Commencement Awards for 2019

The following are Commencement awards and honors available to students in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM). Please be sure to note the deadlines for application. For more information about these awards, contact the department of your major or the Dean's Office, HSCI-160.

College Commencement Awards

Students completing their degrees in Fall 2018, Winter 2019, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, and Fall 2019 are eligible for CNSM Commencement Awards.

Outstanding Graduate Award

The CSULB Alumni Association recognizes one graduating undergraduate in each college as a CSULB Outstanding Graduate.

  • Nominations may be made for deserving students with majors in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics who graduate in Fall 2018, Spring 2019, or Summer 2019. Nominations are accepted from November through early February.
  • Nominations may be made to a student's major department from faculty, staff, alumni, or students.
  • Nomination due to the College Office: Friday, February 1, 2019
  • Dean submits nominees to CSULB Alumi Association: Monday, February 4, 2019
  • Nomination form located on Celebrating Excellence - CSULB Alumni Association

Graduate Dean's List of University Scholars and Artists

The top 1.5% of CNSM graduate students (up to 6 students) pursuing a graduate degree may be named to the Graduate Dean's List of University Scholars and Artists.

  • Masters students only.
  • Students and their mentors submit their application to the appropriate department office by the deadline. Departments will forward ranked applications to the college deans, who recommend up to seven nominees to the Graduate Dean.
  • All students nominated for this award must have passed their graduation check and be eligible to receive a diploma dated December 2018, January 2019, May 2019, August 2019, or December 2019.
  • Nominations due to department offices: Monday, February 18, 2019.
  • Department recommendation due to the College Office: Friday, February 22, 2019
  • Graduate Dean's List Application [PDF]

Outstanding Thesis Award

CNSM recognizes up to six truly outstanding theses, one possible in each department. Evaluation criteria of thesis include quality of presentation (appearance, format, style, language, clarity, etc.) and quality of research (scientific methodology, likelihood of publication - i.e., presentation at professional conference, manuscript submitted for publication, etc.).

  • Nominated by graduate thesis advisors.
  • Theses completed Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Winter 2019, or Spring 2019. Award recipients who are completing their thesis Spring 2019 must provide the college office proof of submission to the library by 5:00 p.m., April 12, 2019.
  • Advisor nominations due to department offices: Friday, March 1, 2019
  • Department recommendations due to the College Office: Friday, March 22, 2019
  • CNSM Outstanding Thesis Award Application [PDF]

Richard D. Green Dean's Award

Recognizes CNSM outstanding graduating baccalaureate students, one per department.

  • Nominees must be graduating in Fall 2018, Winter 2019, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, or Fall 2019. Graduation check must be submitted.
  • Nominations due to department offices: Monday, March 11, 2019
  • Department awardee nomination packets due to the College Office: Friday, March 22, 2019
  • Richard D. Green Dean's Award Application [PDF]

Departmental Honors

Students completing their degrees in Fall 2018, Winter 2019, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, and Fall 2019 are eligible for departmental honors.

Baccalaureate Students

With the approval of the dean of the college, departments may elect to award departmental honors to their baccalaureate graduates based on GPA and/or other criteria determined by the department. Departmental honors are usually reserved for students whose outstanding performance is not otherwise recognized by university or college awards. The number of honors awarded by a department shall be limited to three students or five percent of graduates, whichever is larger.

  • Nominations due to department offices: Monday, March 11, 2019.
  • Nominations due to the College Office (up to 3 from each department): Friday, March 22, 2019.
  • Departmental Honors Application [PDF]

Master's and Doctoral Students

In recognition of outstanding graduate student achievements, departments may honor graduating Master's and Doctoral degree candidates by special recognition in the annual commencement ceremonies. The number of honors awarded by a department shall be limited to three students or five percent of graduates, whichever is larger. Departmental Graduate Student Honors are usually reserved for post-baccalaureate students not otherwise recognized by university or college awards. These honors are normally conferred for excellence in and contributions to the discipline, including outstanding seminar papers, artistic exhibitions, special achievements in field work, and service in university committees and functions, as well as participation in scholarly and professional organizations resulting from student research.


Graduation with Academic Honors

This designation is ONLY certified at the posting of the degree in the term of graduation. Thus, Spring 2019 graduates with honors will not be officially recognized until degrees are posted in June 2019. These honors are noted on the diploma and transcript.

Summa Cum Laude

B.A./B.S. only. GPA of 3.95 - 4.0 on ALL college work with 45 units or more completed here at California State University, Long Beach. Official conferral of honor is determined during final processing of degree audit following semester of completion.

Magna Cum Laude

B.A./B.S. only. GPA of 3.75 - 3.95 on ALL college work with 45 units or more completed here at California State University, Long Beach. Official conferral of honor is determined during final processing of degree audit following semester of completion.

Cum Laude

B.A./B.S. only. GPA of 3.5 - 3.75 on ALL college work with 45 units or more completed here at California State University, Long Beach. Official conferral of honor is determined during final processing of degree audit following semester of completion.