Honors
Outstanding students may attain a variety of academic honors at Wheaton. Students with semester averages of 3.25 or better may be named to the Dean's List. Students with cumulative GPA's of 3.75 at the end of each year may be designated Presidential Award recipients. Others with outstanding achievements in particular areas may earn departmental prizes at Honors Convocation at the close of the academic year.
Students may become candidates for honors in their fields of concentration at the invitation of their major departments or advisors at the end of their junior year. Candidates for honors complete at least two semesters of special or independent work beyond the usual departmental requirements and an oral examination on that work. Most students will fulfill this requirement with two semesters of senior thesis (Individual Research 500) in their senior year. Candidates must also have an average of B+ (3.33) in all courses in the major and an overall average of B (3.0). Independent majors who meet the requirements for honors will be designated Wheaton Scholars.
Students may be granted the degree with Latin Honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) on the basis of their overall academic record. High-ranking juniors and seniors may be elected to the Wheaton College chapter (KAPPA of Massachusetts) of Phi Beta Kappa. Selected departments also nominate students to major honor societies within the discipline. Criteria vary by department.