Graduating with Honors

The University offers three levels of honors at graduation: cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude. Please note that...

Transfer credits and S-U option credits are excluded.
Post-baccalaureate students are not eligible for honors recognition.
Honors recognition is printed on the university diploma.

To graduate with the distinction of cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude, a student must meet the requirements below and be recommended by the College faculty.

The student must have completed at least 45 semester hours of credit in residence at the university. Only the junior-/senior-level GPA exclusive of internship will be considered.

Cum Laude

To graduate cum laude, a student must have earned a 3.40 or higher GPA for all coursework taken while classified as a junior/senior.

Magna or Summa Cum Laude

Students in the College of HHP are eligible for magna cum laude or summa cum laude by earning a 3.70 or higher GPA for all coursework taken while classified as a junior/senior and completing a senior paper or creative work. The student’s supervisory committee makes the recommendation for these distinctions based upon an evaluation of this work.

APK Departmental Process

Magna Cum Laude — High Honors

Earn an upper division GPA of 3.7 or higher on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits, excluding internship.

Summa Cum Laude — Highest Honors

Earn an upper division GPA of 3.7 or higher on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits, excluding internship, and complete an undergraduate thesis.
Once the student has identified an APK faculty willing to work with them on a proposed project and a plan outlined for the project, the faculty mentor must email the APK Academic Advisor (student must be cc’d on the email) declaring intent to proceed with an honors thesis project. See below for deadlines to send declaration of intent email and to submit final honors thesis:

Deadlines for Spring Graduation:
Declaration of intent — March 15 of prior year
Submission of honors thesis — 5:00 p.m. on last day of classes in semester of graduation

Deadlines for Summer or Fall Graduation:
Declaration of intent — October 15 of prior year
Submission of honors thesis — 5:00 p.m. on last day of classes in semester of graduation

(Example: A student anticipating a Spring 2019 graduation would need to have their faculty mentor email a declaration of intent on behalf of the student no later than March 15, 2018. Final project would be due at 5:00 p.m. on the last day of classes in Spring 2019.)

See the APK Honors Guidelines for more information on the expectations and requirements for completing an undergraduate thesis.

HEB Departmental Process

Magna Cum Laude — High Honors

Earn an upper division GPA of 3.70 or higher on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits, excluding internship.
Choose two faculty members from the Department of Health Education and Behavior to serve on your honors committee.

Honors Committee Chair – Primary reviewer of honors project
Honors Committee Reviewer – Secondary reviewer of honors project

Meet with the chair of your honors committee the semester PRIOR to your internship semester to discuss project in lieu of thesis ideas and how to get started.
Complete the Honors Application Form and submit to HEB Honors Coordinator via heb-advising@hhp.ufl.edu for review and processing.
Complete the Project in Lieu of Thesis (review Honors Guidelines)

Summa Cum Laude — Highest Honors

Earn an upper division GPA of 3.70 or higher on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits, excluding internship, and complete an undergraduate thesis.

Choose two faculty members from the Department of Health Education and Behavior to serve on your honors committee.

Honors Committee Chair – Primary reviewer of honors thesis
Honors Committee Reviewer – Secondary reviewer of honors thesis

Meet with the chair of your honors committee the semester PRIOR to your internship semester to discuss thesis ideas and how to get started.
Complete the Honors Application Form and submit to HEB Honors Coordinator via heb-advising@hhp.ufl.edu for review and processing.
Complete the Senior Thesis (review Honors Guidelines)

Declaration of Intent Deadline Dates

**Students must declare intent to pursue highest honors two semesters prior (including summer) to their internship semester**

Deadlines for Spring Graduation:
Declaration of intent High Honors— Fall semester prior to internship (drop/add or before) – September 1^stDeclaration of intent Highest Honors— Spring semester prior to internship (drop/add or before) – January 12^thSubmission of honors thesis/project — Please review Honors Guidelines

Deadlines for Summer Graduation:
Declaration of intent High Honors— Spring semester prior to internship (drop/add or before) – January 12^th
Declaration of intent Highest Honors— Summer semester prior to internship (drop/add or before) – May 5^thSubmission of honors thesis/project — Please review Honors Guidelines

Deadlines for Fall Graduation:
Declaration of intent High Honors— Summer semester prior to internship (drop/add or before) – May 5^th
Declaration of intent Highest Honors— Fall semester prior to internship (drop/add or before) – September 1^stSubmission of honors thesis/project — Please review Honors Guidelines

SPM Departmental Process

Magna Cum Laude — High Honors

Earn an upper division GPA of 3.7 or higher on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits, excluding internship and complete an undergraduate thesis/project.

Summa Cum Laude — Highest Honors

Earn an upper division GPA of 3.7 or higher on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits, excluding internship and complete an undergraduate thesis/project.
Once the student has identified a SPM faculty willing to work with them on a proposed project and a plan outlined for the project, the student must email the SPM Academic Advisor (faculty member must be cc’d on the email) declaring intent to proceed with an honors thesis/project. See below for deadlines to send declaration of intent email and to submit final honors thesis/project.

Deadlines for Spring Graduation:
Declaration of intent — January 20^th of the spring term you will be graduating
Submission of honors thesis/project — 5:00 p.m. on last day of classes in semester of graduation

Deadlines for Summer Graduation:
Declaration of intent — May 20^th of the summer term you will be graduating
Submission of honors thesis — 5:00 p.m. on July 25^th

Deadlines for Fall Graduation:
Declaration of intent — September 15^th of the fall term you will be graduating
Submission of honors thesis — 5:00 p.m. on last day of classes in semester of graduation

For more information, please schedule a meeting with a SPM Academic Advisor.

THEM Departmental Process