Overview of Program
Enriched Degrees
Degree with Distinction and Honors Degree with Distinction
The Degree with Distinction and the Honors Degree with Distinction offer exceptionally
talented and dedicated students the opportunity to pursue their academic interests
in greater depth than is required for the regular bachelor's degree. On the official
transcript and diploma, a student completing the Degree with Distinction receives
a bachelor's degree with distinction, and a student completing the Honors Baccalaureate
receives an Honors Bachelor of Arts with Distinction, Honors Bachelor of Science
with Distinction, etc., degree. Anyone considering doing a senior thesis for either
degree should make an appointment with an advisor in the Undergraduate Research
Office early in the junior year.
What are the differences between a Degree with Distinction and an Honors Degree
with Distinction?
- The Degree with Distinction adds only a senior research thesis to regular degree
requirements. The Honors Degree with Distinction provides a comprehensive program
including Honors course work, Honors seminars, and Honors senior research and thesis
to supplement regular departmental degree requirements. DWD candidates register
for UNIV-40l-10 and UNIV-402-10 to earn six thesis credits; HDWD candidates register
for UNIV-401-80 and UNIV-402-80 to earn six thesis credits. Registration in UNIV-401/402
reserves a weekly time slot for several required meetings designed to assist senior
thesis candidates by enabling them to share research work-in-progress with their
peers.
- The Degree with Distinction may be earned in any field of study. The Honors Degree
with Distinction is currently available in most departments and degree programs.
Neither completion of the freshman year in the Honors Program nor receipt of the
General Honors Award is required for an Honors Degree with Distinction although
the Honors credits taken for both will help the Honors Degree with Distinction candidate.
- The Degree with Distinction requires a 3.0 overall grade index and a 3.5 in the
major by the time of graduation. The Honors Degree with Distinction requires a 3.400
overall grade index by the time of graduation. Some departments may have grade point
index requirements in the major for the Honors Degree with Distinction as well.
- The Degree with Distinction is overseen by the University Committee on Student and
Faculty Honors (UCSFH); the Honors Degree with Distinction is overseen by the Director
of the University Honors Program (UHP). The names of the UCSFH Chairperson and the
UHP Director are listed in the Senior Thesis Handbook. The senior thesis course
is administered by a faculty Board of Senior Thesis Readers convened by the Undergraduate
Research Program.
- Degree with Distinction candidates apply by submitting an application and a preliminary
senior thesis proposal to the Undergraduate Research Office by May 15 of the junior
year (November 30 for out-of-phase candidates). Honors Degree with Distinction candidates
apply in two places: 1) an Honors Degree application is submitted to the Honors
Program by May 15 of the junior year; 2) a senior thesis proposal is submitted to
the Undergraduate Research Office by May 15 of the junior year (November 30 for
out-of-phase candidates).
Honors Degree with Distinction and Degree with Distinction Handbook
A print version of the extensive and very helpful Handbook
for Candidates for the Honors Degree with Distinction and Degree with Distinction
is available in the Undergraduate Research Office. Students interested in either
enriched degree should consult the Handbook beginning in the sophomore year.
Dean's Scholars are selected from highly motivated and talented students who have
distinguished records and have a clearly defined educational goal which cannot be
met by following the requirements for an established degree option. They may explore
broad interdisciplinary fields or focus more narrowly but in greater depth on a
single field of inquiry. Dean's Scholars are encouraged to be imaginative and aggressive
in designing individual study programs with the aid of faculty members, off-campus
explorations and other strategies, however unconventional, that will help to achieve
their educational goals; research is normally a major component of the design. Credits
earned in Dean's Scholar Programs usually carry the Honors designation and can lead
to an Honors Degree with Distinction or a Degree with Distinction. Application is
to the dean of the student's college.