Commencement Awards

For 2023

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 CNSM College Office.

CNSM Commencement Awards 2023

Students in the Class of 2023 who are completing their degrees in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics are eligible for the following CNSM Commencement Awards.

Graduate Dean's List of University Scholars and Artists

The top 1% of CNSM graduate students (up to 4 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 four nominees to the Graduate Dean.
  • All students nominated for this award must have filed for graduation and be eligible to receive a diploma dated December 2022, January 2023, May 2023, August 2023, or December 2023.
  • Nominations due to department offices: Friday, February 17, 2023.
  • Department recommendation due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 6, 2023.
  • Graduate Dean and Green Dean List of Graduate Scholars 2023 Directions (PDF)

Richard D. Green Dean Outstanding Graduate Scholar List

Recognizing that the excellence of CNSM graduate students extends to all CNSM departments, the Richard D. Green Dean Outstanding Graduate Scholar List complements the Graduate Dean's List of University Scholars and Artists so that the two awards together acknowledge one top CNSM graduate student in each department. This year, two CNSM graduate students will be named Richard D. Green Dean Outstanding Graduate Scholar.

  • 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 four nominees to the Graduate Dean.
  • All students nominated for this award must have filed for graduation and be eligible to receive a diploma dated December 2022, January 2023, May 2023, August 2023, or December 2023.
  • Nominations due to department offices: Friday, February 17, 2023.
  • Department recommendation due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 6, 2023.
  • Graduate Dean and Green Dean List of Graduate Scholars 2023 Directions (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 2022, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, or Spring 2023.
  • Advisor nominations due to department offices: Friday, February 17, 2023.
  • Department recommendations due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 6, 2023.
  • CNSM Outstanding Thesis Award 2023 Directions (PDF)

Richard D. Green Dean Outstanding Baccalaureate Award

Recognizes CNSM outstanding graduating baccalaureate students, one per department (including Environmental Science and Policy, B.S. option).

  • Nominees must be eligible to receive a diploma in December 2021, January 2022, May 2022, August 2022, or December 2022.
  • Nominee must have filed for graduation by the deadline.
  • Nominations due to department offices: Friday, February 17, 2023.
  • Department awardee nomination packets due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 6, 2023.
  • Richard D. Green Dean Outstanding Baccalaureate Award 2023 Directions (PDF)

Departmental Honors

Students who have filed for graduation and are receiving a diploma dated December 2022, January 2023, May 2023, August 2023, or December 2023 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.

Master's Students

In recognition of outstanding graduate student achievements, departments may honor graduating Master's 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 2023 graduates with honors will not be officially recognized until degrees are posted in June 2023. These honors are noted on the diploma and transcript.

Summa Cum Laude

B.A./B.S. only. GPA of 3.90 or greater 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 - 3.90 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 3.50 - 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.