Honors

UNIVERSITY DISTINCTION:
Graduating with Distinction is referenced in the University Catalog and states the following:

"A student may receive the Master’s degree with distinction by maintaining a 3.885 or higher GPA on all formal Master’s degree program coursework. The notation “With Distinction’’ is posted with the degree on the transcript, and also will appear on the diploma."

This suggests that students earning a master's degree do not earn "University Academic Honors" as that term and designation are for undergraduate degree recipients.

The notation “With Distinction’’ is posted on the degree and the transcript for students earning a master's degree possessing a 3.885 or higher GPA on formal Master’s degree program coursework.

DEANS LIST, HONOR SOCIETY INVOLVEMENT AND HONORS CONVOCATION NOMINATIONS:

NOTE: Dean's List determinations, Honors Convocation nominations and invitations, and/or Honor Society involvement do not guarantee eligibility for "Distinction".  Please check the University Catalog for further details. You can also inquire with the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (818) 677-2138

Students who have graduated with Distinction are eligible to purchase a Sash and/or Cords at the Matador Bookstore, which can be worn at the commencement ceremony.

Eligibility for academic distinction shall be based on Fall term grades. However, while unusual, students may receive grades or grade changes that allow them to meet the relevant GPA criteria after Fall term grades have been posted.  Students with proof of an adjusted qualifying GPA may contact the Commencement Office and upon confirmed review, the student will be eligible to purchase an Honors Sash and/or Honors Cords at the CSUN Campus Store. We will make every effort to have your recognition added to the printed souvenir program booklet up until the last Friday in March.

UNIVERSITY HONORS:
University Honors are awarded to students who complete their degree with certain GPA criteria. A student who has met the Honors criteria when the graduation evaluation is completed will be designated an "Honors Candidate." The student will be listed as an Honors Candidate in the Commencement Program. Please note that candidacy for University Honors does not guarantee that honors will be awarded when the degree is conferred. Conversely, a student who did not meet the Honors criteria when the graduation evaluation was conducted may still be awarded University Honors if the Honors criteria are met when the degree is later conferred. The University Catalog states the following.

To receive honors at graduation, a student must:

1. Complete a minimum of 30 units of work in letter-graded courses at CSUN.
2. Earn a GPA of 3.50 or above in all work taken at CSUN and cumulatively (transfer and CSUN work).
3. Earn a CSUN GPA of 3.50.

The level of honors is based on the grade point average in all undergraduate courses, including transfer work (cumulative). The level of honors is determined as follows:

• Summa Cum Laude - GPA of 3.90 or above
• Magna Cum Laude - GPA of 3.75 to 3.89
• Cum Laude - GPA of 3.50 to 3.74

If University Honors is awarded when the degree is granted, honors will be reflected on your diploma and your CSUN transcript.

DEANS LIST, HONOR SOCIETY INVOLVEMENT AND HONORS CONVOCATION NOMINATIONS:
NOTE: Dean's List determinations, Honors Convocation nominations/invitations, and/or Honor Society involvement should not be confused with "University Honors" as they all have different classifications.  

CSUN Honors Convocation

Each year California State University, Northridge recognizes outstanding degree recipients by inviting them to participate in the Honors Convocation ceremony. Students meeting the established criteria (below) will receive an official invitation to the ceremony from the President of the University. In addition, each student will have their name and award included in a souvenir program, and will also be invested with an Honors Convocation Medallion at the Convocation ceremony. It is encouraged that graduates wear their medallions to thier commencement ceremonies as well.  

Participation in the  Honors Convocation is limited to undergraduate and graduate students who have received or are candidates for a degree in the current Academic Year, and meet one of the following criteria below:

• Scholastic Achievement  - Undergraduates with a 3.5 cumulative GPA as of Fall 2024, and Master's degree recipients with at least a 3.885 GPA as of Fall 2024
• Personal Achievement - Recipients of a department, college or University award, or scholarship that recognizes demonstrated excellence of an artistic, creative or athletic nature, or the display of unusual leadership ability or community service.  This category is by direct nomination by a staff, faculty, or administrator of the CSUN Community.  

Graduates can expect to receive an invitation in mid-April.  

Honors Convocation Ceremony - Event Overview
 

This ceremony traditionally runs 60 to 90 minutes in length. 

Arrival Time (Graduates & Guest): 
Graduates and guests are expected to arrive at least 60 minutes before the ceremony to account for traffic, checking in, bag check, and seating. 

