Academic Honors Programs
ERC First Year Honors Seminar
On the basis of outstanding high school grade point averages and College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, a number of entering students are invited to participate in the ERC First-Year Honors Seminar. These weekly seminars are led by Provost Ann Craig, and she invites a variety of faculty colleagues and other knowledgeable individuals to discuss their own career development and research interests. The group also goes on field trips and takes advantage of additional educational opportunities on campus.
ERC Second Year Honors Program
Second-year honors students have the opportunity to select topics from MMW courses and to pursue independent study with individual faculty members. Projects may extend for one to three quarters. Honors projects are often selected for presentation at the UCSD Undergraduate Research Conference held each spring. Cultural and social events such as lectures, plays, and visits to museums are also an important component of the honors programs.
Honors Sections of MMW
Eligible students may enroll in separate honors sections for the second year of the Making of the Modern World sequence. Eligibility is based upon MMW grades during the freshman year and overall grade point average. Honors sections are limited in enrollment and are taught by an experienced instructor. The longer class time gives students the opportunity to explore the material in depth. The smaller class size allows honors sections to be conducted like seminars. Honors students have the same assignments and are graded by the same standards as students enrolled in other MMW sections. Occasionally, honors sections may participate in field trips or lectures that would not be available to other students enrolled in MMW.
ERC Provost's Honors
Students earn ERC Provost's Honors by earning grade point averages of 3.5 or higher each quarter in at least 12 graded units. For a full academic year of Provost's Honors, a certificate of merit is awarded. Certificates of merit are only awarded after spring quarter each year.
Departmental Honors
Outstanding students may qualify to enroll in departmental honors programs. Departments may designate students graduating in their major to receive their degrees with distinction, with high distinction, or with highest distinction. Up to 20 percent of graduating majors may be so honored. They will have completed a special course of study within the department or program, usually including an honors research thesis in addition to special course work. Information on the special courses of study are published in the UCSD General Catalog.
Phi Beta Kappa Society
UCSD is one of only 270 four-year institutions of higher education to have been granted chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest, most respected undergraduate academic honor society. After a rigorous screening each Spring, the UCSD chapter invites qualified students to lifelong membership in the Society.
University Honors at Graduation
According to campus policy, a maximum of 14 percent of degrees may be awarded cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. This usually means that the top two percent of ranked graduates will receive their degrees summa cum laude; the next four percent, magna cum laude; and the next eight percent, cum laude. At least 80 quarter-units of graded course work at the University of California are required for ranking.
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