The Bachelor of Arts with
“Distinction in (a department or program name)” is conferred upon those
graduating seniors who fulfill criteria determined by the department or
program. In determining requirements for distinction, a department or
program considers such criteria as the following:
- Overall grade point average;
- Grade point average in courses required by the department;
- Grade on a comprehensive examination;
- Independent project(s);
- Recommendation from faculty in department or program;
- Some evidence of collegiate breadth such as:
- Grade point average in courses outside the major,
- Grade point average in the Collegiate Center,
- Course distribution,
- Recommendation from faculty member(s) outside the major,
- Papers done in departments other than the major,
- Extracurricular activities, and
- Other evidence deserving consideration.
- Departmental interview open to all faculty;
- Other appropriate criteria as the department determines.
The
department or program reviews and evaluates the achievements of senior
majors. Selection of students for graduation with Distinction is made by
the department or program after evaluation of all available
information.
Students may also earn Distinction in Odyssey by completing projects in each of the six Odyssey categories by the time of their graduation. Five of the six categories must be completed by the time of the Honors Day award identification deadline, though Odyssey-coded courses may be underway.
The achievement of Distinction does not
preclude graduation with collegiate Honors. For example, a student may
graduate with a designation such as the following “Bachelor of Arts Cum
Laude, with Distinction in Biology.”