Honors Recognitions

Emory College bestows honors upon graduates through two different recognitions: departmental research honors and honors in course. Students are eligible to receive both forms of honors, which are listed on the transcript after graduation once the College certifies that students have earned these recognitions.

Departmental Research Honors

The Departmental Research Honors Program is available to outstanding students in their senior year who wish to do intensive research in their major that culminates in a thesis project and defense before a faculty committee. The Emory College Honors Committee sets minimum eligibility requirements, which may be supplemented by additional requirements in departments. The general criteria for eligibility and requirements for the Honors Program are available on the Honors Program website. The level of honors is determined by the faculty committee at the student’s thesis defense.

 

Levels of Departmental Research Honors:

Honors: satisfactory completion of the program.

High Honors:  completion of the program with outstanding performance, including a thesis of quality sufficient for oral presentation to scholars in the candidate's field.

Highest Honors: completion of the program with exceptional performance, including a thesis of quality suitable for publication in the candidate’s field.

Honors in Course

Honors in Course is a GPA-based graduation distinction that recognizes academic achievement based on a student’s cumulative GPA and rank in the graduating class.

This recognition denotes academic excellence by awarding standard Latin designations on the transcripts of students who finish in the top 30% among Emory College graduates. The standard Latin designations are determined as follows: 

Cum laude: top 15.01-30.00% of the class

Magna cum laude: top 5.01-15.00% of the class

Summa cum laude: top 5.00% of the class

The University Registrar determines the GPA ranges for the Honors in Course distinction after graduation once all grades have been posted and approved. The GPA ranges calculated from the graduating class in May are used to determine Honors in Course for any students who graduate the following summer and fall, and a new range is calculated each May for the graduating class.