Scholastic and Academic Honors

University Scholastic Honors

   There are three levels of University Scholastic Honors: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude.

   University Scholastic Honors are based on the student's cumulative grade point average at the time of the first baccalaureate graduation. University Scholastic Honors are not awarded for a second baccalaureate degree.  To qualify for University Scholas­tic Honors, a student must have a cumulative grade point average equal to or greater than 3.9500 for Summa Cum Laude, 3.9000 for Magna Cum Laude, and 3.8500 for Cum Laude.

   The Office of the Registrar, as an agent of the faculty, will determine the student's qualifications for University Scholastic Honors.

Deans' Scholastic Honors

To qualify for Deans' Scholastic Honors, a student must:

1. Complete at least 12 semester hours (or at least 6 semester hours during a summer session),
2. Receive a GPA of 3.6000 for all credit course work that semester or summer session, and
3. Have no grade lower than B and no grade of IN in any course during that semester or summer session.

The Office of the Registrar will compile the list of Deans' Scholastic Honors recipients and inform both the dean and the student of the award.

Deans' Scholastic Honors will be noted on the student's grade report and transcript.

All A Scholastic Honors

To qualify for All A Scholastic Honors, a student must:

1. Be enrolled for at least 12 semester hours (or at least 6 semester hours during a summer session), and
2. Receive a grade of A in all credit course work for that semester or summer session.
3. Have no grade lower than A and no grade of IN in any course during that semester or summer session.

All A Scholastic Honors are awarded each semester or summer session. The Office of the Registrar compiles the list of All A Scholastic Honors recipients and informs both the deans and the students of the award.

All A Scholastic Honors will be noted on the student's grade report and transcript.

Departmental Academic Honors

The Departmental Academic Honors Program is designed to challenge students with superior academic abilities. The program provides an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of an academic area through independent study and close faculty-student association. Students who complete the requirements outlined below graduate with the distinction of "With Departmental Academic Honors" noted on their transcript.

Departmental Academic Honors are awarded to students who:

1. Maintain a cumulative 3.5000 GPA.
2. Complete a minimum of nine semester hours of credit designated as taken for honors in the student's major department.

Students usually complete three courses to accrue the minimum of nine semester hours credit. In no case will a student receive honors credit for completing fewer than two courses.

Departmental faculty designate upper-division and senior-graduate courses which may be taken for honors and determine the nature of the honors work to be completed by the student. Eligible courses are designated by the notation "May be taken for honors" in the course description of the University Catalog. Independent Studies and/or Readings courses are not allowed to be taken for departmental academic honors.

A student may not enroll for departmental academic honors unless the student has at least a 3.5000 cumulative GPA.

Students enrolling in courses for honors will be expected to complete all of the regularly assigned course work and additional assigned work demonstrating scholarship, research, and/or creative endeavor.

The student and the instructor will develop a statement that will define the work to be completed in the designated courses.

Students are limited to one honors course per semester or summer session.

No project/paper and/or course shall be accepted with a grade less than B. Students must earn a letter grade of "A" or "B" in a class taken for honors to receive honors credit.

Students must formally elect to take a course for honors within the first one-fourth of the length of the course.

It is recommended that a grade of incomplete be allowed for the honors project of a course for a period not to exceed one semester and only under extenuating circumstances.

Any exceptions to the above guidelines must be approved by the Honors Committee of the Pittsburg State University Faculty Senate.