Rule 15 – Graduation with Honors

15. Graduation with Honors

15.1 Undergraduate Latin Honors Recognition at Commencement Ceremonies
To be eligible for Latin Honors recognition at a commencement ceremony, a student seeking a baccalaureate degree must enroll in and complete a minimum of 60 semester hours at Texas A&M University and have a grade point average at this institution equal to or greater than 3.500. Course credit received by examination, and courses reserved for graduate credit only, are excluded from the calculation of the number of hours and the grade point average for recognition of Latin Hon-ors at commencement ceremonies.

Grade point averages used to determine Latin Honors recognition at commencement ceremonies are calculated using all graded courses completed in residence at Texas A&M University through the 60th class day of the student’s graduating term for fall or spring degree candidates, or the 15th class day of the second summer term for summer degree candidates.

15.2 Undergraduate Latin Honors Recognition on University Records
To be eligible for Latin Honors, a student seeking a baccalaureate degree must enroll in and complete a minimum of 60 semester hours at Texas A&M University preceding graduation and have a grade point average at this institution equal to or greater than that required for the appropriate honors distinction. Course credit received by examination, and courses reserved for graduate credit only, are excluded from the calculation of the number of hours and the grade point average for undergraduate Latin Honors.

Grade point averages used to determine Latin Honors recognition on university records are calculated at the final grading deadline for the semester, per the Academic Calendar, and include hours and final grades in courses taken during the student’s graduating semester. These calculations are cumulative and are factored using all eligible courses completed at the undergraduate level.

GPA calculations for Latin Honors designations will not be recalculated after the final graduation clearance deadline set in Student Rule 14.5. Students found responsible for academic misconduct as referenced in Student Rule 15.3 after degree conferral will have their distinction rescinded.

15.3 Academic Misconduct and Latin Honors
Upper Division students found responsible for academic misconduct will not be eligible to receive Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude honors nor have the distinction recognized at commencement ceremonies. Upper Division status is defined as having earned 60 or more credit hours (including transfer hours and advanced placement credits) on the date of the violation. This sanction is automatic upon a finding of academic misconduct, and is imposed without regard to the severity of other sanctions imposed by either the instructor or the Honor Council.
15.4 Undergraduate Latin Honors Distinctions

• Summa Cum Laude: A student may be awarded “Summa Cum Laude” with a grade point average of 3.90 or above.
• Magna Cum Laude: A student may be awarded “Magna Cum Laude” with a grade point average range of 3.70 through 3.899.
• Cum Laude: A student may be awarded “Cum Laude” with a grade point average range of 3.50 through 3.699.

15.5 Honors Distinctions for Professional Programs

15.5.1 All professional programs which have a cumulative GPA requirement for honors distinctions will be awarded at the time of degree conferral. Designations will not be changed after the final graduation clearance deadline set in Student Rule 14.5.

15.5.2 Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Honors

• In the College of Dentistry, only those Professional Dentistry students in the top 1st to 4th positions in the class are eligible for academic honors.

15.5.3 Doctor of Medicine (MD) Honors

• Professional Medicine students who complete their entire course of study at the Texas A&M Health Science Center – Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine are eligible for academic honors.
  • Students must obtain a grade point average of 3.500 or greater to graduate with honors.

15.5.4 Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Latin Honors Distinctions

• In the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Professional Pharmacy students are eligible for Latin Honors as follows:
  • Summa Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Summa Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average of 3.900 or higher.
  • Magna Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Magna Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average range of 3.750 through 3.899.
  • Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average range of 3.500 through 3.749.

15.5.5 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Latin Honors Distinctions

• In the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Professional Practice students are eligible for Latin Honors as follows:
  • Summa Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Summa Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average of 3.900 or higher.
  • Magna Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Magna Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average range of 3.700 through 3.899.
  • Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average range of 3.500 through 3.699.

15.5.6 Juris Doctor (JD) Latin Honors Distinctions

• In the School of Law, Professional Law students are eligible for Latin Honors as follows:
  • Summa Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Summa Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average of 3.80 or higher.
  • Magna Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Magna Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average range of 3.60 through 3.70.
  • Cum Laude: A student may be awarded the “Cum Laude” distinction with a grade point average range of 3.40 through 3.59.