Departmental Honors
Specific distinction in a student’s major field is recognized at graduation through the conferring of departmental honors, such as Departmental Honors in Biology.
To qualify for departmental honors, the student must have a 3.5 GPA in his or her major field and complete a significant researched thesis or creative production as evidence of advanced attainment. Students seeking this distinction must present a project prospectus at least one semester before graduation to the college dean, the division chair, and a supervisory committee composed of three faculty members. This group will establish guidelines, supervise, and evaluate the finished work when it is presented in some public manner. The deadline for project completion must be included in the prospectus. To be included in the Commencement Program the completed and signed prospectus must be in the Registrar’s Office by April 1st for the Spring Commencement Ceremony.
(NOTE - Exception for Communication Sciences and Disorders Departmental Honors: cumulative GPA of 3.4 and GPA in major of 3.75 required. See course description for CSD 397/398/497/498 for complete requirements.)
If the student’s project is to receive academic credit, he or she should enroll at registration using the prefix of the major field and an appropriate number from the series 397, 398, 497, 498. A student may enroll for a maximum of six credit hours in independent study and/or honors project per semester.