Graduate Entrances: 
Graduates can enter through any of the four commencement site gates (West, East, Southwest, Southeast). Upon entry, we ask at that all graduates have their Marching Order RSVP confirmation or invitation card in hand to allow for a quick entrance. 
 
Once inside the venue, all graduates will proceed to the center floor chairs to be seated (please view our Commencement Site Map to locate our graduate seating location). Ushers will be available on site to help direct you to these locations.  

NOTE: Graduate seating is restricted to those participating in the ceremony. 

Attire: 
For Honors Convocation, graduates are not required to wear their cap and gown. Graduates are welcomed to attend in business casual attire and are encouraged wear their commemorative sashes and cords.  

Parking: 
CSUN Graduation Parking fees will be waived for all Commencement ceremonies, for additional information on directions and parking please visit the following link. 

Guest Entrances & Tickets: 
There will be four entrance gates operational for guests(West, East, Southwest, Southeast). Guest are expected to have their printed tickets out and ready for scanning upon arrival. Guests will be asked to pass through metal detectors and have their tickets scanned before entering the venue.  

Please make sure you resend/print your tickets to ensure that all tickets have remained in the account and the QR codes are the most updated ones.  

To help your guests with accessing the venue, passing through security check-in, and locating the different entrances please view the venue entrances, nonprohibited items , and commencement site map for more information. 
 
Accessibility: 
The commencement venue is fully accessible and meets all ADA standards including all processional routes along the ceremony site. Although the campus is completely accessible there is some distance between all parking lots/structures to the actual venue. Unfortunately, trams and other transport vehicles will not be available. Please review parking information to best assess the most comfortable parking location for your family and guests. 

 
Live Streaming of the Ceremony:  
The commencement ceremonies will be available on YouTube and Facebook Live for any guest who cannot attend in person. Click here to view the live stream.  

Graduates invited to Honors Convocation will receive further information on how to claim their Honors Convocation tickets via Marching Order during the Spring 2025 semester.

There are several Honor Societies at CSUN, representing a rich backdrop of student cultures, educational foundations, and inspired community service. All recognized Honor Societies are organizations at CSUN and additional information can be found at the Matador Involvement Center.

Below is a list of a few:

List of Honor Societies

Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honors Fraternity
Honor Society

The objective of this Fraternity shall be to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the field of accounting. This objective includes but is not limited to, the following sub-objectives: to instill in its members a motivation for self-improvement; to foster high moral and ethical standards in its members; to cultivate a sense of responsibility and service in its members; to promote the collegiate study of professional accountancy; and to provide opportunities for association among its members and professional accountants.

CSUN Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society
Honor Society

Because of the negative stereotyping associated with disability, students with disabilities have been reluctant to identify themselves publicly. Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society presents an opportunity to change that perception by recognizing students with disabilities for their academic accomplishments. The purpose of this Society shall be to recognize the academic accomplishments of college and university students with disabilities, to facilitate the development of leadership and advocacy skills, and to provide opportunities for members to serve as mentors and role models. The further purpose of this Society shall be to provide educational programming related to disability issues for the campus and community.

Eta Kappa Nu, CSUN (Engineering Honorary)
Honor Society

The Eta Kappa Nu Association was founded at the University of Illinois at Urbana in 1904 by Maurice L. Carr, to encourage excellence in education for the benefit of the public by Marking in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon engineering education by distinguished scholarship, activities, leadership and exemplary character as students in electrical or computer engineering, or by their attainments in the field of electrical or computer engineering; Providing educational and financial support to said students; and Fostering educational excellence in engineering colleges.

Gamma Sigma Alpha, Greek Academic Honor Society
Honor Society

Kappa Omicron Nu (National Home Economics Honor Society)
Honor Society

Kappa Omicron Nu National Website [External link]

Kappa Omicron Nu is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing and encouraging excellence in scholarship, research, and leadership in Family and Consumer Sciences. To accomplish this mission, Omicron Beta Epsilon Chapter shall:

• promote scholarship and encourage intellectual development
• promote research and foster the spirit of inquiry
• confer distinction for high achievement
• promote leadership development
• stimulate student and faculty dialogue
• enrich the intellectual environment of higher education institutions
• encourage high standards of practice and ethical behavior
• promote attitudes of professional responsibility for the public good

National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)
Honor Society

NSCS National Website [External link]

• The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is the nation's premiere honor organization for high achieving students.
• Membership is based on grade point average and class standing, and is by invitation only.
• NSCS aims to honor inspire and engage its members, and offers benefits including scholarships, leadership development, travel opportunities and career resources.

