Academic Honors
Alpha Chi
Southern Wesleyan University sponsors a chapter of the National Honorary Society, Alpha Chi. To be eligible for selection, a student must be enrolled in an On-Campus program and have completed at least 60 hours of course work at Southern Wesleyan University. Membership is limited to the top ten percent (all college work included) of the senior class and top five percent of the junior class. Eligibility for membership is determined by the Provost and election is by the Academic Council during the spring semester of each year.
Alpha Phi Sigma
Southern Wesleyan University sponsors a local chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma (ΑΦΣ). Alpha Phi Sigma is the National Criminal Justice Honor Society and been a member of the Association of College Honor Societies since 1980. Alpha Phi Sigma is also supported by, and affiliated with, the Academy of Criminal Justice Science. Membership to is open to all current Criminal Justice majors and minors who have earned a minimum of 36 collegiate credit hours, 12 credit hours of which must have been earned in coursework in the criminal justice field; attained at least a 3.2 collegiate GPA; and who rank in the top 35% of their class. New members are added yearly as qualifying criteria are met.
Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society (TriBeta) seeks to encourage scholarship in the field of biology by reserving its regular membership for those who achieve superior academic records and indicate special aptitude for and major interest in the life sciences. It desires to cultivate intellectual interest in the natural sciences and to promote a better appreciation of the value of biological study. Beta Beta Beta also endeavors to extend the boundaries of man’s knowledge of nature by encouraging new discoveries through scientific investigation and encourages undergraduate students to begin research work and report their findings in the journal of the society, BIOS. The society emphasizes a three-fold program: stimulation of scholarship, dissemination of scientific knowledge, and promotion of biological research.
Undergraduate membership is open to all current biology, pre-medical, pre-dentistry, environmental studies and exercise science majors and biology minors who have completed at least one term of the second year (45 credit hours) of a four-year curriculum or its equivalent, have completed at least three courses in biological science, of which at least one is not an introductory course, with a minimum B average in these courses, have an overall GPA of at least a 3.0 and are in good academic standing with the University.
Kappa Delta Pi
Founded in 1911 at the University of Illinois, Kappa Delta Pi is the premier National Professional Association and Honor Society for Educators. Boasting more than 650 chapters and 20,000 active teacher members, KDP inspires and equips educators to thrive.
Membership is open to early childhood education, elementary education, music education, special education, and physical education majors who have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours, have an overall collegiate GPA of 3.5, and rank in the top 20% of their class.
Sigma Beta Delta
Southern Wesleyan University sponsors a chapter of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. To be eligible for membership, a business student must rank in the top 20 percent of the junior, senior or graduate class and be invited to membership by the faculty officers. Sigma Beta Delta recognizes students’ wisdom, honor, and the desire to develop personally and professionally with the goal to serve humankind. An induction ceremony will be held each Spring.
Sigma Tau Delta
Established in 1924 as an international English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta confers distinction for high achievement in English language, literature, and writing among current students at accredited colleges and universities.
Candidates for undergraduate membership must have completed at least two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. The candidates must have earned a minimum of 36 credit hours and at least a 3.0 cumulative collegiate GPA. Candidates must rank in the highest 35% of their class.
Dean’s List
Twice yearly, the Provost will publish a list of those undergraduate students who have carried at least 12 hours of college credit within the preceding semester, have no grade (included in GPA calculation) for any single course below a B, and have earned a GPA of at least 3.5.
Graduation Honors
Graduating seniors with outstanding scholarship will qualify for the following honors, to be recognized at commencement.
| Cum Laude: |
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.4 on all collegiate work attempted. |
| Magna Cum Laude: |
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.6 on all collegiate work attempted. |
| Summa Cum Laude: |
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.8 on all collegiate work attempted. |
To be eligible for graduation honors, a student transferring from another college must complete at least 45 credit hours at Southern Wesleyan University with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4 on all collegiate work attempted.
If a student's cumulative GPA is higher than the SWU GPA, the SWU GPA will be used to determine honors, as no honors will be awarded that require a GPA higher than the GPA earned at SWU.
University Honors
In the event that a student is ineligible for any of the above graduation honors but has achieved a cumulative SWU GPA of at least 3.8 on no less than 60 credits earned at Southern Wesleyan University, that student will be assigned the designation of “University Honors.”