Awards & Honors
Every year, Duke students are among the winners of the most prestigious awards in U.S. higher education: Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships for study in England; Fulbright Scholarships for study abroad; Goldwater Scholarships for study of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering; Truman Scholarships for students planning careers in government or public service; Luce Scholarships for internships in Asia.
In addition, outstanding academic performance during a semester is recognized by inclusion on the Dean’s List (for students with a grade point average in the highest third of undergraduates) and the Dean’s List with Distinction (for students in the highest 10 percent).
Students who demonstrate excellence in their major area of study may qualify for admission to the department’s or programs honors program. By successfully completing a senior honors thesis/project, the candidate will graduate with distinction in the major. Each academic department and program offering a major, as well as Program II, has established procedures and standards for determining Graduation with Distinction.
The Latin Honors program recognizes academic excellence over an entire undergraduate career. Summa cum laude honors go to students with GPAs within the top 5 percent of the previous year’s graduating class; magna cum laude honors to students in the next 10 percent; cum laude honors to students in the next 10 percent.
