Scholarships and Honors
The College of Arts and Sciences is, from both historical and functional points of view, the core of the modern university. While all of the colleges in the University of South Alabama base their programs on the liberal arts, the College of Arts and Sciences is especially committed to humane studies.
These studies encompass disciplines involving the nature of humanity and the universe, the motivations and processes of human relationships and the creative arts through which people express their thoughts and feelings.
The College of Arts and Sciences is keenly aware that educated individuals are more than trained job-holders. They are men and women who are capable of enlightened evaluation of our complex world. Their education enables them to make intelligent efforts at solving human problems.
The College of Arts and Sciences awards hundreds of scholarships each year, in addition to the many scholarships available through the University. Most College scholarships are specific to individual programs or directed at certain student groups, although a few general scholarships are also available from the College.
Applying for Scholarships
If you would like to apply for a College of Arts and Sciences scholarship please use Jag$POT, USA's Scholarship Opportunity and Award System:
- Read the Jag$POT, portal instructions here.
- Log in to Jag$POT with your student i.d. and password. Jag$POT log-in.
- Use search, review, apply and accept for each scholarship and award through the online Jag$POT system.
- Get started early, and read the Tips for Completing Scholarship Applications.
- Watch the application deadline. Unless otherwise indicated, completed scholarship applications are due by 4:00 p.m., on Monday, March 21rd, 2016
Both the University and the College of Arts and Sciences recognize student excellence and academic distinction in a variety of ways, including graduation with honors, honors lists, honors societies, departmental honors, and the USA Honors College.
Undergraduate students who have at least 60 GPA hours in residence with a grade-point average of 3.50 or better at the University of South Alabama are graduated with distinction.
Transfer credit hours are not included in the determination of academic honors. Academic honors are not awarded for second degrees, graduate or professional degrees.
Students earning a grade-point average of 3.90 or higher are graduated summa cum laude. Students earning a grade-point average of 3.70 but less than 3.90 are graduated magna cum laude. Students earning a grade-point average of 3.50 but less than 3.70 are graduated cum laude.
Academic Recognition (Honor Lists)
Candidates for all honor lists must be undergraduate degree-seeking students with a clear academic status. Graduates, professional level, unclassified, auditors, transients, nondegree, or other special categories are excluded.
The President’s Scholars include all full-time students earning a 4.0 semester grade-point average. The Dean’s List includes all full-time students earning a 3.50 semester grade-point average. The Dean’s Honor List includes all full-time students who have completed a minimum of 30 hours at the University of South Alabama,earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.40 or greater. The Dean’s List for part-time students (students taking fewer then twelve hours) includes all students who are enrolled in at least six semester hours and have earned a semester grade-point average of 3.50 or greater
Honors Societies are academic organizations, usually within specific disciplines, that require their members to demonstrate high levels of academic achievement. The College of Arts and Sciences is home to many honors society chapters, including:
Gamma Theta Upsilon, an international honor society in geography.
Lambda Pi Eta, the official honor society of the National Communication Association.
Phi Sigma Iota, the academic honor society in foreign languages.
Phi Alpha Theta, the international history honors society.
Psi Chi, the national psychology honors society
Alpha Kappa Delta, the sociology honors society
Sigma Tau Delta is the English International Honors Society
Mortar Board, an honors society for college seniors
Phi Kappa Phi, an honors society for all academic disciplines
Many departments in Arts and Sciences grant departmental honors to high-achieving students. Receipt of these honors typically requires meeting a minimum GPA threshold, completing certain core courses, and in many cases, writing a thesis paper. Completing your degree with departmental honors can thus be an excellent way to distinguish yourself in the academic and labor markets. Talk to a faculty advisor in your major department about departmental honors.
The University of South Alabama has a thriving Honors College that is open to academically high-achieving students in Arts and Sciences. The Honors College combines special courses with small class sizes, top research faculty, one-to-one mentoring by a USA Faculty member, extra-curricular activities, and many other benefits. Honors College graduates receive an Honors degree from the University.