University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog

Summer 2009 Spring 2010

Graduation with Academic Honors

University Policy Requirements for graduation with academic honors are determined by each academic unit. Please refer to unit information below. Unit Policies College of Arts and Sciences Baccalaureate degree students who have earned a minimum of 60 hours of degree credit in residence in the College of Arts and Sciences will be eligible for consideration to graduate with College Honors. Final determination of a students eligibility to graduate with College Honors will be based on the students standing upon completion of the degree. In determining eligibility for graduation with College Honors, the College takes into consideration not only the University cumulative grade point average, but also an expanded cumulative grade point average which is calculated only for the purpose of determining eligibility for graduation with College Honors and only if a students University grade point average is 3.5 or above. The expanded grade point average is based on the grades in all college-level work. In the case of repeated courses, both the original grade and credit hours and the replacement grade and credit hours will be included in the calculation. Similarly, grades and credit hours excluded from the University grade point average through application of the academic bankruptcy provision will be included in determining a students expanded grade point average. In the case of work done at other institutions, all grades and credit hours in all degree-applicable courses will be included in determining a students expanded grade point average. Students should consult the Director of Honors with any questions concerning eligibility and requirements for graduation with College Honors. For a student to qualify for graduation cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude, the grade point average and the expanded grade point average must both satisfy the stated minimum requirement. The minimum grade point average requirements for graduation with College Honors are: Cum Laude: 3.5

Magna Cum Laude: 3.75 with no College honors project, 3.65 with College honors project Summa Cum Laude: 3.75 with College honors project

To graduate summa cum laude (or magna cum laude with a 3.65-3.74 expanded grade point average), a student must have not only the requisite University and expanded grade point averages, but the student must also give evidence of scholarship and originality by submitting a research paper, or independent study report, or other independent work (college honors project). It is essential that any student planning to complete an honors project in order to graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude contact the Director of the College Honors Program early in the senior year with regard to verifying eligibility, and in order to learn deadlines for the proposal, the completed project, and the defense of the project. College of Business Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and Bachelor of Science in Economics may receive their degree with honors, high honors, or highest honors by meeting the following criteria upon completion of their final semester. Students pursuing a double major must have the appropriate minimum GPA's in both majors to receive their degree with honors, high honors, or highest honors. Degree with Honors: Requires a 3.5 University GPA and a 3.5 GPA in the major. Degree with High Honors: Requires a 3.75 University GPA and a 3.75 GPA in the major. Degree with Highest Honors: Students may graduate with highest honors with or without a thesis project: o Without Thesis Project: requires a minimum 3.90 University GPA and a minimum 3.90 GPA in the major. o With Thesis Project: Requires a minimum of 3.75 University GPA and a minimum 3.75 GPA in the major at the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. The 3.75 GPA minimums must be maintained through the final semester prior to graduation. In addition, the student must write a thesis

University Policies

Graduation with Academic Honors

University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog

Summer 2009 Spring 2010

in his or her major, according to the following procedures: 1. Prior to the beginning of the student's final semester, he or she must contact the discipline Department Chair and initiate a request to be a candidate for graduation with highest honors. 2. The Chair will establish an Honors Committee of three faculty members. In consultation with the Honors Committee, the Chair will prepare a schedule of activities to help the candidate complete the thesis in a timely manner. 3. The Honors Committee will consult with the candidate and agree on a topic. The candidate will prepare the thesis according to the general requirements set up by the Honors Committee. Minimum expectations include a typed manuscript that strictly follows the rules of English grammar. 4. The candidate will submit the final draft of the thesis by the deadline set out in the initial schedule of activities. The Honors Committee will review the thesis on the basis of grammatical accuracy, substantive contribution, and response to the Committee's input. If the Committee chooses, it may conduct an oral examination of the candidate. 5. After reviewing the thesis, the Honors Committee will forward a positive or negative recommendation as well as a copy of the thesis to the Chair. To be acceptable, the thesis must be approved by all three members of the Honors Committee with the concurrence of the Chair. The candidate who disagrees with the Honors committee recommendation may appeal to the COB Undergraduate Studies Committee. The thesis, along with the recommendations of the Honors Committee and Chair, will be forwarded to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs' office no less than three weeks before the end of the semester in which the candidate is to graduate. It will be retained there in either a public or confidential file, as designated by the candidate. The discipline advisor will also be notified of the decision as the responsible party for notifying the Registrar's Office. To graduate as an Honors Scholar in Business: You must complete at least 24 hours of honors courses with at least 18 hours in the College of business, at least 12 hours at the 300 level or above and at least two upper-level seminar courses (or one seminar plus a senior thesis), at least one of which will be nonbusiness. Your final cumulative University GPA must be 3.5 or higher.

