ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Eligible students receive the following honors and awards in recognition of academic achievement.

Dean’s Honors List

The School of the Arts and Architecture, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Nursing, School of Theater, Film, and Television, and the deans of the five divisions in the College of Letters and Science award Dean’s Honors to deserving students each term. Honors are based on the grade-point average attained within a specified number of units. Consult the College or school for further information.

Latin Honors

The College and schools award Latin honors according to overall grade-point average at graduation. To be eligible students must have completed at least 90 (98 for the School of Nursing) University of California units for a letter grade. The levels of honors are summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude. Specific requirements vary for each level and are detailed in the College and Schools section of this catalog. See the Schedule of Classes for the most current calculations of Latin Honors.

Departmental Honors

In the College of Letters and Science, departmental honors and highest honors are awarded at graduation on the recommendation of a student’s major department, based on successful completion of a departmental honors program. Students should consult their department for its requirements.

Departmental Scholar Program

Departments in the College of Letters and Science and each school, except the School of Nursing, may nominate exceptionally promising juniors and seniors as Departmental Scholars to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degree programs simultaneously. Nominations are submitted to the College or school dean for recommendation to the dean of the Graduate Division. Students interested in becoming Departmental Scholars should consult their departments well in advance of application dates for graduate admission (see the calendar at the beginning of this catalog).

Honor Societies

Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma

Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma are national honor societies that recognize high achieving first-year students. Membership is based solely on academic achievement during the freshman year. To be eligible students must have a 3.5 grade-point average with 12 graded University of California units in the first term of their freshman or first year at UCLA, or a cumulative 3.5 GPA at the end of the second and/or third terms. Invitations are issued in Winter Quarter, and an induction ceremony is held during Spring Quarter. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 1206 Murphy Hall, (310) 825-3871. See http://www.aldpes.ucla.edu.

Golden Key

Golden Key is an international interdisciplinary academic honors organization dedicated to excellence. Students qualify on the basis of objective academic criteria. No more than the top 15 percent of enrolled sophomores, juniors, and seniors may be eligible.

The society recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement and excellence in all undergraduate fields of study. It unites with collegiate faculties and administrators in developing and maintaining high standards of education and promotes scholastic achievement and altruistic conduct through voluntary service. Invitations are issued in Fall Quarter, and a reception is held in Winter Quarter. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 1206 Murphy Hall, (310) 825-3871. See http://ucla.goldenkey.org.

Mortar Board

Mortar Board is a national honor society for college seniors that recognizes outstanding and continual scholarship, leadership, and service to the campus community.

To be considered for membership, candidates must have completed 90 units and must have attained at least a B average or be in the highest 35 percent scholastically of the junior class, whichever is higher. Applications are available at http://www.mortarboardatucla.org/apply.html early in Winter Quarter and are due by mid-February. Approximately 40 members are selected each spring by the outgoing chapter. See http://www.mortarboardatucla.org or call (310) 206-5523.

Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is a national academic honors society in the humanities, liberal arts, and sciences, founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Membership is conferred for high scholastic standing and is determined by vote of the chapter council according to scholarship records. Students do not apply for Phi Beta Kappa membership.

At UCLA only graduating seniors and selected juniors are elected to membership. The annual election is held in May, with the initiation in June. At present, the minimum grade-point average considered is 3.67 (for 140 or more UC units); the minimum number of UC units considered is 90 (students at the 90-unit level must have at least a 3.85 GPA).

A reasonable distribution of courses in the humanities and sciences is also required. A Passed grade is computed approximately as a B, depending on number of courses taken and graded units. Students who are elected are notified by mail. For further information, contact Phi Beta Kappa in the Honors Programs Office, A311 Murphy Hall, (310) 206-9667. See http://www.college.ucla.edu/pbk/.

Tau Sigma

Tau Sigma is a national honor society that recognizes the high academic achievement of first-year transfer students. To become a member, UCLA students need to earn a 3.5 grade-point average or better during their first term at UCLA after transferring either from a community college or a four-year institution (summer quarter not included). Invitations are issued after each regular academic term, and an indiction ceremony is held during Spring Quarter.

Tau Sigma honors UCLA’s large transfer community for academic achievement and provides leadership, networking, and social activities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, 1206 Murphy Hall, (310) 825-3871.

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