Special Honors Recognitions

Recognition Requirements

Honors students have the opportunity to earn special awards and recognitions at the bi-annual Honors Recognition Ceremony as they pursue the Honors Diploma.

Sophomore Honors Distinction

Recognition includes a notation on the transcript and a certificate awarded after the end of the fourth regular semester in college (does not count advanced placement or dual enrollment semesters):

• Completion of 15 hours of 1000- and/or 2000-level Honors credits chosen from at least three disciplines by the end of the fourth regular college semester with no grade lower than a ‘B’ in any Honors course, and
• A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Students must formally apply for Sophomore Honors Distinction the semester after completing the requirements. The link to the application is sent out in the weekly Honors email at the start of each semester. Students may use upper-level Honors credits completed in their first four semesters toward the distinction, but enrollment in traditional 1000- and 2000-level Honors sections is highly encouraged.

Senior Honors Distinction

Students receiving this distinction will receive recognition at the Honors Recognition Ceremony and on their transcripts. Students working toward Senior Honors Distinction are expected to indicate their intention to the Honors Director during the first semester of the junior year (sooner if pursuing early graduation) for additional information on requirements including the following:

• Completion of Thesis Readiness Program at least two semesters prior to graduation. This online training is designed to expose students to the concept of the senior thesis and lay the groundwork for senior research later;
• Completion of 9 hours of upper-level Honors coursework including at least three (3) hours of 3000- or 4000-level HONR credit (chosen from HONR 3047, 3057, 4017, 4027 or 4417), and
• A minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA.

Honors Diploma

Students earning the Honors Diploma will receive recognition at the Honors Recognition Ceremony, on their transcripts, and on the diploma issued to them at graduation. The Honors Diploma is reserved for the most committed students who undertake a significant independent research project under the guidance of a faculty member in their major area.  The  requirements for the Honors Diploma are:

• Completion of 15 hours of 1000- and/or 2000-level Honors credits chosen from at least three disciplines;
• Completion of 9 hours of upper-level Honors coursework;
• Completion of a Senior Thesis following Senior Thesis guidelines, and
• A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA with ‘C’ grade or better in all Honors courses applied to the Honors Diploma.

Honors Research and Creative Scholars

Undergraduates (with two more semesters remaining before graduation) who have completed at least 30 hours of undergraduate coursework and have at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 are invited to apply for participation in the Honors Research Scholars Program or Honors Creative Scholars Program.

Honors Affiliations and Societies

In addition to their Honors courses, Southeastern Honors students have the opportunity to participate in other local, national, and international organizations.

In addition, many departments at Southeastern sponsor chapters of discipline-specific honor societies.