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Honors Awards and
Certificates
General Honors Award
This award recognizes a student's pursuit of Honors challenges and
enrichment opportunities during the first two years of university
study. It can be earned only by those admitted to the Honors Program
as first-year students who satisfy the requirements listed below.
Available to the Class of 2004 and beyond, its conferral is recorded
on the recipient's permanent transcript.
Requirements
- Eighteen credits of Honors coursework over the first
two years, with a minimum of 12 credits required in
the first year
- Three credits of the 12 credits taken in the first year
must include an interdisciplinary Honors colloquium
- A minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA must be earned
by the end of the student's first two years at
the University
- A minimum of 60 credits (including AP and/or transfer
credits) must be completed by the end of the student's
second year, with at least 48 earned at UD
- Students are required to live in freshman Honors
housing their first year at UD
For more information, please contact the Honors Program Office (831-1195).
Honors Foreign Language Certificate
To earn a bachelor's degree with an Honors Foreign Language Certificate
in French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish, a qualified student
must complete a designated sequence of four 200- and 300-level Honors
credit courses in the above-listed languages with no grade below a B-minus.
The first two courses are to be taken during Winter or Summer Sessions
in one or two of seven countries, and the last two courses are to be
taken on the Delaware campus. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 must be achieved
by graduation. Students successfully completing these requirements have
this accomplishment recorded on their official transcript.
Note: The Honors Foreign Language Certificate can be earned
in addition to other kinds of Honors certificates and awards. Honors
courses taken in the sequence leading to the Foreign Language Certificate
can also be applied toward those required for other forms of Honors
recognition.
For more information: See Marion Bernard-Amos,
Study Abroad Coordinator, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures,
422 Smith Hall, 831-6458.
Enriched Degree Options
These degrees allow exceptionally talented and dedicated undergraduate
students to pursue their academic interests in greater depth and breadth
than is required for the regular bachelor's degree. Achievement in these
degrees is recorded on the official transcript and diploma. These degree
options, where available, are open to all UD students who meet the requirements.
A candidate for any of these enriched degrees must satisfy the general
University requirements and the degree requirements specified for the
major by his or her college and departments. The degrees are currently
available in the majority of departments or degree programs. For information
about availability and specific department or college requirements,
inquire in the Honors Program Office or consult "Opportunities
to Enrich Your Undergraduate Education" in the Undergraduate
Catalog.
Neither completion of the freshman year in the Honors Program nor receipt
of the General Honors Award is required for an Honors Degree or Honors
Degree with Distinction. Students who complete an Honors Baccalaureate
Degree receive a degree called "Honors Bachelor of Arts,"
"Honors Bachelor of Music," "Honors Bachelor of Science,"
and so forth.
Honors Degree
The Honors Degree is currently available in most colleges and departments
and recognizes a student's excellent performance in 30 credits of Honors
coursework in and outside the primary major. An Honors Degree application
form must be sent to the Honors Program by May 15 of the year before
a student is planning to graduate.
General requirements
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.400 at the time of graduation
- At least 30 credits earned in Honors courses:
- At least 12 credits in the major department or in courses in
collateral disciplines specifically required for the major;
- At least 12 credits in 300-level courses or higher, not including
the first-year interdisciplinary Honors colloquium;
- Three credits in an Honors Degree seminar or Honors capstone
course (current capstone list)
or comparable senior experience approved by the major and the
Honors Program, to be completed in one of the last two semesters
of the student's degree program.
For more information, stop by the Honors Program Office
or call us at 831-1195.
Honors Degree with Distinction:
The Honors Degree with Distinction recognizes a student's completion
of the research requirements for the Degree with Distinction in addition
to the successful completion of 30 credits in Honors courses through
the degree program.
General requirements
- Six credits of Honors thesis or project (UNIV 401/402)
and the successful oral presentation of an acceptable
thesis or project to a committee of faculty approved
by the major department and the University
Honors Program
- Completion of any additional specifications for the
thesis or project set by the major department
Note: Six credits of Honors thesis may be counted as part of
the 30 Honors credits required for the Honors Degree. UNIV 402 satisfies
the senior capstone requirement.
