2026-2027 Edition

Academic Catalog

Honors

Dean’s List

At the conclusion of each semester, Wesleyan recognizes outstanding academic achievement through the Dean’s List. Students who qualify will receive a permanent notation of this achievement on their official transcript.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must meet the following criteria for the semester:

  • GPA: Achieve a grade point average of 93.350 or higher.

  • Credits: Complete at least 3.0 credits in letter-graded courses at Wesleyan.

  • Grades: No Unsatisfactory or Fail.

  • Status: Current undergraduate student enrolled on campus at Wesleyan (students studying abroad and visiting students whose home institution is not Wesleyan are not eligible for this recognition).

Students with incomplete grades or outstanding credits will be evaluated for Dean’s List eligibility once all final grades and credits have been posted to their transcript. If eligibility is confirmed at that time, the student will be retroactively added to the Dean’s List for the appropriate semester.

Honors Thesis/Capstone 

A bachelor’s degree with honors at Wesleyan recognizes exceptional academic distinction, either in the major or in general scholarship. Honors may be earned in one of two ways:

  1. Departmental Honors: Awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding work in their major field of study and meet the honors or high honors criteria established by their department or program.

  2. Honors in General Scholarship: Awarded to students who are University Majors or whose thesis topic or methodology falls outside the scope of their major department(s) or program(s). Candidates for honors in general scholarship must:

  3. Have a minimum grade point average of 90.00.

  4. Fulfill all General Education Expectations.

  5. Submit a senior thesis that meets the honors or high honors standard set by the Honors Committee.

Honors Thesis/Capstone Requirements

  • Honors candidates must complete a mentored, independent thesis project.

  • A maximum of 2.0 credits may be awarded for any single thesis.

  • Students with multiple majors may submit a thesis in one major or separate theses in more than one major. With approval from each department or program, the same thesis may be submitted for honors in multiple majors.

University Honors 

University Honors is Wesleyan’s highest academic distinction. To be eligible, a student must:

  • Fulfill both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the General Education Expectations.

  • Earn high honors (either departmental or in general scholarship).

  • Be recommended for University Honors by a representative from their major, including the chair, honors coordinator or committee, and/or the student’s thesis tutor(s).

  • Qualify in an oral examination administered by the Honors Committee.

Phi Beta Kappa 

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society, recognizes outstanding academic achievement at Wesleyan University. Students are nominated by their major department(s); Bachelor of Liberal Studies students and University majors are nominated by their class dean. Nominations are based on overall academic performance, breadth within the curriculum, and outstanding performance within the student’s major as detailed in the official eligibility criteria. The Phi Beta Kappa committee reviews the departmental nominations but may elect no more than 12 percent of the graduating class.