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Deadlines to submit applications for Independent Work For Distinction:
FALL: April 15 SPRING: November 15
Do not register for Work for Distinction until it has been approved.
Work for Distinction is a serious academic commitment that is undertaken
in the final two semesters of an undergraduate program. A student
who is applying for Work in Distinction is one who is able to work
independently with the intellectual maturity and self-discipline needed
to complete a demanding project in the limited time available.
It is expected that Work for Distinction will culminate in a thesis
that will be presented to a committee of the Department.
The Department will schedule public oral examinations for all
Distinction candidates during the last two weeks of classes. The
oral examination must be completed by the last day of classes. The
oral examination will be conducted by a committee consisting of
at least three faculty members, one of whom shall serve as Chairman.
A copy of the candidate's thesis must be made available to all members
of the committee one week before the examination. A final copy of
the thesis will be submitted to CAS 105 for permanent binding.
Students who successfully complete their Work for Distinction
with a grade of B+ or better may be recommended to graduate with
Distinction in Mathematics. When determining whether to recommend
graduation with Distinction in Mathematics, the committee will consider
the quality of the thesis and the result of the oral exa mination.
The Department Director of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Chairman
of the Department must approve all recommendations for graduation
with Distinction in Mathematics.
Successful completion of Work for Distinction with a grade of
A- is one criterion for nomination to Phi Beta Kappa.
After consultation with the faculty advisor, the student will
complete the application for Work for Distinction. The faculty advisor
will complete the last reference sheet, evaluating the student's
potential for success in this project. After the application is
signed by the student and by the faculty advisor, it should be evaluated
by the Department Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Chairman
of the Department.
The judgment as to whether a student will be allowed to undertake
Work for Distinction is the responsibility of the Department.
The approved application, with the appropriate signatures, should
be forwarded to the Office of Academic Advising. The CAS coordinator
for Work for Distinction will routinely countersign all applications
that have met the stated criteria. If an application has not met
a certain criterion, it will be returned to the student for completion.
Each applicant will be notified of acceptance or rejection by mail.
The faculty advisor will receive a copy of this letter.
The minimum grade point average for students applying for Work
for Distinction is 3.00. The GPA should be substantially higher
in mathematics.
Work for Distinction is undertaken during the final two semesters
of an undergraduate career. In those rare cases where a project
commencing before the senior year is approved, the work is limited
to two semesters. In any case where the work is not completed after
two semesters, the student will not graduate with Distinction in
Mathematics, although full academic credit will be awarded when
the work is complete. September graduates must complete their projects
in May.
It is acceptable to be enrolled part time for one of the semesters
in which a student is registered for Work for Distinction.
Students enrolled in BUCOP program may apply to do Work for Distinction
if their programs will allow for this degree of flexibility. Students
should confer with their advisors on program requirements.
Work for Distinction is very different from Directed Study. Students
in good standing may avail themselves of Directed Study projects
for varying amounts of credit in any semester after the first semester
of the freshman year. The nature of Directed Study, and credit awarded,
is determined by consultation between the student and faculty advisor,
and is subject to the approval of the Directed Study Committee in
the Academic Advising Center. Work for Distinction, on the other
hand, is a two-semester, eightcredit project for CAS seniors only
who meet the previously described criteria. The project must be
reviewed and approved by the departmental Honors Committee. A thesis
and oral examination will be presented by the student.
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