Program II: Graduation with Distinction
We are pleased to be able to say that Program II students are exceptionally well-represented among the students in Trinity College who pursue graduation with distinction (GwD). In most years Program II graduates earned distinction in Program II at double or triple the rate of Trinity College students overall. Since most of our students already include a senior capstone project in their program of study, it is often a natural outgrowth of this experience for Program II students to meet the qualifications for graduation with distinction by expanding the project to a full-year study leading to graduation with honors. Please consider this option seriously and contact the Program II office if you have questions or would like additional information about applying for graduation with distinction.
Why pursue Graduation with Distinction in Program II?
Students who have graduated with distinction in the past have done so for a variety of reasons, among them:
- Deep interest in an intellectual topic;
- A wish to work closely and in depth with one or more experts in a field;
- As a way of gauging whether to consider graduate school in a particular field;
- The challenge of completing such a sustained academic project; and
- The wish to distinguish themselves as scholars.
Whatever your reason(s), we hope you will explore the possibility of GwD with your Program II advisor and prepare yourself in ways that will enable you pursue GwD in your senior year.
How to lay the groundwork for Graduation with Distinction
The first step in preparing to undertake a research project leading to GwD in Program II is to work hard in all of your courses but especially in your Program II core courses. In order to be eligible to pursue GwD, you must have an overall GPA of 3.3 and a GPA of 3.5 in your Program II core courses.
Second, be sure to enroll early in your Program II course of study in research-based courses that will help you to develop the research skills that you will need when you undertake the GwD project in your senior year. Program II projects differ so greatly from one another that it is difficult to specify here what research in your program might consist of, but the faculty with whom you will be studying should be able to help you develop your capacity to conduct rigorous and thorough research and employ the methodologies appropriate for that discipline.
Armed with the necessary research skills, you should not be intimidated by the prospect of a GwD project but see it merely as a larger, more challenging project than others that you have already done, perhaps even in the same area of research.
Graduation with Distinction in Program II: Description
Procedure for selection of students
An overall GPA of 3.3, and a 3.5 in the core courses, is required for eligibility to apply to the distinction program in Program II. The grade point average must be maintained from the time of acceptance into the distinction program through graduation. The Program does not limit the number of students who may qualify for distinction. Students who meet the eligibility requirement should complete an application form and submit it to the director of Program II by September 15 of the senior year.
Expected product
A significant project with the student's advisor or member of the honors committee is required with a written report or paper in the style of a publishable article. Students are encouraged to give a public presentation of their project along with other distinction students in their sponsoring department.
Evaluative body
A committee of three faculty members drawn from two or more departments and including the student's Program II advisor.
Evaluation procedure
The committee will evaluate the student's project to determine whether it merits distinction.
Levels of distinction
One level: Distinction.
Special courses, other activities required, comments
The student is expected to enroll in an independent study with his/her Program II advisor or another member of the Honors Committee. Alternatively, if permitted, the student may apply for acceptance into the senior honors course(s) of the sponsoring department. Information about graduation with distinction is mailed to all Program II juniors in March or early April. A written project proposal must be submitted before the end of the drop/add period in the student's penultimate semester at Duke, usually the fall of the senior year.