Graduation with Honors

Latin Honors

All graduating seniors are eligible for Latin honors designations on their transcripts if their complete academic records show at least 45 calculable credits (not pass/fail) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. to receive degrees summa cum laude, students’ GPAs must place them among the top 5 percent of the graduating class of their school or college;
2. to receive degrees magna cum laude, students’ GPAs must place them among the top 10 percent but not among the top 5 percent of the graduating class of their school or college;
3. to receive degrees cum laude, students’ GPAs must place them among the top 25 percent but not among the top 10 percent of the graduating class of their school or college.

At the start of the fall semester, the Registrar’s Office will post the GPA needed to secure a place in the top 5, 10, and 25 percent in each school or college on their website based on the average of the previous three years’ graduating classes.

Commonwealth Honors College Graduation Distinctions

Students may also earn academic recognitions through Commonwealth Honors College (CHC). These honors recognize accomplishments beyond achievement of a high GPA. To be eligible for any of the following recognitions, a student is required to be admitted to Commonwealth Honors College, complete the appropriate honors requirements, and meet the minimum Commonwealth Honors College residency requirement of 45 graded (not pass/fail) UMass Amherst credits (not transferred).

Diploma Honors

The following four Commonwealth Honors College Scholar distinctions are awarded for successful completion of the full honors college curriculum, which is comprised of Breadth of Study courses plus Depth of Study coursework.

Commonwealth Honors College Scholar is awarded upon successful completion of Commonwealth Honors College requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.400, all required honors courses passed with grades of B or higher, and completion of a 6-credit honors thesis with grades of B or higher, including submission of a research manuscript or creative portfolio and documentation to Commonwealth Honors College. This recognition appears on the diploma as "Commonwealth Honors College Scholar" and is also noted on the transcript.

Commonwealth Honors College Scholar with Distinction is awarded upon successful completion of Commonwealth Honors College requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.400, all required honors courses passed with grades of B or higher, and completion of a 6-credit honors thesis experience with grades of B+ or higher, including submission of research manuscript or creative portfolio and documentation to Commonwealth Honors College. This recognition appears on the diploma as "Commonwealth Honors College Scholar with Distinction" and is also noted on the transcript.

Commonwealth Honors College Scholar with Great Distinction is awarded upon successful completion of Commonwealth Honors College requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.600, all required honors courses passed with grades of B or higher, and completion of a 6-credit honors thesis with grades of A- or A, including submission of research manuscript or creative portfolio and documentation to Commonwealth Honors College. This recognition appears on the diploma as "Commonwealth Honors College Scholar with Great Distinction" and is also noted on the transcript.

Commonwealth Honors College Scholar with Greatest Distinction is awarded upon successful completion of Commonwealth Honors College requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.800, all required honors courses passed with grades of B or higher, and completion of a 6-credit honors thesis with grades of A- or A, including submission of a research manuscript or creative portfolio and documentation to Commonwealth Honors College. This recognition appears on the diploma as "Commonwealth Honors College Scholar with Greatest Distinction" and is also noted on the transcript.

Transcript Honors

In addition to the above which appear on both the diploma and transcript, the following honors appear only on the transcript.

Departmental Honors is awarded to students who enter Commonwealth Honors College and complete the Departmental Honors requirements. Departmental Honors admissions criteria and requirements for completion vary by department and may exceed the minimum criteria set by Commonwealth Honors College. The CHC criteria for completion of DH are: a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.400; earned grades of B or higher in four department-focused honors courses, including an honors course at or above the 300 level; the honors thesis, which typically includes two 3-credit courses, one in each semester of the senior year, and its research manuscript or creative portfolio formatted to Commonwealth Honors College standards as well as supporting documentation and/or artifact if required. This distinction appears on the transcript as "Departmental Honors."

Multidisciplinary Honors is awarded to students who concentrate their upper-level honors courses outside their major(s) or between two or more disciplines. Multidisciplinary Honors require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.400; earned grades of B or higher in four honors courses, including one at or above the 300-level; the honors thesis, which typically includes two 3-credit courses, one in each semester of the senior year, and its research manuscript or creative portfolio formatted to Commonwealth Honors College standards as well as supporting documentation and/or artifact if required. This distinction appears on the transcript as "Multidisciplinary Honors."

Detailed information on honors college requirements is located in the Commonwealth Honors College section of this Guide and on the Honors College website.