CLAS is your home for academic rigor, excellence, and success.  

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the University of Iowa offer a variety of opportunities for high-achieving students to challenge themselves academically while also recognizing and celebrating their achievements at the close of each semester and during commencement ceremonies.

Academic lists

Dean's list

CLAS degree candidates who achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or higher in 12 semester hours or more of UI graded coursework during a semester and who have no semester hours of “I” or “O” marks during the same semester will be honored on the Dean's List for that semester.

President's list

Undergraduate students who achieve a grade point average of 4.0 in 12 semester hours or more of UI graded coursework and who have no “I” or “O” marks on their records for two consecutive semesters will be honored on the President's List for that semester.

Graduation recognition

Honors in the major

Undergraduate students have the opportunity to graduate with honors in their major by completing a related honors projects ranging from research to a performance or a thesis on a theme, topic, or special interest. Find a major to learn more about opportunities.

Graduating with distinction

The college awards degrees "with highest distinction" to students in the highest 2 percent of their graduating class, "with high distinction" to students in the next highest 3 percent, and "with distinction" to the next highest 5 percent.

Honors program and society

Students studying in the Belin-Blank Honors Center.

Honors at Iowa

The University of Iowa awards University Honors to students who apply to the program and complete the program curriculum of 12 honors credits in coursework and 12 credits in experiential learning. Students choose from a menu of unique options to complete these requirements, as well as engage in a myriad of other enriching opportunities. University Honors is denoted on students’ transcripts and diplomas once complete. 

 
Students inducted into the Alpha of Iowa chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Phi Beta Kappa Society

Outstanding students who are eligible are invited to join the Phi Beta Kappa Society each semester. Every student inducted into the society receives a lifetime membership in Phi Beta Kappa. The Alpha of Iowa chapter was chartered at the University of Iowa’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1895 and it is the oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors organization in the United States.