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?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 Scholar Programs

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.