Latin Honors

For determination of eligibility for Latin Honors, a student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) will mean the cumulative average of all grades earned at Tufts. Grades in courses taken at institutions other than Tufts shall not be used to calculate GPA, nor shall they be used to satisfy Latin Honors requirements for the number of As earned in a major. Exceptions to this rule are: courses taken through cross‐registration, Tufts domestic exchange programs, and Tufts programs abroad. (See also: Thesis Honors Program.) Advanced placement scores are not interpreted as grades.

Distinction (cum laude)

Distinction (cum laude) is conferred at commencement on liberal arts students who achieve a record of five credits of A or A‐ in the courses required for one of their majors, including related fields, and whose cumulative GPA is 3.50 or higher.

High distinction (magna cum laude)

High distinction (magna cum laude) may be conferred at commencement on liberal arts students who achieve a record of six credits of A or A‐ in the courses required for one of their majors, including related fields, and whose cumulative GPA is 3.65 or higher. The department must vote to confirm high distinction.

Highest distinction (summa cum laude)

Highest distinction (summa cum laude) may be conferred at commencement on liberal arts students who achieve a record of six credits of A or A‐ in the courses required for one of their majors including related fields, and whose cumulative GPA is 3.80 or better. Students must further satisfy any requirements stated by their major department or program for highest distinction, which will be confirmed by a vote of that faculty. Finally, summa cum laude is awarded only by special vote of the entire faculty, recognizing extraordinary achievement in the breadth, as well as the depth, of the student’s intellectual development. Students whose record includes a serious disciplinary infraction will not normally be eligible for summa cum laude honors. Exceptions to this policy can be made only after disclosure by the Dean of Student Affairs of the details of the infraction and subsequent vote by the faculty.