National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
Honor Society

NSLS National Website [External link]

For the purpose of assisting college students in creating the lives they desire, by helping students discover what they truly want to do, and to give them the support and tools to achieve their goals, we hereby found The National Society of Leadership and Success.

Order of Omega
Honor Society

The purpose of this chapter shall be those expressed in the Constitution of The National Order of Omega: "To recognize those fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in Interfraternity activities, to encourage them to continue along this line, and to inspire others to strive for similar conspicuous attainment; To unite outstanding fraternity men and sorority women and to create an organization which will help to mold the sentiment of the institution on questions of local and intercollegiate affairs; To bring together members of the faculty, alumni, and student members of the institution's fraternities and sororities on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness; To help create an atmosphere where ideas and issues can be discussed openly across Greek lines and to help work out solutions."

Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity, Inc.

Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity, Inc. National Website [External link]

To foster and achieve bonding among physicians of high moral character devoted to education and philanthropy for a lifetime.Objectives:

1. To promote the highest scientific and educational standards in the field of medicine;
2. To promote, uphold and maintain the highest standards of ethics in the practice of medicine, medical teaching and research;
3. To promote discussions at all Fraternity levels of current social and economic issues as related to medicine, the practice of medicine and other health care related issues;
4. To promote non-profit group service to the community by Fraternity chapters and affiliates;
5. To promote fellowship and mentoring, equality and unity.

Pi Lambda Theta (Education Honorary)
Honor Society

The goal of Pi Lambda Theta, Delta Kappa Chapter will be to honor outstanding educators in the field of education and inspire them to be effective leaders in education.

Pi Sigma Alpha, Delta Sigma Chapter (Political Science Honorary)
Honor Society

We, the members of Pi Sigma Alpha, Delta Sigma chapter, form this CSUN branch of the National Political Science Honors Society to recognize academic excellence in Political Science at California State University, Northridge, to foster intellectual exchange, and to advance future success of its members. We adhere to the rules set forward in this constitution, the rules and regulations of California State University, Northridge guidelines for participation, and the standards of the national association of Pi Sigma Alpha.

Psi Chi (National Psychology Honorary)
Honor Society

Psi Chi (National Psychology Honorary) National Website [External link]

Psi Chi strives to advance the science of psychology and to encourage, stimulate, and maintain scholarship of its individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology.

Sigma Tau Delta (English Honorary)
Honor Society

Sigma Tau Delta (English Honorary) National Website [External link]

Sigma Tau Delta strives to provide cultural stimulation on campus and to promote interest in literature and the English language in the surrounding community.

Tau Sigma National Honor Society (Transfer Students)
Honor Society

The California State University, Northridge chapter of Tau Sigma is committed to recognizing the achievements of transfer students while building a supportive community. Our members serve as ambassadors of California State University, Northridge, and advocates for both current and prospective transfer students to CSUN.

Uplison Phi Delta Honor Society

Honor Society

The Upsilon Phi Delta (UPD) at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is a distinguished honor society dedicated to recognizing and fostering excellence in the field of health administration. As part of the larger national organization, AUPHA (Association of University Programs in Health Administration), UPD at CSUN celebrates the dedication and accomplishments of students and professionals in healthcare management. Members are honored for their hard work, and their names are proudly added to the national database, showcasing their achievements and connecting them with a broader network of peers and opportunities within the field. Members of UPD at CSUN are selected based on their exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities, and commitment to advancing the field of health administration. UPD at CSUN empowers its members to make meaningful contributions to the healthcare industry and prepares them for successful careers in healthcare management and administration.

Students invited to this ceremony who were unable to attend can pick up an Honors Convocation medallion and program at either the CSUN Campus Store or the Office of Student Development & Transitional Programs (located in the USU area across from the Freudian Sip).  Please bring your invitation to help verify this honor.   

Students who meet the qualifications of University Honors or University Honors Candidate can connect with the CSUN Campus Store to purchase Honors or Distinction paraphernalia (Sashes/Cords, etc.).  The CSUN Campus Store has been provided a list of all students eligible for this honor.

PLEASE NOTE: The fall 2024, Spring, and Summer 2025 graduates list will be provided to the Campus Store at GradFest. Graduates wishing to purchase their Honors or Distinction-related paraphernalia can submit their request at GradFest. 

Graduates wishing to purchase their Honors or Distinction materials can do so using the link below: https://www.bkstr.com/csunorthridgestore/shop/graduation

NOTE: Please include graduate name and Student ID # in the Special Instructions box during check-out for eligibility confirmation.