For more information, call 831-1195 or stop by the
Honors Program Office.
Degree with Distinction:
Available in all majors, the Degree with Distinction supplements
regular departmental degree requirements by giving the exceptionally
motivated student significant research experience while still an undergraduate.
In other words, the major difference is the successful completion of
a senior thesis (see below). There are no specific Honors course requirements
for the Degree with Distinction. Students who complete it receive a
bachelor's degree in the appropriate college and major with the notation
that it was earned "with Distinction."
General Requirements
- Cumulative GPA must be at least 3.00, with at
least 3.5 in the major
- Register for UNIV 401 and UNIV 402 (the Senior
Thesis course) in successive semesters and attend
required class meetings in the senior year
- Complete 6 credits of thesis or project work during
the last two semesters at UD and give a formal oral
presentation and defense of the thesis to all
committee members
For more information, see "Handbook for Candidates for the Honors
Degree and Degree with Distinction," available in the Undergraduate
Research Office (831-8995). Applications, also available in the URO,
should be turned in with the senior thesis preliminary proposal by May
15 of the junior (or third) year.
Enriched Degree FAQs
Honors Degree
What Honors coursework counts toward the
Honors Degree?
Honors coursework freshman through senior year may be applied toward
the minimum 30 Honors credits needed for the Honors Degree.
Can pass/fail Honors courses count towards
the Honors Degree:
Only if the course was offered on a pass/fail basis only.
Do I have to take an Honors tutorial course
for the Honors Degree?
The tutorial course, UNIV 490, is not a requirement of the new Honors
Degree, but it does satisfy the senior capstone requirement.
When do I take the Honors capstone course?
An Honors Degree Seminar or Honors capstone course must be taken in
one of the last two semesters before you graduate. Please see the following
list of Capstone
courses.
What is the GPA requirement for the Honors
Degree?
The Honors Degree requires a minimum 3.40 cumulative grade point index
at the time of graduation. (Please note that the more credits you have
earned the more difficult mathematically it becomes to improve your
cumulative grade point average.)
Is the General Honors Award a requirement
of the Honors Degree?
No. The 18 or more Honors credits earned for the GHA, however, may
apply towards the total Honors credits needed for the Honors Degree.
Is the first-year Honors colloquium course
a requirement of the Honors Degree?
No. It may be counted toward the 30 Honors credits needed for the degree,
but may not be counted toward the 12 credits needed at the 300-level
or above because it is a freshman-level course.
Can the 12 Honors credits required at or
above the 300-level be Honors courses in my major?
Yes. In fact, we strongly encourage you to take upper-division Honors
courses in your major, although 300-level Honors coursework outside
the major also will satisfy that requirement.
Do individual departments have specific
Honors Degree requirements?
Many departments do have specific requirements for the Honors Degree
in addition to the generic requirements listed above. These specific
requirements are listed in the University catalog under the Honors Degree
in the major.
Honors Degree with Distinction
What is the difference between the Honors
Degree and the Honors Degree with Distinction?
The Honors Degree with Distinction has the same requirements as the
Honors Degree, but it also requires the completion of a thesis and the
two semester thesis courses, UNIV 401 and UNIV 402.
Do UNIV 401 and 402 count towards the Honors
credits for the Honors Degree with Distinction?
Yes. They also count as 6 credits at or above the 300-level, and UNIV
402 counts as the Honors Degree seminar course.
Societies
and Honors
Graduation Honors
The graduation honors listed below are based on University requirements
and are administered by the dean's offices of the various colleges.
In each instance please direct inquiries to the University Registrar's
Office, not to the University Honors Program. These honors are determined
strictly by final GPA and by class rank within one's college and are
not announced until all final grades for the graduating class have been
entered. The designations are printed on the recipient's diploma and
become part of his or her permanent transcript.
