Academic Distinction
All undergraduate students at Sam Houston State are able to participate in the Academic Distinction program once they have reached junior status or completed 60 credit hours. To qualify, students must have a 3.25 SHSU GPA and a 3.5 major GPA at the time they begin the program. Students will complete two zero-hour courses (ACAD 4098: Academic Distinction I, and ACAD 4099: Academic Distinction II) on research or a creative project under the guidance of a faculty member. Upon completion of the project, the student's degree will be conferred "With Academic Distinction."
To be cleared to register for the Academic Distinction courses, students must submit a completed Academic Distinction Proposal form to the Dean of the Honors College. At the beginning of the last semester in which students graduate, students must submit the signed Graduating with Academic Distinction form to the Honors College by the 12th day of classes. Please submit forms in PDF format via email.
Students are not required to be members of the Honors College to graduate with Academic Distinction.
Honors students who choose to write an Honors thesis may take HONR 4398: Thesis I and HONR 4399: Thesis II in lieu of ACAD 4098: Academic Distinction I and ACAD 4099: Academic Distinction II. The Honors student's degree will be conferred with "Highest Honors, Honors College" and "With Academic Distinction in the Field."
McNair students may take MCNR 4305: Research in lieu of ACAD 4098. They must register for ACAD 4099: Academic Distinction II to complete the course requirements for Academic Distinction (Honors students in McNair, however, must take HONR 4399: Thesis II).
Anyone with questions about graduating with Academic Distinction may contact the Dean of the Honors College, Dr. Kimberly Bell.