Graduate Student Information
Are you looking for information on thesis or dissertation requirements? Take a look at our Current Graduate Students section.
Current Undergraduate Students
Current Students
Alpha Sigma Nu
Alpha Sigma Nu, the only honor society permitted to bear the name Jesuit, distinguishes itself from other honor societies in its focus on the whole person. For this reason, academically eligible students are invited to apply to Alpha Sigma Nu in the fall of their junior year, and will be selected on the additional criteria of scholarly passion for their studies beyond the requirements of the classroom, loyalty to the values of the Jesuits through commitment to a deep sense of morality, decency and responsibility, especially as exemplified in service as well as contribution to the community and concern for the welfare of society. Accepted students are honorably inducted by the deans and the university president in the spring semester, who recognize them as outstanding representatives of the holistic value of Jesuit higher education. Notably, student religious preferences is not an aspect of ASN membership.
Dean's Scholars
The Dean of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences selects the brightest scholars from the Junior Class to be chosen for this honor. Students are selected on the basis of their overall academic performance, recommendations from their departmental faculty, co-curricular initiatives, and their sense of purpose in how they approach their future.
Departmental Honors
The Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences offers students the opportunity to pursue honors within most academic majors. These departmental honors programs each have their own requirements, but all provide students with a combination of advanced coursework, special seminars, and / or independent research. In many cases, students who are enrolled in these programs will complete a senior thesis or research project. For those students who are members of the A&S Honors Program this thesis may satisfy the senior thesis requirement of that program.
Degree with Honors
Academic honors are based on averages at the end of the second semester senior year.
Starting with the class of 2021, the cumulative average for degrees with honors will be as follows:
- summa cum laude (with the highest honors) — 3.9–4.0
- magna cum laude (with high honors) — 3.8–3.899
- cum laude (with honors) — 3.667–3.799
Prior to the class of 2021: The summa cum laude was awarded to the top 4.5 percent of the graduating class, magna cum laude to the next 9.5 percent, and cum laude to the next 15 percent.
Academic honors are not calculated for graduate students.
Please contact Student Services with questions concerning graduation honors.
McCarthy Prize
A recognition specifically for seniors in the Scholar of the College Program. The prize is awarded at the Scholars Banquet for what is judged by dean's reviewers as the best Scholar of the College projects submitted by an annually announced deadline. Typically McCarthy prizes are awarded in the areas of the Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, and the Humanities.
Order of the Cross and Crown
The College of Arts and Sciences' honor society for seniors.
Phi Beta Kappa
The most prestigious academic honorary society in the United States.
Scholar of the College
A designation given at Commencement to exceptional students who have excelled academically in their undergraduate studies and who have done substantial, independent work of the highest quality for a significant part of their senior year, under the supervision of faculty scholars.
Sophomore Scholars
Academically distinguished members of the Sophomore Class who have achieved an academic ranking, placing them in the top three percent of their class, are selected by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Most have also received the recognition and nomination of their major departments.
Academic Honors and Awards
Distributed to outstanding graduates at the Commencement ceremony.
Commencement ceremonies will take place Monday May 22, 2023.
The Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences' diploma ceremony will take place in Alumni Stadium after the main University-wide Commencement ceremony. Our starting time is, therefore, dependent on when the main ceremony ends. We hope to begin around 12:00 noon.
Graduates and parents are encouraged to monitor the University-wide commencement website at bc.edu/commencement for information regarding Senior Week, school-specific diploma ceremonies, and the Residential Life move-out process.
For additional questions, please contact: 617-552-9259 or casdean@bc.edu.
In the midst of the current public health crisis, we know that graduate students may be experiencing serious financial hardships. The Morrissey College has established an Emergency Relief Fund intended to provide support to students experiencing an emergency situation that creates a temporary financial hardship caused by the current pandemic. When possible, students must have experienced documented extraordinary expenses. Priority will be given to those students who have exhausted all other means of financial support. The funds are limited and not intended to provide ongoing relief for recurring expenses.
Emergency funding will be provided in the form of a one-time grant and will not need to be repaid. Students should be aware that emergency funding may create a taxable event that could require reporting to the IRS by the university or recipient of the funds, and may affect financial aid eligibility.
The size of the grants will vary according to the needs of each student and will not typically exceed $1000. To apply for a grant, please submit the linked Student Emergency Fund Application along with whatever supporting documentation is reasonably available. The Morrissey College Graduate Student Emergency Fund Committee, made up of administrators and faculty members, has been formed to review applications. Students should expect to hear about the status of their application within 5 business days, depending on the volume of applications.
There are many factors that will weigh into application decisions including, but not limited to (1) volume of requests at time of application; (2) urgency and nature of request; (3) level of connection between the request and the student’s academic needs; and (4) other resources or support available to the student. Applications will be accepted until all of the funds have been disbursed.
The following is a list of eligible expenses to be covered by the Morrissey College Graduate Student COVID-19 Emergency Fund:
- Unexpected medical, mental health or dental costs not covered by insurance.
- Temporary assistance with food insecurity.
- Temporary housing assistance caused by COVID-19 which could include additional rent, security deposit, short-term hotel costs incurred to relocate, quarantine or isolate, for personal safety, etc.
- Costs of additional equipment, software or services to complete educational requirements via remote learning.
- Unplanned travel expenses to receive medical care, self-quarantine or isolate. Examples could include airfare, car rental, bus or train fare, etc.
- Unplanned or additional childcare or family care costs necessary to complete classwork.
- Safety-related needs such as change of locks, legal assistance, etc.
- Other costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be considered by the committee.
The following expenses will not be covered by this fund:
- Credit card debts.
- Penalties, fines, parking or other tickets.
- Non-essential expenses.
- Expenses due to a lack of planning or overspending.
- Expenses included in the standard cost of attendance
An internship can provide undergraduates an opportunity to explore career possibilities, apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges, and develop professional skills and habits. Students are expected to guide their unique search for an internship and may choose to partner with the Career Center as they investigate possible internship opportunities. Students may apply to earn academic credit for an internship experience in the fall or spring semesters or during the summer.
MCA&S students enrolled in UNAS2250 MCA&S Internship earn one credit and are graded pass/fail ONLY. Up to three credits of one-credit, pass/fail, internship credit will be counted toward the 120 credits required for graduation, so long as no more than 18 total pass/fail credits are being counted toward graduation. Upon written verification by the internship supervisor that the student successfully completed the responsibilities of the internship, a passing grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript. Otherwise, a failing grade will be recorded. With written approval of the internship supervisor, a student enrolled in UNAS2250 may withdraw from the internship through the University course withdraw process, subject to the standard deadline. In such cases, a W will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
To apply to receive credit for an internship in the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences, students must upload a completed MCA&S Internship Approval Form.
For further questions regarding internship credit in the Morrissey College, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Bracher, elizabeth.bracher@bc.edu.