Students who are interested in graduating with Academic Distinction should understand the policies and procedures before applying. Students considering this award will be required to complete a special project or scholarly paper under the supervision of a committee that will also oversee the acceptance of the student’s work for the completion of Academic Distinction. 

Policy 

Academic Distinction in the Department of the Major is earned by completing a scholarly paper or special project under the supervision of a committee of at least three degreed faculty and/or staff members. The project may not be used to earn any other form of honor, and the steps detailed below must be followed, including deadlines. Failure to meet criteria and/or deadlines will disqualify the student from earning this honor.  

Qualifications 

The student making application shall at the time of application have a minimum of 75 semester hours of credit, a 3.25 grade point average in the department of the major, and a 3.0 overall grade point average, as verified by the Office of the Registrar.  

Procedure 

Step 1

  • The student must first read the information in this handbook about Academic Distinction in the Department of the Major. When the student has a tentative topic, he or she will identify a member of the faculty in the major to serve as the proposed chair of the project.  
  • The student completes the form “Application for Academic Distinction in the Department of the Major” available in the Registrar’s Office.  
  • The Registrar’s Office determines whether the student meets minimum qualifications:
    • Completion of a minimum of 75 degree hours 
    • Minimum grade point average of 3.25 in the major 
    • Minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 
    • The student must apply and complete steps 1-8 before the first day of classes in the student’s graduation or commencement semester, whichever is first. After evaluation of the student’s eligibility, the Registrar’s Office will forward a completed copy of the form to the proposed committee chair.  

Step 2

If the student meets the minimum qualifications, he or she, in consultation with the proposed committee chair, will describe the proposed scope and nature of the project or paper, with a tentative thesis statement and the plan for completion. The proposal will be forwarded to the chair of the department of the student’s major. 

  • Upon the chair’s approval, the student, committee chair, and department chair will develop a proposed committee member list numbering not less than two faculty or staff members, in addition to the committee chair.
    • If the project proposed is of an interdisciplinary nature, the committee shall include representative(s) from all disciplines.  
    • At least one member of the committee must not serve in the department of the major. 
    • Members who fulfill the requirements of Item A may also fulfill the requirements of Item B. For example: If the study involves the effects of Indigenous cultures on pre-school age children, and the student’s major is Child Development, a member of the Anthropology faculty could serve both as a representative of one of the disciplines and also as a member not in the department of the major.  
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