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Commencement awards and honors are available to students in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM). Please be sure to note the deadlines for application.

Please send your nominations to the relevant department:

• CNSM College Office: cnsm@csulb.edu
• Biological Sciences: biology@csulb.edu
• Chemistry and Biochemistry: chemistry@csulb.edu
• Geological Sciences: geology@csulb.edu
• Mathematics and Statistics: math@csulb.edu
• Physics and Astronomy: physics@csulb.edu
• Science Education: scied@csulb.edu

For questions and more information about these awards, please contact the CNSM College Office.

CNSM Commencement Awards for 2025

Students in the Class of 2025 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 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.
• All students nominated for this award must have filed for graduation and be eligible to receive a diploma dated December 2024, January 2025, May 2025, August 2025, or December 2025.
• Nominations due to department offices: Monday, February 17, 2025.
• Department recommendations due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 3, 2025.
• Graduate Dean and Green Dean List of Graduate Scholars 2025 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.

• 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.
• All students nominated for this award must have filed for graduation and be eligible to receive a diploma dated December 2024, January 2025, May 2025, August 2025, or December 2025.
• Nominations due to department offices: Monday, February 17, 2025.
• Department recommendations due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 3, 2025.
• Graduate Dean and Green Dean List of Graduate Scholars 2025 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 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, or Spring 2025.
• Nominations due to department offices: Monday, March 3, 2025.
• Department recommendations due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 17, 2025.
• CNSM Outstanding Thesis Award 2025 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). Science Education recognizes an outstanding science education student teacher.

• Nominee must have filed for graduation by the deadline.
• All students nominated for this award must have filed for graduation and be eligible to receive a diploma* dated December 2024, January 2025, May 2025, August 2025, or December 2025. (*Science Education student teachers will be completing their teaching credential.)
• Nominations due to department offices: Monday, February 17, 2025.
• Department recommendations due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 3, 2025.
• Richard D. Green Dean Outstanding Baccalaureate Award 2025 Directions (PDF)

Departmental Honors

Students who have filed for graduation and are receiving a diploma dated December 2024, January 2025, May 2025, August 2025, or December 2025 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, February 17, 2025.
• Department recommendations due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 3, 2025.
• Baccalaureate Department Honors 2025 Directions (PDF)

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.

• Nominations due to department offices: Monday, February 17, 2025.
• Department recommendations due to the CNSM College Office: Monday, March 3, 2025.
• Graduate Department Honors 2025 Directions (PDF)

Graduation with Academic Honors

This designation is ONLY certified at the posting of the degree in the term of graduation. Thus, Spring 2025 graduates with honors will not be officially recognized until degrees are posted in June 2025. 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.