Loyola University Chicago

College of Arts & Sciences

Honors

Dean's List

The College of Arts and Sciences dean's list is a semester-by-semester acknowledgement of those full-time students (taking 12 semester hours or more) who obtain at least a 3.5 grade point average in any given academic semester. Students on the dean's list receive a personal acknowledgement from the dean.

Departmental Honors

Departmental honors at graduation will be conferred on those students who meet the specific requirements for departmental honors. Students seeking departmental honors in their major should consult their departmental website and faculty advisor. If you are not sure who your major advisor is, contact the department.

Honor Societies

Phi Beta Kappa, one of the most prestigious national honor societies, recognizes academic achievement and commitment to the liberal arts and sciences. Faculty members of Phi Beta Kappa identify candidates who are invited to become members on the basis of GPA and other requirements. For more information, visit the Kappa of Illinois chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Alpha Sigma Nu is the National Honor Society of Jesuit colleges and universities throughout the world. Its purpose is to acknowledge the Jesuit ideals of intellectual excellence, community service and integrity. Invitations to apply for Alpha Sigma Nu are extended to candidates who have demonstrated those Jesuit ideals in their lives.

University Honors Program

Since 1936 the College of Arts and Sciences has sponsored an Honors Program for the university's most talented and motivated undergraduate students. It provides an educational environment to inspire the highest level of performance and to create special educational experiences appropriate for the college's most talented students. Students in all undergraduate colleges may be admitted to the program. Honors requirements are adjusted to fit the requirements of each college.

The director of the Honors Program has responsibility for planning and implementing general program policy. In addition, the director serves as academic counselor to all honors students.

All students admitted to the Honors Program are assumed to be candidates for an honors degree; continued membership is therefore based on regular progress toward completion of honors degree requirements. These requirements are compatible with any conventional degree program and with any major available in the university.

As the highest academic distinction awarded by the university, the honors degree commands special acknowledgement. Candidates are identified separately in the commencement program, and the word "Honors" follows the degree citation, e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Honors. The official transcript identifies all honors courses.

Admission: Application to the Honors Program is part of the admission process to Loyola University. The Undergraduate Admission Office identifies potential members through high-school records and standardized test scores.  The formal application process includes a brief essay and a faculty recommendation. Students are admitted to the Honors Program prior to the beginning of freshman year. To download the application, visit the Honors Program site.

Regulations and Definitions: On the certification of the honors director, honors credit is recorded on the student's official transcript and is the basis for the award of the honors degree. Honors credit may be earned in the following way:

Honors courses: Inter-departmental courses, designated by the Honors Program as honors courses, automatically carry honors credit if the student earns a grade of "C" or better. Such courses, open only to honors students, may correspond to conventional offerings of a department, or they may be courses for which there is no counterpart in the conventional curriculum. Honors courses are marked by small enrollment, distinguished teaching, and intellectual sophistication.

Collegiate Honors: The honors degree is awarded on the recommendation of the Honors Council to qualified graduates who meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Twenty-seven credit hours of coursework specifically carrying honors credit
  • A 200-or-300 level Service Learning Course
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.33

For more information about the Honors Program, contact the program director at 773.508.2780 or visit the Honors Program site.

Laudatory Honors at Graduation

Students earning 60 or more graded Loyola credits are eligible to graduate with laudatory standing according to the criteria below. This outstanding accomplishment will be noted on the students' diplomas, transcript, and at the graduation ceremony.

Cumulative Loyola GPALaudatory Honor
3.500 - 3.699 Cum laude (with praise)
3.700 - 3.899 Magna cum laude (with high praise)
3.900 or higher Summa cum laude (with highest praise)

Note: GPA is not rounded for laudatory honors.