University Policies

Graduation with Academic Honors

University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog

Summer 2009 Spring 2010

College of Education & Human Development In order to be eligible to receive a degree with the distinction of Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude, a student must complete 45 hours with letter grade of the last 66 hours of work toward the degree in residence. For a degree with the distinction of Cum Laude, a university grade-point average of 3.5 based on degree applicable credit and a departmental standing of 3.5 based on degree applicable credit, must be attained by the end of the first semester of the senior year. For a degree with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude, both a departmental and a university grade-point average of 3.75 must be attained by the end of the first semester of the senior year. For a degree with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude, both a departmental and a university grade point average of 3.75 must be attained by the end of the first semester of the senior year. In order for a student to be eligible to receive a degree with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude, the student must have the recommendation of the major department faculty indicating an outstanding level of competence in the various phases of field experience as well as in all academic work. Departmental standing is defined as follows: HSS degrees all HSS and SPAD courses; Teaching and Learning degrees all EDTP and EDSP courses; Workforce Leadership degrees - all ELFH courses. In addition to the grade point average, a special project or paper must be completed and approved for Summa Cum Laude. The cumulative grade point average on credit earned at the University of Louisville only will be the grade point average used in all decisions regarding honors. Guidelines for Graduating Summa Cum Laude Students intending to graduate with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude must submit a proposal and present a final paper or project based on the guidelines developed by the College of Education and Human Development Honors and Scholarship Committee. The proposal must be approved by the Committee according to the following schedule: May degree applicant: Prior to September 30 August degree applicant: Prior to October 31 December degree applicant: Prior to April 30

the final project/paper. Specific guidelines for the faculty sponsor are included in the handout. The final project/paper must be approved by the Honors and Scholarship Committee according to the following schedule: May degree applicant: Prior to March 31 August degree applicant: Prior to April 30 December degree applicant: Prior to November 30

Program in Dental Hygiene In order to be eligible to receive a degree with the distinction of Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude, a student must complete 45 hours of the last 60 hours of work toward the degree in residence. Commencement programs will list eligible students as "Candidates for Honors" based on an Upper Division Dental Hygiene program grade point average of 3.5 or higher earned by the semester preceding the graduation semester. Final determination of a students eligibility to graduate with Honors will be based on their Upper Division Dental Hygiene program grade point average upon completion of their final semester as follows: Cum Laude: 3.50 Magna Cum Laude: 3.75 Summa Cum Laude: 3.90

Kent School of Social Work Students who have met all requirements to earn the degree of Bachelor Social Work and meet the following cumulative grade point averages qualify to graduate with honors from the Kent School of Social Work. The following criteria specifies the honors awarded: Cum Laude: 3.5 3.74 Magna Cum Laude: 3.75 3.89 Summa Cum Laude: 3.9 or above

School of Music Degree candidates may receive their degree with honors, high honors, or highest honors assuming they have met the following minimum grade point average upon completion of their final semester. Degree with Honors: 3.50 Degree with High Honors: 3.75 Degree with Highest Honors: 3.90

The Guidelines for Graduating with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude handout is available in the College of Education and Human Development Advising Center and on-line at the CEHD website. Each student must select a faculty sponsor for assistance and guidance in preparing the proposal and

School of Nursing

University Policies

Graduation with Academic Honors

University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog

Summer 2009 Spring 2010

Baccalaureate degree students who have earned a minimum of 60 hours of degree credit in residence at the University of Louisville in the School of Nursing will be eligible for consideration to graduate with Honors. Commencement programs will list eligible students as Candidates for Honors based on a program grade point average of 3.5 or higher earned by the semester preceding the graduation semester. Final determination of a students eligibility to graduate with Honors will be based on the students standing upon confirmation of the degree. The program GPA is calculated based on grades earned in specific lower division courses and all upper division nursing courses. Criteria for Honors is as follows: Cum Laude: 3.50 program grade point average Magna Cum Laude: 3.75 program grade point average Summa Cum Laude: 3.75 expanded university grade point average and successful completion of the honors project or thesis.

Speed School of Engineering Students who have completed one-half of the credit hours required in their undergraduate degree program while enrolled in the Speed School of Engineering will be eligible to graduate with Honors. Eligibility for Master of Engineering degree graduate honors is based upon the grade point average for the five year degree program and not just courses taken while in Graduate Studies. Speed School has the following distinctions: Degree with Honors: 3.25 Degree with High Honors: 3.50 Degree with Highest Honors: 3.75

University Policies

Graduation with Academic Honors