“Latin Honors” (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) is an award attached to the degree rather than to the major.  Therefore the student's undergraduate school, not the major department, awards Latin Honors, and students with a second major in Economics cannot participate in the Economics Honors Program unless their “prime” major is also in Arts & Sciences.  The College of Arts & Sciences awards Latin Honors based on GPA (which must be at least 3.65) and the recommendation of a student's major department.  Each department sets its own standards for such a recommendation, and the department's recommendation is usually followed by the College, provided the 3.65 GPA threshold is achieved.  Because Latin Honors is awarded at the College level, an eligible student with two (Arts & Sciences) majors may participate in only one department's honors program.  The College will assign the three levels of Latin Honors to fixed percentages of all eligible Arts & Sciences students each year:  the top 15 percent in overall grade point average of Latin honors candidates, with the recommendation of their major departments, will graduate summa cum laude; the next 35 percent, magna cum laude; the final 50 percent, cum laude. 

In the Department of Economics, a student selects one honors "track," and completes 9 units (3 classes) of additional coursework, over-and-above the major requirements.  The two “tracks” are:  “Latin Honors with Thesis” and “Latin Honors by Coursework.”  

In addition to the major requirements, students selecting the "Latin Honors with Thesis" track must successfully complete the following:

1. One of: Econ 4151, Math 3200 or Math 493  (Note:  Math 493 is different from Econ 493.) The department prefers completion of Econ 4151, ideally during the junior year, but not later than the fall semester of the senior year.
2. The thesis, via enrollment in Econ 498 (Fall) and Econ 499 (Spring).
3. The thesis defense, which will be scheduled in the spring of the senior year.

Thesis candidates are expected to participate in the department's Honors Conference and/or the Undergraduate Research Symposium.  Ideally, the Economics major is completed during, or before, the fall semester of the senior year.  Note that the “Latin Honors with Thesis” requirements cannot be completed in time for December graduation.  Participants must, therefore, graduate in May. The Department awards (monetary) prizes for excellence in economics to students who write a high quality thesis.  If you win a prize, this becomes a part of your permanent academic record – noted on your transcript.  

Alternatively, a student may select the "Latin Honors by Coursework" track.  In addition to the major requirements, students selecting this track must successfully complete the following:

1. One of: Econ 4151, Math 3200 or Math 493.  (Note: Math 493 is different from Econ 493.)
2. Two economics electives having Econ 4011 and/or Econ 4021 as a prerequisite.
   1. The major requirements and (at least) one of the two additional Econ 4011/4021 prerequisite electives should be completed by the end of the fall semester of the senior year. 
   2. One of the additional advanced electives must be:  Econ 4111, Econ 4151, Econ 429, Econ 452, Econ 467, Econ 472, Econ 4721, Econ 477, Econ 501, Econ 502, Econ 503, or 504. 

i. Students who select Econ 4151 to meet item #1, above, may not “double count” the course as one of the additional advanced electives.  In this case, students must select a different course from the list, above, as one of the “required” additional advanced electives.

ii. Students selecting Econ 501 or 503 should meet with the Academic Coordinator in the semester prior to their anticipated enrollment.

Further Information

For further information, please refer to the Undergraduate Guide or consult with the Academic Coordinator.

The links on the left provide information about the most recent Honors Conference, prizes awarded to our thesis writers, and the national economics honorary (Omicron Delta Epsilon).  Preliminary information on the content, style and formatting guidelines for the Honors Thesis can also be found to the left, but the Director of the Honors Program will be the final arbiter of what constitutes an acceptable and completed thesis.