Summa Cum Laude
The top one percent of the students of each undergraduate college's
graduating class will receive the degree Summa Cum Laude, providing
that each student obtains a minimum overall index of 3.75 at the end
of his or her course of study.
Magna Cum Laude
The next four percent of the students of each undergraduate college's
graduating class will receive the degree Magna Cum Laude, providing
that each student obtains a minimum overall index of 3.5 at the end
of his or her course of study.
Cum Laude
The next highest eight percent of the students of each undergraduate
college's graduating class will receive the degree Cum Laude, providing
that each student obtains a minimum overall index of 3.25 at the end
of his or her course of study.
Top Index Graduating Senior
Every year the graduating senior who has achieved the highest grade
point index earned in full-time study toward the degree receives an
award. To be eligible the student must have earned at least 75 percent
of the total credits required for the degree while at the University
and must have averaged a minimum of 15 credits per semester.
Phi Beta Kappa
Established in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest honorary society on
the American campus. A local chapter, Alpha of Delaware, was approved
by the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa in September 1955 and was installed
in April 1956. Seniors majoring in the liberal arts and demonstrating
superior scholarship are eligible for election.
Membership is by invitation. Two initiations are held per year, in
November and in May. Seniors who have satisfied all of their general
requirements for graduation and have at least a 3.85 GPA form the selection
pool for the fall initiation, while those about to graduate and with
at least a 3.65 GPA may be invited to join in the spring. The selection
committee not only considers a student's grade point average, but also
determines if students have pursued a rigorous and challenging course
of study in the liberal arts and sciences (as distinct from applied
disciplines). Letters to prospective members are mailed in early October
or late March. For more information, contact Dr. Joel Best (Sociology),
831-2581.
Note: This is a self-governing society. The Honors Program does
not set the requirements for membership, nor
does it decide who is invited to membership.
Phi Kappa Phi
Since 1897 the national honor society Phi Kappa Phi has elected to its
membership undergraduate and graduate students who are excellent scholars
in any academic field. The fifth chapter of the society was chartered
at the University of Delaware in 1905, and there are now more than 265
chapters nationwide. Juniors and seniors ranking high in scholarship
are elected each year to this society.
The GPA of juniors must place them in the top 2 percent of their class;
seniors must rank in the top 5 percent. Up to four members of the faculty
may also be elected annually. Prospective members receive a letter in
February of their junior or senior year inviting them to become full
members. Initiation is held on Honors Day in May. For more information,
contact the Undergraduate Research Office (831-8995) or consult
http://www.udel.edu/pkp/.
Alpha Lambda Delta
This national honor society recognizes academic excellence during a
student's first year in college. Founded in 1924, Alpha Lambda Delta
now has 215 chapters throughout the nation. The University of Delaware's
chapter was formed in 1993.
At the University of Delaware, students must have a freshman-year GPA
of at least 3.60 to be elected to membership. Letters are sent to qualifying
students in the summer following the freshman year, and the initiation
is held in November. For more information, contact Professor Susan
Groh (831-2915) or the chapter's web
site.
University of Delaware Honorary Societies
Consult the Undergraduate
Catalog for a list of other societies that recognize excellence
in special academic fields. For details, call the relevant academic
departmental offices.
Scholarships and Fellowships
Alpha Lambda Delta Graduate Fellowships
Each year the national chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honor
society awards one $7,500, seven $5,000, and fifteen $3,000 fellowships
for graduate study. Any member of Alpha Lambda Delta who has graduated
with a cumulative GPA of 3.60 is eligible to apply. Graduating students
may apply if they have achieved this average to the end of the first
semester of their senior year. Applications will be judged on academic
record, recommendations, and soundness of the stated project and purpose.
Deadline: Late-January of the senior year. For more information
and application forms, contact Professor Susan
Groh (831-2915) or
http://www.mercer.edu/ald/index.html.
Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships
These scholarships in Humanistic Studies are designed to help promising
students prepare for teaching and research careers in humanistic fields
such as American studies, art history, English literature, history,
philosophy, religion, and others. For 2003, 94 merit fellowships were
awarded for the first year of graduate school. The stipend was $17,500
plus tuition and fees.
General Guidelines
- Candidates are college seniors or graduates of the last five years
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens
- Candidates should be applying to a graduate program in a humanistic
field and not already be enrolled in one
- Outstanding future promise is considered critical, as well as the
candidate's statement of interest in the field
- Applicants must take the GRE by December 1, 2003
- Semi-finalists will be invited to be interviewed by the appropriate
regional committee in late February
- Winners will be announced in early April
Deadline: For 2004, completed applications must be received
at the address below by December 1, 2003.
For more information and applications, contact individual departments
or the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation directly at 1-800-899-9963;
mellon@woodrow.org, or http://www.Woodrow.org/mellon/.
British Marshall Scholarships
Founded by the British government in 1953, these scholarships commemorate
the humane ideals of the Marshall Plan. By offering up to 40 awards
each year, the program brings future American leaders and decision makers
to the U.K. for two years of study in any British university. This experience
will enable them to understand and appreciate the British way of life
and values, and will help establish long-lasting ties between the two
countries at a personal level. Each award covers living expenses for
one person, tuition, books and travel, thesis preparation costs, and
airfare between Britain and the United States.
General Guidelines
- Candidates are seniors, or in their last year of study at the University,
and have maintained after the freshman year a GPA of at least 3.70
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens
- Students may apply in one of five regions in the U.S., either that
of their legal residence or that in which they are studying
- Candidates must be endorsed by the University of Delaware
- Applications must include a thoughtfully researched statement regarding
the match between a candidate's goals and the particular universities
or programs where he or she wishes to study
Deadline: Applications are due at the regional center office
in early October.
For more information, contact Katharine
Kerrane, 831-2734, or http://www.britishcouncil-usa.org.
Fulbright Grants
(U.S. Student Program for Graduate Study and Research Abroad)
This large program, sponsored by the U.S. government, sends approximately
900-950 recent American university graduates to over one hundred countries
to study or conduct research for one year. The program promotes cross-cultural
interaction and mutual understanding on a person-to-person basis. Fulbright
full grants provide transportation, language courses, book/research
allowances, living maintenance, and health and accident insurance. Travel
grants, available only for certain countries, supplement a non-Fulbright
award that does not include travel. Competition is stiff for Fulbright
Grants, particularly for Europe, but is less severe in other areas of
the world (see their booklet for these statistics). The national screening
committee looks very carefully at each applicant's Statement of Proposed
Study, looking for originality, academic and language preparation for
the project, and any advance research he or she may have done on the
resources needed in the host country to complete the project.
General Guidelines
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens and hold a B.A. degree or the equivalent
before the beginning date of the grant
- Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken
language of the host country to carry out the proposed study and to
communicate with the people
- Applicants must be in good health
- University of Delaware applicants, usually in their senior year,
need to submit their applications through the University's Fulbright
Program Advisor (see below)
Deadline: University of Delaware applications should be turned
in to the program advisor by a specified date in the month of October
(call the number below for exact date).
For more information, contact Overseas Studies, the coordinating office
for Fulbright Grants at the University
(831-2852), at studyabroad@udel.edu.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarships
In October 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of Seattle, Washington,
donated $210 million to the University of Cambridge, England, to establish
the Gates Cambridge Trust. The Trust provides full scholarships for
graduate students worldwide (outside the United Kingdom) to study at
the University of Cambridge. Scholarships may be held for 1, 2, 3 or
4 years, depending on the course of study. They are awarded solely on
merit as the result of worldwide competition. Approximately 100 new
awards will be made each year to students in the USA. In selecting Gates
Cambridge Scholars, the Trust seeks students of exceptional academic
achievement and scholarly promise for whom further study at Cambridge
would be particularly appropriate. Students will need to provide evidence
of their ability to make a significant contribution to their discipline,
either by research, or by teaching, or by using their learning creatively
in their chosen profession.
