Degrees
are conferred at the annual commencement at the end of the spring semester.
Students completing degree requirements in August (after Summer Session) or
January (after the fall semester) will receive a letter of completion by the
end of their graduation month, and will have the degree noted on the official
Rutgers transcript approximately one month after graduation. All diplomas are
mailed to the student's permanent mailing address (or address provided on the
Diploma Application) within three months of degree completion.
Graduation with Honors. The bachelor's degree is conferred
with honors based on the final cumulative GPA, per the distinctions below. Graduation
honors are noted on the transcript and diploma. Averages are not rounded to the
next higher number in the calculation of honors.
3.500
- 3.699 Cum Laude
3.700
- 3.849 Magna Cum Laude
3.850
- 4.000 Summa Cum Laude
Students who successfully complete
the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program receive special
recognition at graduation. Academic departments may recommend students for
departmental honors or recognition based on special work and/or examinations.
See statements under individual department listings.
Phi Beta Kappa. Phi Beta Kappa, established
in 1776, is the oldest and most widely recognized liberal arts honorary society
in the United States. Each spring semester, the Phi Beta Kappa Society invites
to membership the outstanding students of the junior and senior classes.
Election to the society is based on high academic achievement, a record of
coursework that is at least three-quarters liberal in nature, proficiency in a
world language through the intermediate level, a minimum of two years equivalent
of full-time coursework at Rutgers University, and breadth of scholarship.
Departmental
Honors. Many
departments have a departmental honors program for outstanding students in
their majors. Small group seminars, honors course sequences, specialized
advising, and senior thesis programs are available in certain departments. For
further information about the specific offerings of the departmental honors
program in a particular department, see the website for each major program.
National Society of Collegiate
Scholars.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honors organization
which recognizes outstanding academic achievement among first- and second-year
college students. The society was founded in 1994 at The George Washington
University in Washington, D.C., and has grown to 218 colleges and universities
nationwide. The three pillars of the society are: scholarship, leadership, and
service.
Prizes
and Honors. The
School of Arts and Sciences, academic departments, and other units of Rutgers
University offer a variety of prizes and awards for students with excellent
academic records or special eligibility. Students should consult with their
academic departments and visit the corresponding websites for additional
information.
Post-Obitum Degrees. In the unfortunate event of
the death of a student while registered at the School of Arts and Sciences as a
senior, requests will be considered for the awarding of the degree that was
being earned. The request may be submitted in writing to the Rutgers Offices of the Dean of Students.
School of Arts and Sciences 
