The Dean's Honor Roll

A student who earns at least 12 hours of degree credit in a semester with a grade-point average of at least 3.3 with no grades of F, U or I is entitled to placement on the dean's honor roll for that semester. Members of the honor roll will be published in University publications and released to the news media unless a student has a written request on file in the Office of the Registrar not to have his or her name used.  

Graduation Honors

A candidate with a cumulative average of at least 3.3 graduates cum laude; one whose average is at least 3.6 graduates magna cum laude; one whose average is 3.8 or higher graduates summa cum laude.

Students may also receive honors recognition at graduation in biology, chemistry, computer information systems, computer science, English, history, mathematics, and music theory by satisfying certain departmental requirements.

Honors in Biology

Students who have maintained the minimum requirements listed in the Biology Department description of this catalog and who have successfully completed BIOL 4011S and BIOL 4021S, will graduate with the distinction "Honors in Biology."

Honors in Chemistry

Students majoring in Chemistry may apply for the distinction "Honors in Chemistry" by completing their course of study with a 3.5 overall cumulative average and a 3.5 cumulative average in Chemistry. Students who minor in chemistry must have a 3.5 overall average and a 3.7 average in their chemistry courses to earn this distinction. At least 18 hours of chemistry credits must be earned at Xavier.

Honors in Computer Information Systems or Honors in Computer Science

Each spring the department will select a limited number of students for possible graduation “with Honors in Computer Information Systems” or “with Honors in Computer Science.” Computer Information Systems majors who achieve the distinction, Honors in Computer Information Systems, will have maintained at least a 3.50 grade point average in all Computer Science courses and courses offered by the Business Department, and at least a 3.30 grade point average overall, WITH NO GRADE OF “C” OR LOWER IN ANY COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE OR COURSE OFFERED BY THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT, throughout their undergraduate careers. Computer Science majors who achieve the distinction, Honors in Computer Science, will have maintained at least a 3.50 grade point average in all Computer Science and Mathematics courses and at least a 3.30 grade point average overall, WITH NO GRADE OF “C” OR LOWER IN ANY COMPUTER SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS COURSE, throughout their undergraduate careers. Computer Information Systems or Computer Science majors who satisfy these minimum requirements and who wish to be considered for the program are asked to apply by letter early in the spring semester of the junior year. Students will be notified of the outcome of their application in writing. STUDENTS WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE PROGRAM IF THEY FAIL TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS GIVEN ABOVE.

Honors in English

For initial placement in the Honors in English program, students must meet criteria that include ACT or SAT scores and high school transcript. The English Department determines final placement. To receive an honors distinction in English, students so chosen must take ENGL 1023H, 2011H, and a 3000 or 4000 level English course of their choice and receive a cumulative average of 3.0 or higher for all three courses.

Students with Advanced Placement credit may take the sequence with ENGL 2011H and one more English course at the 3000 or 4000 level. A cumulative average of 3.0 or higher in these two courses will earn them Honors in English.

ENGL 1023H and 2011H satisfy the core curriculum requirements in English composition, introduction to literature, and world literature (the equivalent of ENGL 1010, 1020, and 2010). Upon receiving a grade of "C" or better in the Freshman Honors English Sequence (ENGL 1023H and 2011H), the student will receive 3 semester hours of credit for ENGL 1010. ENGL 1020 and 2010 cannot be substituted for the Freshman Honors English Sequence; if the student elects to take either of those, he/she forfeits his/her placement in the Honors sequence. A student who earns an "A" in English 1010 may also qualify for the honors sequence. A student with credit in other than AP programs should consult the chair of English for honors consideration.

Students need not be placed in the Freshman English Honors Sequence outlined above to qualify for “Honors in English.” Students majoring or minoring in English may also earn the honors distinction by completing their courses of study with a 3.5 cumulative average in English. At least eighteen semester hours of English must be earned at Xavier.

Honors in History

Students selected by the placement process of the Admissions Office to take HIST 1031H - HIST 1041H may graduate with an honors in history designation on their transcripts if they take these courses and one more history course at the 3000- or 4000-level. Students must earn a grade of at least a "B" in each of the three courses.

Honors in Mathematics

For consideration for Honors in Mathematics, students should apply to the Mathematics Department. To receive the distinction “Honors in Mathematics,” students must satisfy one of the following two criteria:

• Students must take MATH 1070H and MATH 2070H and at least four (4) additional hours of mathematics or statistics at the 2000 level or above. Examples of additional course work that satisfy these requirements are third semester calculus (MATH 2080); basic statistics with a technology lab (STAT 2010 and STAT 2150L); MATH 2030 or MATH 2530 or MATH 2050 together with a technology lab (MATH 2160L), or the two semesters of seminar (MATH 2511S and MATH 2521S). Students must receive a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in all mathematics and statistics courses taken with no grade of “C” or below.
• Students must take MATH 1070 (or MATH 1070H) and MATH 2070, and at least six (6) additional hours of mathematics or statistics at the 2000 level or above. Students must receive a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in all mathematics and statistics courses taken with no grade of “C” or below.
  

Honors in Music Theory

Students who are eligible for this honor are music majors who have completed 20 hours in music theory with a minimum GPA in theory of 3.5 by the first half of the senior year. The student who elects to complete this program must apply to the department chair who will review that student’s record; give final approval for admission into the program, and assist the student in obtaining a faculty member to supervise the final project. In the final semester of the senior year, the student must register for MUST 4500H; complete one of the three honors theory projects prescribed for this course; and receive a pass endorsement from the theory faculty who will give the final evaluation of the student’s project.