Honors in Economics
Students wishing to earn departmental honors in Economics should consult with their advisor no later than the beginning of their senior year.
Cum Laude will be granted to students who complete an Economics major with a 3.50 GPA in all upper division (3000+) courses in economics taken at CU Denver with a minimum of 8 such courses, and either: two additional three-credit-hour electives in economics beyond those required for the major, taken at the 4000 or higher level, or an acceptable honors thesis. The thesis must be approved by a three-member committee of the department faculty and will include a presentation of the results to that committee. Students should register for the thesis, using ECON 4850 as the course number, as a three-credit independent study, which will be in addition to the regular requirements for the major. Students must use a “Special Processing Form” to register.
Magna Cum Laude will be awarded to students who complete an Economics major with a 3.70 GPA in all upper division (3000+) courses in economics taken at CU Denver with a minimum of 8 courses, and complete an acceptable honors thesis. The thesis must be approved by a three-member committee of the department faculty and will include a presentation of the results to that committee. Students should register for the thesis, using ECON 4850 as the course number, as a three-credit independent study, which will be in addition to the regular requirements for the major. Students must use a “Special Processing Form” to register.
Summa Cum Laude will be awarded to students who complete an Economics major with a 3.88 GPA in all upper division (3000+) courses in economics taken at CU Denver with a minimum of 8 courses, and completion of an outstanding honors thesis. The thesis must be approved by a three-member committee of the department faculty and will include a presentation of the results to that committee. Students should register for the thesis, using ECON 4850 as the course number, as a three-credit independent study, which will be in addition to the regular requirements for the major. Students must use a “Special Processing Form” to register.
In order to wear the “Honors” cord at the spring graduation ceremony, a draft of the thesis must be submitted to the chair of the committee by the Monday following spring break, all other requirements including oral presentation and proof of meeting the GPA requirements must be completed by the week before graduation.
In order to be recognized in the spring graduation program, as “Honors Pending,” a draft of the thesis must be submitted to the chair of the committee by the Monday following spring break, the oral presentation and other requirements must be completed one week before graduation.
In order to be recognized in the spring graduation program with the specific honors degree being conferred, e.g. “summa,” “magna,” etc. students must turn in the completed final copy of the honors thesis by the Monday after spring break in addition to meeting the other requirements by the week before graduation.
Unless the above conditions are met according to the deadlines, recognition will come with the diploma after graduation.
*It is very important to note that a student choosing to do an honors thesis cannot use ECON 4850 as an elective toward fulfilling the Economics requirements for a degree. In short, the honors thesis counts only for honors but does not replace any elective or core Economics requirements. A student must still fulfill all of the required and elective courses listed on the first page of this document.
Notice: Effective August 15, 2018, ECON 3801 will no longer be counted as an additional class in evaluating academic honors, if a student has completed Calculus I and II with B's or better and taken ECON 3801 as well. In addition, if a student has completed Calculus I and II prior to taking ECON 3801, 3801 will not be counted as an elective in evaluating electives toward graduation.