ECE Departmental Procedures for Graduating with Honors

Graduate with Honors

There are three levels of honors at graduation and the requirements for them are as follows:

• To graduate with cum laude (i.e., with distinction) requires a 3.3 GPA on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits.
• To graduate with magna cum laude (i.e., with great distinction) requires a 3.5 GPA on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits and an honors thesis (an approved research project or creative work).
• To graduate with summa cum laude (i,e., with the highest distinction) requires a 3.8 GPA on all courses taken at UF beginning the semester after accumulating 60 credits and an honors thesis (an approved research project or creative work).

An Electrical Engineering major pursuing the magna or summa cum laude status the following timeline must be followed to complete the Honors Thesis, research project by the time of graduation. To graduate with magna or summa you must maintain an upper division GPA of 3.50 or 3.80 respectively.  If you do not complete a thesis, your honors will be reverted to Cum Laude status.

1.      Identify your research project and Research Supervisor 3-4 semesters prior to graduation and meet with the Undergraduate Coordinator for approval of research project.  The Undergraduate Coordinator can also assist you with identifying appropriate faculty members. The ECE department has five research divisions to assist you in identifying an area of interest and the associated faculty members. Further information can be found at: http://www.ece.ufl.edu/content/divisions

2.      Once your research is defined and approved by your Research Supervisor you must form a supervisory committee consisting three other faculty members.  The research supervisor serves as your Chair of this committee. Of the two remaining members, one must be from the ECE department and the other must be from an outside department or even outside the college. Your Research Supervisor can aid you in the selection of the committee members. Additional committee members can be added if desired. Additional members should be discussed with your Research Supervisor. Once your research topic is approved and your committee has been formed work on the research can begin.  You must meet with your Research Supervisor regularly to ensure that the work is properly progressing. Weekly meeting are recommended.

3.      A copy of completed honor thesis forms ( Honors Thesis Form and Appointment of Supervisory Committee form) must be submitted to the EE Advisor by the following deadline dates:

-   For Fall graduation: First Monday after Labor Day

 -  For Spring graduation: First  Monday after observation of MLK Day

  -  For Summer graduation: First Monday after Memorial Day

4.      During the last semester before graduation you will complete the thesis and/or research project, present results in a formal defense before the entire committee, and submit your thesis along with all associated paperwork.  The deadline for the submission of the thesis and/or project/creative work is on the last day of classes.

During the last semester the following timeline must be followed:

1.      By the deadlines outlined in #3, please have your forms submitted the EE advisor

2.       By mid-semester please select a day with your committee to present your Final Oral Examinations.  The date of the final oral examinations should be prior to final exams week and reading days.

          

3.      Submit the final approved version of your thesis to the EE Academic Advisor at least two days prior to the last day of class of your graduating semester.  Thesis and/or project/creative work is due on the last day of classes, extensions are rarely provided.  It is a firm University policy that the thesis is due at on the last day of classes.  All forms can be printed from the following page: https://www.eng.ufl.edu/students/resources/graduating-with-honors/

4.      The following forms  should be included with your thesis:

- Honors Thesis Submission Form

- Appointment of Supervisory Committee Form

- Final Oral Examination Form

-Internet Distribution Permissions Form