with an institutional cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and a grade point average of 3.75 in the major may become a candidate for highest departmental honors. The requisite GPA is required at the time of graduation for a student to be awarded Departmental Honors.

Application for Departmental Honors is usually made during the third semester before graduation. Forms and a full accounting of procedures and policies can be found in the current Departmental Honors Manual, obtainable online.