University of Virginia Library

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 examination, 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 6 session-hours of Electives-at-Large
or Major-Electives. In the event that the work for honors is not
of sufficiently high quality for Final Honors to be conferred, 6 session-hours'
credit toward a degree without honors may be granted upon recommendation
of the academic school in charge.