I understand that you are awarded the distinction of graduating with honors based on your GPA (usually 3.5+). However, what is an "Honors Degree?" I recently read an article by a man with "an honors degree." Is he simply saying that he graduated with a high GPA or did he earn something extra-extraordinary? NOTE: I am not referring to an honorary degree, but an "honors degree." Any clarification is appreciated - thanks.
Depends what country the degree was from. In South Africa, for example, a bachelor's degree -- e.g. BA -- is a 3 year degree; an Honours degree -- e.g. BA(Hons) -- is 4 years.
I believe that involves some special honors courses or seminars and a thesis. This page has some info.
It depends on the school. You're probably more interested in the US; but at my Canadian alma mater, the University of Alberta, the Computing [sic] Science degrees offered are "B.Sc. Honors in CompSci" (4 years, tough courses); "B.Sc. Specialization in CompSci" (4 years, easier courses); and "B.Sc. General - CompSci Minor" (3 years). http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/programs/undergraduate/ If you maintain a GPA of 3.5 over the last 2 years, you get a degree "with distinction". (The University of Alberta just switched to a 4.0/letter-grade scale this year. Before that, you had to maintain a GPA of 7.5 on a 9-point scale.)
OK, thanks for the links and comments. It appears that some context would be helpful when throwing around the word “honors.” What then do I put on my resume? I will be graduating with “Overall Honors” from COSC (4.0 GPA). To me, “Overall Honors” carries with it the connotation of “On Average Honors.” To be sure, the 4.0 GPA will explain the quality of work submitted for the degree and the added distinction of “Overall Honors.” However, I still don’t like it! Am I justified in changing the “Overall Honors” to something that, to me at least, is more favorable? Even just dropping the “Overall?” I would not claim an honors degree; my exams never had “Honors DANTES” written on them!
I wouldn't put anything on your resume except the GPA. If you list "Overall Honors" or something similar, then you may get questions about what it all means. Which may lead (in an interview, for example) to a distracting conversation. I have some experience with such distractions. I obtained my undergraduate degree with "First Class Honours" (which meant the same as "Magna Cum Lauda"). So I listed "First Class Honours" on my resume. My degree was subsequently presented in a faculty list on a university website as a "BSc(Hons)". This was presumably some secretary's interpretation of what was on my resume. But see my post above for what "BSc(Hons)" means. Another faculty member complained to the administration that I was misrepresenting my degree. So I had to do some explaining, and point out that the resume was completely accurate but had been misinterpreted. The whole episode was rather unpleasant. And could have been avoided entirely if I had been less vain! List the degree, year, and GPA and leave it at that. IMHO.
According to http://www.cosc.edu/catalog/CATALOG_1998.pdf, Charter Oak State College seems to award "Honors in Scholarship" (based on overall QPA); "Honors in Course (Concentration)" (based on QPA in one's concentration); and "Honors by Exam" (based on exam scores). I don't know what "QPA" is, but it seems similar to GPA. For QPA of 3.9 or above, you get "Highest Honors". You would seem to qualify for "Highest Honors" both "in Scholarship" and "in Concentration". So it would be no lie at all to say "Bachelor of whatever with Highest Honors".
I graduated from COSC with a 3.55 and my diploma says "Bachelor of Science with Honors" to keep it simple, my resume lists - 2003 COSC, BS in Technology & Business, GPA 3.55
Indeed! Vanity is admittedly quite likely the culprit here. GPA should be sufficient for me; it certainly suffices for academia. Other than some pleasurable pontification, I know not how the honors distinction would hold any more utility than my GPA. I never went to high school (much less graduate) and the last time I had any affiliation with a school, I was ~14 years old (25 now). I bluffed my way into the Marines and the only certificates I have are a stack of utterly useless (in civilian life) various military accomplishments. Needless to say, I will be proud of my degree. However, I don’t want that pride to morph into pomposity; something I can easily foresee. Nor do I want my resume to appear pretentious. What is the norm for listing degrees with distinction?
There are three designations in wide use in the case of U.S. GPA based honors titles: Summa cum laude - "with highest honors" GPA >= 3.90 magna cum laude - "with high honors" GPA >= 3.50 < 3.90 cum laude . . . . . . - "with honors" >= 3.00 < 3.50 A UK honors degree ( in England, NI, Wales, but not in Scotland) can be three or four years in length. It is not the case (or not necessarily the case) that the UK 4-year honors degree is superior in any way to the UK 3-year honors degree. However, there is a class of 3-year degree that is inferior - the "pass" or ordinary degree. In Scotland, an honors degree takes 4 years, is superior to a Scottish 3-year degree (always a "pass degree" or "ordinary degree"), and, (get it while you can) the 4-year honors degree is quite often conferred as an MA by the ancient institutions. UK 4 year honors degree and 3 year honors degree : 2.2 - "second degree honors" or "second lower" or "lower second" 2.1 - "second upper" or "upper second" 1 1st - "first class honors" Generally, for purposes of entry into advanced degree programs, it is my experience that UK and Australian graduate schools tend to accept a US GPA >= 3.0 as at least a 2.2, a US GPA >= 3.5 as 2.1, and a US GPA >= 3.9 as a first. An undergraduate thesis may sometimes be a requirement, but I've never found it an obstacle. Some UK universities do specify equivalencies, and these do vary, one institution to another, but those detailed above are par for the course. I and others detailed some specific example about five years ago in AED - should be available still, if interested. Lawrie Miller http://bain4weeks.com .
