Graduation with Distinction in Computer Science is an academic honor bestowed on certain graduating majors in computer science each year. To qualify for this honor, students must take two 300 or 400 level elective computer science courses (excluding CP355) beyond those required for the major, by the end of block eight of their senior year (block four for those graduating in winter). All students who meet these requirements will be considered for Distinction in Computer Science. We recommend that spring graduates complete their distinction requirements by Block seven. Students completing distinction requirements in Block eight of the senior year will be fully considered, but awards may be contingent on successful and timely completion of Block eight coursework..

In late spring, the members of the Mathematics & Computer Science Department meet to discuss the students who qualify for this honor. Students are evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Work in the major: candidates for distinction should have an excellent record in departmental courses, especially in upper-level courses, and especially in the senior year.
2. The student's role in the required capstone course CP499 (Team Software Project) in building and strengthening the team project is carefully considered, both as to content and also as to the quality of the presentation (whether orally or as a poster).

After a full discussion of the qualified candidates, the departmental faculty makes the final decision on granting Distinction by a yes/no vote.