Graduating with Honors

Majors who distinguish themselves academically both in the university and the major may graduate with honors or high honors. Students aspiring to graduate with honors or high honors are strongly encouraged to identify themselves to faculty members during their sophomore and junior years. This will allow them to plan course work on their honors paper or projects over several academic semesters.

Criteria for Graduating with Honors: Students who achieve by graduation 1) an overall GPA of 3.00, 2) a 3.20 GPA in Africana Studies and 3) complete a senior honors paper or project.

Criteria for Graduating with High Honors: Students who achieve by graduation 1) an overall GPA of 3.00, 2) a 3.50 GPA in Africana Studies and 3) complete a senior honors paper or project.

The senior honors paper should be approximately 15-20 pages, reflect original ideas, and demonstrate competency in research methodology, critical analysis, innovative thinking, and good writing skills. In consultation with faculty advisors, majors wishing to graduate with honors are strongly encouraged to select topics that prepare them for graduate training in their area of specialization.

Honors candidates should identify a faculty advisor and notify the Department Chair of their intentions to pursue graduating with honors by the end of their junior year. Upon the approval of the faculty advisor, honors students write their senior honors paper and complete 6 credit hours of senior honors.