Graduation Honors

The baccalaureate degree is awarded with special distinction to graduating seniors with cumulative averages of 3.5 or better. Candidates with averages between 3.5 and 3.69 are graduated cum laude; those with averages between 3.7 and 3.89, magna cum laude; and those with averages 3.9 and above, summa cum laude. To be eligible for such recognition a student must have at least 60 graded hours (hours used for the calculation of ones GPA) taken at Centenary. The overall average of all work attempted at Centenary will be used to determine eligibility for honors as well as the level of honor earned.

 

Dean’s List

Each semester, students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or better in twelve or more credit hours taken at Centenary for a letter grade are accorded the academic honor of being on the “Dean’s List.”

 

Departmental Honors

The faculty responsible for the various majors at Centenary may invite students of outstanding ability to pursue Honors in their major field of study, traditionally called Departmental Honors. The requirements to earn Departmental Honors have been designed by the faculty and approved by the Academic Policy Committee. Honors programs include opportunities for independent study with an accompanying paper, a substantial research report, or, in the case of the arts, a project to be decided by the individual program. The research or project may in some cases be done during the summer. All students working toward honors are required to present their independent study paper, research paper, or project at the Student Research Forum or at some other program-approved forum.

To be eligible for Departmental Honors, a student must have attained a grade point average of 3.25 in both major course work and overall course work. In order to be invited to pursue honors, a student must have attained junior standing and must have completed at least thirty-two hours of graded course work at Centenary. Some departments may have additional eligibility requirements. A student must have participated in the program for at least two semesters and the department must certify that all work required by the program has been completed satisfactorily before honors are awarded at commencement. Some departments may accept research carried out at another institution under the direction of a research supervisor not otherwise affiliated with Centenary College in lieu of completing a project at Centenary. Consult individual departments for details.

Students pursuing honors must collaborate with a faculty supervisor. The student and the supervisor will select one or more other faculty members who will join with the supervisor in a committee to oversee the student’s project. One committee member must be from outside the student’s major field of study. When the committee is formed, the application/eligibility form must be filed in duplicate with the Registrar’s Office. Upon completion of the project, all committee members must again sign the application form reporting the results.

Attainment of Departmental Honors does not supplant traditional graduation honors (see above). Thus a student may graduate “Bachelor of Science with Honors in Mathematics” magna cum laude, or “Bachelor of Arts with Honors in English,” or “Bachelor of Science in Biology” summa cum laude.

Interested students should consult the chairperson of their major department or the department in which major field of study is located for specific information.

 

Honor Societies

The highest academic recognition that can come to a Centenary student is election to Alpha Chi, national scholastic honor society for juniors and seniors ranked in the top ten percent of their class. Omicron Delta Kappa, national honorary fraternity for men and women, recognizes leadership, scholarship, and service in various fields of activity. Outstanding students are elected to this fraternity from the junior and senior classes by members of the circle. Membership in the Maroon Jackets is another of the high honors that can be bestowed upon a Centenary student. The Maroon Jackets are selected from among students who will be entering their final year, who have excelled scholastically (3.0 average required) and have shown outstanding leadership and service to the College. They are the official hosts and hostesses of the College, representing Centenary at all functions of major importance.

A number of honorary fraternities and service organizations which recognize scholarship in a particular field have chapters on the Centenary campus. Students interested in these organizations should consult with the chair of their major department about the requirements for election.