University of Virginia Library

DEGREES WITH HONORS

The courses required for the B.A. and cultural B.S. degrees are adapted to
the powers of the average student, and any graduate of an accredited school, who
has, either by certificate or examination, satisfied the requirements for admission
to the College of Arts and Sciences, if he is reasonably industrious and regular in
his studies, should obtain one of these degrees without great difficulty in four
sessions' work. In every body of students, however, there are a number who
possess greater ability and application than the average, and whose ambition aims
higher than a bare pass-mark on their work. For the proper stimulation of such
students toward the best that they can do, and for due and authoritative recognition
of unusual ability and high achievement in studies, the Academic Faculty
has instituted the following system of Special Honors:

Intermediate Honors

A certificate of Intermediate Honors is conferred by the Academic
Faculty on the student who, during his first two regular sessions in the
College of Arts and Sciences of this University, has passed not less than ten
academic courses, including six of the eight Required Courses, without failure
on any course, and with an average grade on all courses of 85 per cent.
or more each session.

The holder of a Certificate of Intermediate Honors, so long as he has no
grade below 75 per cent. on the work of any term in any course, is not subject
to the rules limiting absence from the University, nor does absence from any class
entail on such student any penalty, affecting class-standing, imposed for absence
alone.

The Certificates of Intermediate Honors are publicly conferred at the Annual
Convocation of the University following the session in which the honors have
been attained. The names of the holders of these certificates are published under
a separate heading in the annual catalogue of the University.

Final Honors

Final Honors are conferred only on graduation, and the diploma of B.A.
or B.S. with Final Honors states that the honors were won in a given academic
school.

A student who wishes to attain Final Honors must be accepted as a candidate
for honors two sessions before graduation. Any student who has met the requirements
for the Dean's List for two sessions may apply to become a candidate for
Final Honors. Application must be made first to the Dean, and, if approved by
him, must also be approved by one of the academic schools which offer work for
honors. A list of such schools is published annually.

Final honors are conferred on the basis of a final comprehensive examination,
both oral and written, on some field of knowledge, and not for work done in
any or all of the regular courses required for a baccalaureate degree. Honors
work involves wide and independent reading for two years, under the general
direction of the professors of an academic school. It does not require regular
attendance upon lectures or the passing of any tests or examinations, except the

final examinations, though consultations and reports may be required. Its aim is
the development of a capacity for scholarly work in a field of knowledge, rather
than a mastery of required details of subject matter.

The completion of work for Final Honors may be counted as credit
towards a B.A. or cultural B.S. degree in lieu of two courses, other than Required
Courses. In the event that the work for honors is not of sufficiently
high quality for Final Honors to be conferred, credit for two courses toward
a degree without honors may be granted upon recommendation of the
academic school in charge.