Honors

Any of the degrees offered by the Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science can be completed with honors, although the BS degrees in Atmospheric Sciences have slightly different requirements compared to the degrees in Geography. To complete a degree with honors students must fulfill the following requirements.

Atmospheric Science

To be accepted as a candidate for honors, an undergraduate major must have completed at least 9 hours of upper-division credit in atmospheric science with a grade-point average of 3.5 in all atmospheric science courses. In addition, the program requires ATMO 499, an independent study course consisting of the creation of an honors paper. The student presents the results of this paper in an oral examination to a committee of a minimum of 2 faculty members, normally from the Geography and Atmospheric Science department, and chaired by the ATMO 499 supervisor. To graduate with honors, the student must complete the paper, the examination, and maintain the 3.5 grade-point average.

Geography

To be accepted as a candidate for honors, a major must have completed at least 6 hours of upper-division credit in geography with a grade-point average of 3.50 in all geography courses. In addition to outstanding work in geography classes, the program requires GEOG 499, an independent study course consisting of the creation of an honors paper. The student will present the results of this paper in an oral examination to a committee consisting of a minimum of two faculty, normally from the Geography and Atmospheric Science Department, and chaired by the GEOG 499 supervisor. To graduate with honors, the student must complete the paper, the examination, and maintain the 3.50 grade point average.