Honors

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS -- Junior and senior majors who have completed all university-level coursework, including all preparation courses and requirements for the major with an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or better and a 3.5 GPA or better in the required major courses, may apply for admission to the honors program. Students must have the sponsorship of an approved faculty adviser. The core of the program consists of at least one undergraduate seminar and three research courses (12 units minimum) culminating in a thesis: MCDB 198A, 198B, and 198C. To qualify for graduation with honors, students must satisfactorily complete all requirements for the honors program and the major and obtain at least an overall 3.0 grade-point average and a 3.5 GPA or better in coursework required for the major. On recommendation by the faculty sponsor and with approval of the thesis by the departmental honors committee, students are awarded no honors, departmental honors, or highest departmental honors. At the discretion of the departmental honors committee, students who have (1) a GPA of 3.6 or better, both overall and in the major, (2) research sponsorship from a faculty adviser within the department, and (3) demonstrated exceptional accomplishment on the research thesis are awarded highest departmental honors.

PHI BETA KAPPA, founded in 1776, is the oldest and most prestigious academic honors society in the United States. It encourages and rewards successful study in the liberal arts and sciences. Each year, the Council of the UCLA Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa examines the transcripts of students who are graduating, or have graduated, during the current academic year and who meet the GPA requirements. In addition to the GPA requirement, the Council examines each transcript for adequate breadth and depth of courses apart from the major. Any performance or professional school courses are deducted from a studentÕs total UC units and GPA, which are then adjusted. Performance and professional school courses include those found in theater arts, art, music, dance, design, management and accounting. One "P" grade is allowed for every 41 graded units. Additional P/NP courses with a passing grade are calculated as "B" grades, which lowers the GPA. Mandatory P/NP courses are excluded. To meet the breadth criteria, students should satisfy the minimum Letters & Science General Education Requirements, i.e. have a minimum of 4 humanities, 4 social science, 3 physical science, and 3 life science courses. Some mathematics and some language are also expected. Transfer students who may be exempt from some GE requirements for graduation are NOT automatically exempt for the purpose of Phi Beta Kappa membership. Students are invited to join Phi Beta Kappa. Thus, applying is not necessary. Graduating seniors who are elected will be notified by mail in late May. If you have any questions, go to http://www.college.ucla.edu/up/honors and click on "Phi Beta Kappa."

COLLEGE HONORS is the highest academic recognition the College of Letters and Science confers on its undergraduates. College Honors is awarded to graduating seniors with an overall University of California grade-point average of 3.5 or better who have completed either 44 units of honors coursework or 36 units of honors coursework that include a senior research project/thesis based on original research. Students in the College Honors program are entitled to specialized counseling within the division, some preferential enrollment in classes each term, access to specially designed honors classes, eligibility for unique scholarships and research stipends, counseling on graduate and preprofessional programs, graduate library privileges, and letters of verification for graduate and professional school applications. To qualify for College Honors, entering freshmen must (1) have an overall GPA of 3.85 or better and a combined SAT score of 1,360 or better (on one test date) or an ACT score of 31 or better or (2) graduate in the top three percent of their high school class. Entering transfer students are admitted with a transfer GPA of 3.5. Continuing UCLA and transfer students with at least 12 or more graded units at UCLA and a cumulative UC GPA of 3.5 or better who can complete the honors course requirements prior to graduation are encouraged to participate. Students receiving either College Honors or Latin Honors or both wear a gold fourragère on their left shoulder at Commencement. Students may apply for admission to College Honors at A311 Murphy Hall. For further information, attend one of the group meetings offered regularly by the Honors Programs Office. Details are available in the UCLA General Catalog in the College section, under "Honors."

HONORS AT GRADUATION (LATIN HONORS) -- Latin honors are awarded at graduation to those students whose GPA is in the top 20 percent of all College of Letters and Science graduates. To be eligible, you must have completed 90 or more units for a letter grade at the University of California and must have GPA at graduation that places you in the top five percent of College graduates for summa cum laude, the next five percent for magna cum laude, and the next 10 percent for cum laude. Coursework taken abroad through EAP is applied toward Latin honors at graduation. The minimum GPAs required are subject to change on an annual basis and are determined by graduating year (fall, winter, spring, summer) for eligibility. For the most current GPA you should refer to the bottom of your DPR.

PROVOST'S HONORS -- If you have received either a 3.75 GPA in any one term with at least 12 graded units and no grade of NP or I or a 3.66 GPA and at least 56 grade points during the term, with no grade of NP or I, then you have received Provost's Honors. Provost's Honors are automatically recorded on the transcript.

GOLDEN KEY is a nonprofit national honors association. Membership is by invitation only to those students who earn this outstanding academic distinction. The goals of the Society are to recognize and encourage scholastic achievement and excellence in all undergraduate fields of study, to unite with faculty and administrators in developing and maintaining high standards of education, to provide economic assistance to outstanding members by means of both undergraduate and graduate scholarships, and to promote scholastic achievement and voluntary service. For more information, see http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/goldenkey/.

MORTAR BOARD is an active honors organization involved in numerous campus events (such as homecoming) and community service. For more information, see http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/mboard.