Fourth-year students have the opportunity to earn the MD Degree with Honors in a Special Field (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) at graduation.
Students who complete the Honors in a Special Field program will be notified of their honors distinction in May before graduation and will receive the MD Degree with Honors in a Special Field.
The student’s thesis represents a solid contribution to the research field and is likely to be published. The student defended the thesis effectively and did a good job answering questions, placing the thesis within the research field and recognizing the limitations of the thesis.
Magna cum laude
The student’s thesis represents a significant contribution to the research field and is likely publishable in a front-line journal. The student defended the thesis very effectively, and had little or no difficulty answering questions or recognizing the limitations of the thesis and exhibited a comprehensive understanding of the research field.
Summa cum laude
The student’s thesis represents a major discovery, published in a front-line journal and likely to make a significant medium-to-long-term impact on the research field. The student was able to answer all questions effectively, recognized and addressed the limitations of the thesis and showed an advanced understanding of both the thesis topic and the research field.
Students receiving summa cum laude are often first author on several high impact papers. HMS has awarded summa cum laude Honors only 22 times in the school’s history.
More detailed information and policies on this program can be found in the Student Handbook.
Process
Carry out a research project in your choice of any discipline – research typically involves at least four months of full-time work, often more time is needed in the experimental biological sciences
