Graduation Honors

Baccalaureate Honors

The University will confer baccalaureate honors recognition on those students who have earned:

  • At least 25% of total degree hours of graded work at UWF (e.g. 30 hours for a 120 hour degree plan).
  • At least a 3.5 institutional (UWF) GPA.
  • At least a 3.5 overall (transfer and UWF) GPA.
  • Baccalaureate Honors will be based on the lower of the two GPAs; either the cumulative institutional or overall cumulative GPA. The GPA calculation can be found on the unofficial transcript.

Second-degree candidates are eligible for baccalaureate honors recognition with the same requirements as first degree candidates.

The following minimum GPAs are required for graduation honors:

Degree GPA
Cum Laude 3.50
Magna Cum Laude 3.70
Summa Cum Laude 3.90

Previous recognition on the President’s or Dean’s Honor Rolls does not ensure baccalaureate honors at graduation.

**Passed by UWF Faculty Senate on 04/08/2022

Kugelman Honors Program

The UWF Kugelman Honors Program offers unique living and learning opportunities for students in all majors. In addition to their regular coursework, Kugelman Honors Scholars enroll in special interdisciplinary seminars led by the university's most accomplished faculty. Honors scholars also undertake a rigorous thesis project in which they explore a topic of lasting scholarly significance while working closely with a faculty advisor.

Benefits for participation in the program include early registration, exclusive scholarships, small Honors-only seminars (average of 15 students), the option to live in Pace Hall, study abroad opportunities, annotation on the UWF transcript as a Kugelman Honors Scholar, and participation in the Honors Commencement Ceremony. Most importantly, Kugelman Honors scholars are part of the University's oldest and most vibrant living-learning community that fosters lifelong friendships and intellectual camaraderie among students and faculty alike. Admission to the Kugelman Honors Program is normally by invitation only, although applications for admissions are accepted on a limited basis.

For more information, email honors@uwf.edu.

Honors Scholarships

The University of West Florida offers numerous scholarships for high-achieving students. Nearly all students who are invited to join the Kugelman Honors Program are awarded a UWF Admissions Scholarship (Academic Excellence, Nautilus, Argonaut, or Pace Presidential).

The Kugelman Honors Program provides two scholarships to all students in the Honors Program, pending availability of funds. These scholarships are the John C. Pace, Jr. Honors Scholarship to support high-impact learning experiences and the Honors Tuition Scholarship to defray tuition costs while students are conducting research for their Honors thesis. In addition, the Honors Program offers Honors Leadership Scholarships to selected students who are active on campus and in the community as student leaders and Honors Need-Based Scholarships to support leadership training, research, and travel for students interested in diversity-related topics.

If you have questions about our scholarships, visit the Honors scholarship page, email honors@uwf.edu, or call the Honors Program at 850-474-2934.

GPA Requirement:

All students in the Kugelman Honors Program must maintain a 3.00 G.P.A. at UWF.

Failure to meet this requirement will result in being placed on probation in the Honors Program. If an Honors student fails to achieve a 3.00 G.P.A. for two consecutive semesters, the student will become academically ineligible to be a member of the Honors Program. Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be terminated for non-participation.

Students who have become academically ineligible can apply for reinstatement to the Kugelman Honors Program once their G.P.A. exceeds 3.00 by submitting a petition for reinstatement to the Honors Director.

Community Service and E-Portfolio Requirement

Before graduating, Honors students are required to complete focused community service. They must also complete the Honors E-Portfolio, an online collection of service and academic accomplishments that highlight the student's development as a leader and scholar over their time in college.

Students will take a one-credit seminar, Service Learning and E-Portfolio Development (IDH 3701), in their second year to learn about Honors service projects and how to prepare the portfolio required for graduation from the program. Students are able to complete independent community service or participate in projects organized by UWF, academic departments, the Honors Program, and the Honors Council Service Committee.

Program Requirements

In addition to course requirements, all Honors students must complete:

  1. Submission of Honors thesis approved by the faculty advisor and the Honors Director.
  2. Leadership and service portfolio.
  3. Completion of community service hours as approved by the Honors Director or Assistant Director.
  4. Public presentation of Honors thesis (preferably at a state, regional, or national conference).
  5. One high-impact educational experience as approved by the Honors Director (2-year pathway students only).

Honors 4-Year Pathway (for students entering Honors directly from high school)

Choose two of the following three core courses.6
Honors Core: Humanities
Honors Core: Social Sciences
Honors Core: Natural Sciences
Complete the following.
IDH 3701Service Learning and E-Portfolio Development1
IDH 3055Honors Thesis Research Methods1
IDH 403X Honors Seminar6
IDH 4970Honors Thesis1-6
 

Honors 2-Year Pathway

For transfer students or current UWF students who have completed at least 30 hours of college credit and plan to spend at least four semesters at UWF after admission to the Honors Program.

Students should take directed study credit hours for completion of high-impact experience requirement.

IDH 3042Honors Core: Systems Thinking and Interdisciplinary Research3
IDH 3701Service Learning and E-Portfolio Development1
IDH 3055Honors Thesis Research Methods1
IDH 4970Honors Thesis1-6
IDH 403X Honors Seminar3
IDH 4905 Directed Study1-3
Total Hours10-17

Honor Rolls

President's List

Students who earn a semester GPA of 3.90 or higher on a minimum of six semester hours of graded A-F course work at UWF are recognized on the President's List for that semester.

Dean's List

Students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50-3.89 on a minimum of six semester hours of graded A-F course work at UWF in any semester are recognized on the Dean's List for that semester.

Other Honors

Several colleges and departments of the University recognize meritorious achievement in appropriate ways.