Latin honors

Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned.

Related Topics:
Latin - Academic degree

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There are typically three types of Latin honors. In order of increasing level of honor, they are:

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• cum laude ("with honor")
• magna cum laude ("with great honor")
• summa cum laude ("with highest honor")

A fourth honor, honoris causa (for the sake of honor) is used when a university bestows an honorary degree.

Related Topics:
Honoris causa - Honorary degree

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These honors are awarded to those undergraduate and graduate students who have achieved academic distinction. The honor is typically indicated on the diploma.

Related Topics:
Undergraduate - Graduate - Diploma

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Generally, a college or university's degree regulations give clear rules for the minimum grades and other requirements - such as a written thesis - necessary to obtain specific honors distinctions.

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While the use of Latin honors for undergraduate degrees is generally limited to American academia, their use with doctorate degrees is common world-wide. For example, the Netherlands use a one-class Latin honors system at least for the Master's diplomas. The British undergraduate degree classification is a different scheme, widely used (with some variation) in UK, Ireland and Hong Kong.

Related Topics:
American - British undergraduate degree classification - UK - Ireland - Hong Kong

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Latin honors: History of usage in America ►