Graduation With Honors Students who complete their degree programs with an overall GPA of 3.5 -3.79, and 3.8 -4.0 are considered to have graduated "with honors" and "with highest honors," respectively. In order to graduate "cum laude," "magna cum laude," or "summa cum laude," you must complete the following requirement for Senior Honors in the Honors College.

(1) obtain the overall GPA 3.25 - 3.49, 3.5 - 3.79, or 3.80 - 4.00, respectively;
(2) pass written and oral comprehensive examinations during the first semester of the junior year;
(3) write a prospectus;
(4) write an undergraduate thesis.

The written examination covers the content of the undergraduate calculus sequence and the "mathematics core." The oral examination is usually a defense of the thesis. For more specific details, consult the Honors College Handbook, which is issued annually and is available on the Web at www.usm.edu/honors. In addition, students must meet departmental requirements as set forth in "Guidelines for Honors Students," which is available in SH 319 or on this Web site. This document contains the all-important time deadlines that the student must meet.

The Latin designations are available to students outside the Honors College. If you wish to attempt to qualify for departmental honors, come by SH 319 to obtain a copy of the memo, "Graduating with Latin Honors - Policies and Procedures." or access this document on this Web site. You must notify the department chair of your intention to seek a Latin designation at least one year in advance of your graduation as well as adhere to all departmental guidelines as set forth in Guidelines for Honors Students.