Honors Standing
Three grades of honors are awarded at commencement to undergraduate students who have maintained a superior level of achievement during the entire* undergraduate program:
- Summa Cum Laude, or highest honors, is awarded to those having a GPA of 3.90 and no grade below B for all course work;
- Magna Cum Laude, or high honors, is awarded to those having a GPA of 3.70 and no grade below C;
- Cum Laude, or with honor, is awarded to those having a GPA of 3.50 or above.
*Honors standings are calculated based on all attempted college-level work. All attempted college level work includes transfer credits, dual enrollment credits and all credits earned at MSMC.
Scholars
In order to foster scholarly activity and to recognize academic achievement, the faculty, upon the recommendation of the Academic Standards Committee, may confer the title of Aquinas Scholar or Ralph Scholar. These scholars must have attained a high degree of proficiency in their studies and have demonstrated initiatives and/or activities that exemplify a sincere commitment to learning at Mount Saint Mary College. The candidates must be enrolled as full-time students.
The title Aquinas Scholar is awarded to juniors or seniors who have completed at least 30 credits at Mount Saint Mary College. The students must have attained a minimum GPA of 3.60 and have received the recommendation and approval of the division in which their major is offered. Only up to 5% of the students per division per class, or three students per division per class, whichever number is larger, may be nominated.
The title Ralph Scholar is awarded to sophomores who have completed at least 30 credits, 24 of them at Mount Saint Mary College, in the freshman year. Students must have attained a GPA of 3.40 and have received the recommendation of at least two faculty members. Ralph Scholars may be nominated by any individual faculty member on the basis of overall freshman performance, not as divisional majors. Only 5% of the class may be named.
The title Sr. Agnes Boyle Scholar is awarded to seniors in the Adult Degree Completion Program who have completed at least 24 credits at Mount Saint Mary College, and is limited to students seeking their first undergraduate degree. These students must have attained a minimum GPA of 3.60 and have received the recommendation and approval of both the Division Chair of their declared major, and the Director of the Adult Degree Completion Program. Only up to 5% of students per major, or three students per major, whichever number is larger, may be nominated.
Dean's List
The Dean's List is announced at the end of each traditional (fall and spring) semester. The Dean's List includes the names of students who have carried at least 12 graded credits in a semester. A minimum semester GPA of 3.50 in the graded courses is required.
Students with unresolved incomplete (I) grades will not be considered for academic awards. Only students with resolved I grades due to emergencies (illness or family) or due to the nature of the course will be retroactively considered for the Dean's List.