Honors

Dean's Honor List

Quarterly undergraduate honors are awarded in each school to students who achieve a quarterly grade point average of 3.5 or better in a minimum of 12 graded units. Quarterly honors are noted on the student's transcript as "Dean's Honor List" next to the quarter for which they earned them.

Honors At Graduation

Criteria used by the School of Physical Sciences in selecting candidates for honors at graduation are as follows: Approximately 1 percent will be awarded summa cum laude, 3 percent magna cum laude, and 8 percent cum laude. Honors are awarded on the basis of a student's performance in research, cumulative grade point average, and performance in upper-division courses in the major and based on the student's cumulative record at the end of the final quarter. A general criterion is that students must have completed at least 72 units in residence at a University of California campus. Students who have on file recorded acts of academic dishonesty, as defined in Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students-Part A, shall be excluded by the Associate Deans from consideration for academic honors at graduation.

Students with double majors please note: The School of Physical Sciences awards Honors at Graduation at the end of the spring quarter only. This differs from some of the other Schools, so you may be affected by this.

Other Honors

The School of Physical Sciences grants special honors to students who have distinguished themselves by their work in their major subject.

Outstanding Senior

Each department (Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy) selects one outstanding graduating senior to receive this award annually. Students are selected for their superior performance in their major.

Undergraduate Research/Departmental Service Award

Each department (Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy) selects one graduating senior to receive this award annually. Students are selected for either their superior performance in undergraduate research or their outstanding service to their department.

Phi Lambda Upsilon

National Chemistry Honorary Society. Awarded to all graduating Chemistry majors who have a GPA of at least 3.5.

Don L. Bunker Award

Award given by the Chemistry Department to an undergraduate with an outstanding record in undergraduate research who plans to go to graduate school in Chemistry.

American Institute of Chemists Foundation Student Award

Recognizes potential for advancement in Chemistry profession based on demonstrated record of leadership, ability, character, and scholastic achievement.

Orange County American Chemical Society Award to an Outstanding Chemistry B.S. Recipient

Given to an outstanding graduating Chemistry major. Takes into consideration overall GPA, Chemistry GPA, and performance in research.

Sigma Pi Sigma

National Physics Honorary Society.

Herbert H. Chen Award

Award given to a junior-level Physics major who shows exceptional academic promise.

Sigma Xi

Students are elected to Associate Membership in a national honorary society to recognize excellence in scientific research.

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