3341-3-25 Academic Honors – Undergraduate

1. Policy Statement and Purpose

   This policy provides the requirements for undergraduate academic honors. This policy applies to students enrolled beginning fall semester 2025 and thereafter.

2. Policy

   1. Dean's list

      Full-time undergraduate students who demonstrate a high level of excellence in academic work have their names placed on the academic dean's list. The requirement for achieving the academic dean's list is a grade point average of 3.50 or above in the preceding semester with no fewer than twelve credit hours per semester included in the grade point average computation.

   2. Graduation with academic honors

      The record of each undergraduate candidate for graduation with a very high grade point average is carefully reviewed by the university Committee on Honors and Awards so that appropriate recognition and honor may be accorded each student who has achieved outstanding academic success throughout their undergraduate years at Bowling Green State University. The tentative honor, announced at commencement and released to the newspapers, is calculated without the grades from the student's last academic semester. The final honor that is on the permanent record and diploma is based on the student's Bowling Green State University academic record. To be eligible for Academic Honors, students must earn a minimum of 60 letter-graded credit hours at BGSU for baccalaureate degrees and a minimum of 30 letter-graded credit hours for associate degrees. Courses that are under the A-F letter-graded grading system are considered for Academic Honors calculation.

3. Honors Categories

   1. Associate degree programs

      1. With distinction

         With distinction signifies a high level of academic achievement in an associate degree program. This honor requires a minimum of 30 letter-graded BGSU credit hours and a cumulative BGSU GPA of 3.50 – 3.89.

      2. With highest distinction

         With highest distinction signifies the highest level of academic achievement in an associate degree program. This honor requires a minimum of 30 letter-graded credit hours earned at BGSU and a cumulative BGSU GPA of 3.90 or above.

   2. Baccalaureate degree programs/Latin Honors

      1. Cum laude

         Cum laude signifies a high level of academic achievement in a baccalaureate degree program. This honor requires a minimum of 60 letter-graded credit hours earned at BGSU and a cumulative BGSU GPA of 3.50 – 3.74.

      2. Magna cum laude

         Magna cum laude signifies a very high level of academic achievement in a baccalaureate degree program. This honor requires a minimum of 60 letter-graded credit hours earned at BGSU and a cumulative BGSU GPA of 3.75 – 3.89.

      3. Summa cum laude

         Summa cum laude signifies the highest level of academic achievement in a baccalaureate degree program. This honor requires 60 letter-graded credit hours earned at BGSU and a cumulative BGSU GPA of 3.90 or above.

   3. Graduation with University Honors

      Graduation with University Honors is one of the highest honors awarded by the university. The requirements are:

      1. A minimum 3.50 GPA overall, as well as a 3.40 or better in university Honors courses.
      2. At least a "B" in each Honors course.
      3. For bachelor’s degrees:
         1. the completion of at least 16 semester hours of university Honors courses, including the Honors core sequence (HNRS 2010 and one of the following: 2020, 2400, 2500, or 2600) and the two-course Honors Project sequence (HNRS 4980 and 4990).
         2. the completion of six additional Honors semester hours or experiential learning units.
      4. For associate degrees at BGSU Firelands: the completion of at least thirteen hours of university Honors courses, including the Honors core sequence and HNRS 2990.

Registered Date: March 24, 2015
Amended: October 2, 2023; November 13, 2025