Dean’s Honor List
(Effective August 1, 2018)
A student who completes 12 semester hours or more at Carroll, and whose grade point average for the semester is 3.50 or higher, is placed on the Dean’s Honor List. The Dean’s List is published each semester.
Graduation with Honors Policy
(Effective August 1, 2016)
To be eligible for graduation honors, a student must graduate with a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.50. Honors are awarded at three levels:
- Summa Cum Laude—meaning “with the highest praise” is the highest distinction awarded at graduation. To graduate summa cum laude, a student must achieve a 3.90 or higher grade point average
- Magna Cum Laude—meaning “with great praise” is the second highest distinction awarded at graduation. To qualify for magna cum laude, a student must achieve a 3.70–3.89 grade point average
- Cum Laude—meaning “with praise” is the third distinction awarded at graduation. To qualify for cum laude, a student must achieve a 3.50–3.69 grade point average
To be eligible for graduation with honors, a Carroll undergraduate student must have completed at least 60 semester hours of course work at Carroll College. The required cumulative grade point average will be calculated from all courses attempted at Carroll; for postbaccalaureate students pursuing a second bachelor's degree at Carroll, only the grades earned during the second degree program will be included.
Graduation honors are announced at Commencement. Please keep in mind that the Commencement booklet is printed many weeks before final spring grades are submitted. Therefore, the academic marks that will be used to determine graduation with honors or graduation with distinction for Commencement are a student's grade point average and completed credits at the conclusion of the most recent fall semester.
Graduation with Distinction Policy
(Effective August 1, 2016)
To be eligible for graduation with distinction, a student must successfully complete the senior thesis with a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher and must graduate with a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.25.
Transfers: To be eligible for graduation with distinction, a student must have completed 60 semester hours of course work at Carroll College. The required cumulative grade point average will be calculated from all courses attempted at Carroll.
Graduation honors are announced at Commencement. Please keep in mind that the Commencement booklet is printed many weeks before final spring grades are submitted. Therefore, the academic marks that will be used to determine graduation with honors or graduation with distinction for Commencement are a student's grade point average and completed credits at the conclusion of the most recent fall semester.
Senior Thesis Policy
The senior thesis is designed to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate individual research. A student may undertake a thesis in an area in which s/he has the necessary background. Ordinarily a thesis topic is chosen in the student’s major or minor. It is also possible to choose an interdisciplinary topic.
Interested students should decide upon a thesis topic as early as possible in the junior year so that adequate attention may be given to the project. In order to be eligible to apply to write a thesis, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 based upon all courses attempted at Carroll College.
The thesis committee consists of a director and two readers. The thesis director is a full-time Carroll College faculty member from the student’s major discipline or approved by the department chair of the student’s major. At least one reader must be from outside the student’s major. The thesis director and the appropriate department chair must approve all readers. The thesis committee should assist and mentor the student during the entire project.
For any projects involving human or animal participants, each student and his or her director must follow the guidelines published by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) an/or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Students must submit a copy of their IRB and/or IACUC approval letter with their thesis application. As part of the IRB approval process, each student and his or her director must also complete training by the National Cancer Institute Protection of Human Participants.
The thesis is typically to be completed for three (3) credits in the discipline that best matches the content of the thesis. Departments with a designated thesis research/writing course may award credits differently with approval of the Curriculum Committee. If the thesis credits exceed the full-time tuition credit limit for students, the charge for additional credits will be waived.
Applications and further information are available in the Registrar’s Office.
Borromeo Award
This award, named for St. Charles Borromeo, patron of Carroll College, may be presented to individuals, groups, or organizations showing outstanding zeal, courage, and devotion in achievements of service to Carroll, the community, and the Church.
Bishop Gilmore Memorial Award
This award is presented to outstanding senior scholars who have attained the highest grade point average at Carroll College.
Transfers: To be eligible for the Gilmore Award, a student must have completed 60 semester hours of course work at Carroll College. Calculation of cumulative grade point average includes only credits and grades earned at Carroll College.
Raymond G. Hunthausen Award for Outstanding Service
Since 1986 Carroll College has presented the Raymond G. Hunthausen Award for community service to deserving students who make outstanding contributions to the college or a community (Helena or other). The award was named for Archbishop Hunthausen because of his own commitment to peace and justice in his personal life and in his work with the Catholic Church. The award was established to acknowledge students who exhibit a sense of commitment to others for the sole purpose of giving from their own personal sense of unselfish service. The recipients are recognized annually at the end of the spring semester.
Michael W. Murphy Award for Outstanding Collegiate Citizenship
This award is presented to a graduating senior, who, through personal achievement, generosity, and leadership, has excelled in promoting the true spirit and ideals of Carroll College. The recipient is selected on the basis of contributions to the collegiate community of Carroll College. The award is made in memory of Michael W. Murphy, a deceased student of the College, who himself served as a model for this award.