General Guidelines
Candidates from the USA for Gates Cambridge Scholarships
for October 2004 will need to submit:
- A completed Graduate Application form (the University application
form for graduate study).
- A completed Gates Cambridge Scholarship Form.
Submit these application materials to The Board of Graduate Studies,
4 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RZ, UK.
These forms will be sent out with the Graduate Admissions Prospectus,
which may be obtained from the Board of Graduate Studies at the above
address or via email at admissions@gradstudies.cam.ac.uk.
Short-listed candidates will be interviewed in Annapolis in early February
2004. Students applying to follow a second Bachelor's course at Cambridge
should note that they must apply to a College of their choice (which
will supply the Gates Cambridge Scholarship form) not later than October
15, 2003.
Deadline: Applications are due November 1, 2003.
For more information and applications, contact:
The Board of Graduate Studies
4 Mill Lane
Cambridge CB2 1RZ
UK
admissions@gradstudies.cam.ac.uk
http://www.gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk
George J. Mitchell Scholarships
The George J. Mitchell Scholarships were established in 1998 for students
to attend one of the seven universities in Ireland and the two universities
in Northern Ireland for one academic year of graduate study. As institutional
balance will be a factor in the selection process, an applicant's likelihood
of being selected is increased if the applicant expresses a willingness
to attend more than one of the eligible institutions. Prospective Scholars
must have a "demonstrated record of intellectual distinction, leadership,
and extra-curricular activity, as well as personal characteristics of
honesty, integrity, fairness, and unselfish service to others that indicate
a potential for future leadership and contribution to society."
The universities participating in the Mitchell Scholarships contribute
tuition and room for the Scholar. In addition, each Scholar will receive
a stipend of $11,000 to cover other necessary expenses for the term
of study.
General Guidelines
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens, between the ages of 18-29
- Candidates must be endorsed by the University of Delaware
- Applicants must include a thoughtful essay detailing their interests
and aspirations, with specific reasons for wishing to study a given
area of proposed academic work
Deadline: Applications must be postmarked or, this year, submitted
electronically by midnight October 10, 2003.
For more information and applications contact Katharine
Kerrane at 831-2734 or consult
http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/scholarships.html.
Goldwater Scholarships
These undergraduate awards in honor of Senator Barry M. Goldwater are
made annually to rising juniors and seniors who have outstanding potential
and plan to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or
engineering. The program's objective is to provide a continuing source
of highly qualified individuals to those fields of study and research.
Approximately 300 scholarships were awarded in 2003, the number per
state depending on the number and qualifications of the nominees. The
University is allowed to nominate up to three students in their sophomore
or junior years. Each scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room
and board, up to $7,500 per year. Junior recipients will receive their
award for two years, seniors for one.
General Guidelines
- Applicants must be in their sophomore or junior year at the University
- Although students must be nominated by the University and therefore
will apply in Delaware, awards are made according to the state of
the applicant's legal residence
- Nominees must prepare a statement of interest in a career in one
of the three fields that explains how their academic program and overall
educational plans will prepare them for their chosen career goal.
Selected scholars are expected to pursue advanced degrees
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have a GPA of at least 3.0
and be in the upper quarter of their class
For more information contact Susan
Serra, 831-8995, in the Undergraduate Research Office.
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
The Morris K. Udall Foundation was established by the U.S. Congress
in 1992 to honor Morris King Udall's thirty years of service in the
House of Representatives. The Udall Foundation is committed to educating
a new generation of Americans to preserve and protect their national
heritage through studies in the environment, Native American health
and tribal policy, and effective public policy conflict resolution.
Each year the Foundation awards approximately 80 undergraduate scholarships
of up to $5,000 to American juniors and seniors in fields related to
the environment, and to Native American and Alaska Natives in fields
related to health care or tribal policy. Because environmental issues
can be approached in a multidisciplinary way, the scholarship is offered
to students from a broad range of disciplines. Candidates must have
outstanding potential and study the environment and related fields.
