Honors in the Philosophy Major
Like many colleges and universities, Tufts is pleased to confer
Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude)
on its deserving graduates.
The minimum eligibility requirements for Latin Honors—which include
minimum GPA numbers as well as A or A-minus grades in the
distribution areas—are announced in
The
Tufts Bulletin. Cum laude honors are automatically
awarded to all students who meet these requirements. The procedure
for conferring magna and summa cum laude honors is
more complicated.
Each semester, the faculty of each major department is informed
which of its second-semester seniors may end up being eligible for
magna or summa honors and, after considering the
relevant evidence carefully, meets to vote on each case. The
Philosophy Department will not consider for magna or
summa honors any student who has not taken at least four
Philosophy courses number 100 or above. The departmental votes
are only recommendations. In potential summa cases, the vote
count is accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the
department.
The department’s recommendations are considered by a special
college-wide committee of faculty and deans. This committee has the
power to confirm or deny magna nominations. Summa
nominations are voted on by the entire faculty.
Please note that students are at no stage involved in the
nomination process or the process of determining awards. If you
are a Philosophy major and think you may be meet the minimum
eligibility requirements for Latin honors, rest assured that your
case will be brought to the Department’s attention at the proper
time. |
