General Course Information: Honors

Introduction: Professor David Haig

The determination of Honors grades at Harvard is complex. The first thing to understand is the distinction between so-called English Honors and Latin Honors. English Honors is granted by the concentration on the basis of work performed within the concentration. The possible grades of English Honors are Honors, High Honors and Highest Honors. Latin Honors are granted by the University on the basis of work performed in all courses (both within and outside the concentration). The possible grades of Latin Honors are Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude. English and Latin Honors are related because to be eligible for a degree Summa Cum Laude one must receive Highest Honors within the concentration and to be eligible for a degree Magna Cum Laude one must receive either High Honors or Highest Honors within concentration. That is, particular grades of 'English' honors are necessary, but not sufficient, for receiving particular grades of 'Latin Honors.'

THESIS GRADE NOMENCLATURE
Senior theses will now be graded (in ascending order):
No Credit, Creditable, Praiseworthy, Excellent, and Exceptional.

CALCULATION OF HONORS
All concentration requirements and all eligible scientific electives will be used in calculating GPA within concentration. That is, a particularly poor grade cannot be removed from the calculation simply by designating it as an elective taken outside of the concentration or by substituting it with an elective with a higher grade. Thus, GPA within concentration will be calculated for more than 16 half-courses if you have taken more than the required number of scientific electives.

To receive HONORS in Biology, a student must:

Have at least a 3.000 GPA for courses taken within the concentration and a Praiseworthy grade on a senior thesis.
Have at least a 3.333 GPA for courses taken within the concentration and a Creditable grade on a senior thesis.
Have at least a 3.500 GPA for courses taken within the concentration.

To receive HIGH HONORS in Biology, a student must:

Have at least a 3.333 GPA for courses taken within the concentration and an Excellent or Exceptional grade on a senior thesis.
Have at least a 3.500 GPA for courses taken within the concentration and a Praiseworthy grade on a senior thesis.
Have at least a 3.667 GPA for courses taken within the concentration and a Creditable grade on a senior thesis.
Have at least a 3.833 GPA for courses taken within the concentration.

To receive HIGHEST HONORS in Biology, a student must:

Have at least a 3.667 GPA for courses taken within the concentration and an Excellent or Exceptional grade on a senior thesis.
Have at least a 3.833 GPA for courses taken within the concentration and a Praiseworthy grade on a senior thesis.

HONORS CHART

GRADE POINT AVERAGE	NO THESIS or NO CREDIT	CREDITABLE	PRAISEWORTHY	EXCELLENT or EXCEPTIONAL
3.000 (B)	None	None	Hnrs	Hnrs
3.333 (B+)	None	Hnrs	Hnrs	High
3.500 (B+/A-)	Hnrs	Hnrs	High	High
3.667 (A-)	Hnrs	High	High	H'est
3.833 (A-/A)	High	High	H'est	H'est

updated 11/21/07