It is anticipated that the candidate's plan of study will include coursework
in ethics and public policy and/or public or community service experience
in the area of the candidate's career fields.
General Guidelines
- Candidates must be sophomores or juniors
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens
- Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.00
- Candidates must be endorsed by the University of Delaware
- Applicants must include a thoughtfully researched essay
Deadline: Applications must be received by early February.
For more information and applications, contact Susan
Serra, 831-8995, in the Undergraduate Research Office and consult
http://www.udall.gov/p_scholarship.htm.
Rhodes Scholarships
Thirty-two scholarships to study at Oxford University for two years
are assigned to the U.S. each year, four for each of eight groups of
states ("districts"). The award is designed to pay the tuition
of one of Oxford's colleges and a living allowance. Applicants must
have "proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard"
and "show integrity of character, interest in and respect for their
fellow beings, the ability to lead, and the energy to use their talents
to the full." They must also be admitted to a place at one of Oxford's
colleges before the award can be made.
General Guidelines
- Candidates should be seniors (in last year) or recent graduates
- Candidates can compete in either their state of legal residence
or the state of their college attendance
- Candidates must be endorsed by the University
- Candidates need to be at least 18 but no more than 24 years old
by October 1 of the year of application and be U.S. citizens
Deadline: 2004 applications are due in October.
For more information: contact Katharine
Kerrane , 831-2734, or http://www.rhodesscholar.org/.
Rotary Club Ambassadorial Scholarships
The Rotary Club Ambassadorial Scholarship, sponsored by Rotary Club
International, is for one academic year of full-time study at an institution
abroad assigned by the Rotary Foundation Trustees. Any field is eligible,
but candidates must possess some level of proficiency in the language
of the country in which they wish to study. Because the scholarship
is primarily ambassadorial and limited to the academic year, recipients
may not be able to earn degrees or diplomas during the study period.
Awards cover tuition, books, travel, room and board. Generally, awards
will range between $13,000 and $25,000, depending upon actual costs
at the assigned study institution.
General Guidelines
- Candidates must have completed at least two years of college by
the start of the 2004-2005 school year.
Deadline: Completed scholarship forms must be returned to the
Newark Morning Rotary Club by April 2003.
For more information and applications, Refer to the web site http://www.rotary.org.
For information or questions about applying, contact Carl Sheran at
(302) 737-1050 or email him at cpsnls@aol.com,
or call Rotary International at (708) 866-3000.
Truman Scholarships
In 2004, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation expects to award
between 75 and 80 merit-based scholarships to juniors who have outstanding
leadership potential, plan to pursue careers in government or elsewhere
in public service, and wish to attend graduate school. Truman Scholars
participate in leadership development programs and have special opportunities
for internships and employment with the federal government. The scholarship
provides up to $30,000, with $3,000 available for the student's senior
year and $27,000 for graduate studies. Scholars in one- or two-year
graduate programs are eligible to receive $13,500 per year. Scholars
in longer programs receive $9,000 per year for 3 years. One state scholarship
will be available to a qualified resident nominee in each of the 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Islands cluster.
General Guidelines
- Candidates must be full-time junior level students (that is, planning
to graduate in the next, not current, academic year)
- Candidates must compete according to their legal residence (address
for tax filing purposes and voter registration)
- Candidates need to be extremely active in public and community service,
be committed to careers in the public sector, have outstanding leadership
potential, and possess intellectual strength, communication skills,
and analytical abilities
- Candidates have to be nominated by the University (UD is allowed
three or four), and finalists will be interviewed by a regional panel
Deadlines: The preliminary (local) application is submitted
in October of the junior year. The official nominees then prepare their
full applications, due in late January. The applications must come directly
from the University.
For more information, contact Katharine
Kerrane, 831-2734, or http://www.Truman.gov/.
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