Honors and Recognition

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Admission With Distinction

“Admission With Distinction” is awarded to a freshman or transfer student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in past academic work. For first-time freshmen with no previous college units earned, a grade-point average of 3.6 on a four-point scale must be earned in the coursework considered for admission to the university. Students who have completed fewer than 60 transferable semester units of credit must meet the grade-point average for first-time freshmen and must also have earned a 3.5 grade-point average on all transferable college work attempted. Students who have completed 60 or more transferable semester units are eligible, if a grade-point average of 3.5 is earned in all transferable college work completed.

President’s Scholars Program

The President’s Scholars Program at Cal State Fullerton is based solely on merit and recognizes incoming first-time freshmen who have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement, leadership ability and community service. President’s Scholars hold a prestigious position at the university. Scholarship benefits last for four years, as long as individual scholars maintain program eligibility, and include annually: full payment of CSU enrollment fees; $750 for books and supplies; personal use of a laptop computer; automatic admittance to the University Honors Program; priority registration for classes and consideration for housing; complimentary parking permits for fall and spring semesters; and engagement in high-impact practices such as study abroad, first year seminars and mentoring programs.

Applicants to Cal State Fullerton’s President Scholars Program must meet the following requirements:

1. apply to Cal State Fullerton as a first-time freshman prior to applying to the President’s Scholars Program. Applications for the scholarship from students who have not applied for general university admission will not be considered;
2. be a resident of the state of California (residency is determined by the Office of Admissions for fee purposes);
3. have earned an academic grade-point average of at least 3.75 (weighted) in all academic subjects for the 10th through 12th grades
4. graduate high school in the same year they are enrolled as first-time freshmen at Cal State Fullerton; and
5. demonstrate evidence of significant contributions to school leadership and community service activities during high school.

The online application is available on this website November through the second Friday in January of every year. For more information, visit the President’s Scholars Program website at fullerton.edu/scholars or call 657-278-3458.

President’s Veterans Scholars Program

The President’s Veterans Scholars Program at Cal State Fullerton prides itself on supporting California’s best and brightest veterans. The program provides a foundation for these exceptional transfer students, who have served our country through military service, to develop and realize their potential for success as scholars, leaders and citizens. President’s Veteran Scholars reach out and make a difference. They inspire others by becoming role models in their professions and their communities. Scholarship benefits last for two years, as long as individual scholars maintain program eligibility, and include annually: full payment of CSU enrollment fees; $750 for books and supplies; personal use of a laptop computer; priority registration for classes; complimentary parking permits for fall and spring semesters; invitations to numerous social, cultural and athletic events; and recommendation from the university.

Applicants to the President’s Veterans Scholars Program must meet the following requirements:

1. have been honorably discharged from one of the following branches of the United States Military: Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy or Coast Guard;
2. be admitted to CSUF and meet CSU transfer requirements;
3. achieve a minimum grade-point average of at least 3.75 at the community college attended;
4. demonstrate significant contributions to school and community service activities during time in the military and in the community college setting; and
5. be a resident of California (residency is determined by the Office of Admissions for tuition fee purposes).

Dean’s Honors List

Academic achievement is recognized each fall and spring semester for undergraduate students whose grade-point averages for the term are 3.5 or better for 12 units of graded coursework. Students are notified in writing by their college dean’s office when they have earned this distinction and a notation is placed on the student’s academic record for that semester.

Departmental Honors Programs

In addition to the University Honors Program, students are offered other opportunities to participate in an honors community. The Mihaylo College of Business and Economics has a Business Honors Program that provides select students the opportunity to take academically appealing honors courses and participate in unique in-class and out-of-classroom learning experiences. Interested students may contact the college directly to learn how to apply.

Honors at Graduation

Honors designations at graduation are awarded to baccalaureate recipients based on overall performance and have been defined by the Academic Senate in three classifications:

Honor Societies

Departmental and College-Based Honor Societies

Chapters of 19 honor societies have been chartered at Cal State Fullerton to recognize students who demonstrate superior scholarship and leadership in specific academic fields.

Alpha Kappa Delta

Alpha Kappa Delta promotes social research for the purpose of the improvement of the human condition and recognizes high scholastic achievement among juniors, seniors and sociology graduate students. Contact: John Bedell, 657-278-2905

Alpha Phi Sigma

The Criminal Justice Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sigma, provides students with references for possible careers in the field of criminal justice, as well as opportunities to participate in field trips to gain insight into the field. Open to juniors, seniors and graduate students. Contact: Kevin Meehan, 657-278-3655

Beta Alpha Psi

Beta Alpha Psi encourages and gives recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the field of accounting. Open to juniors, seniors and graduate students. Contact: Accounting Department, 657-278-2225

Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Gamma Sigma serves business programs accredited by AACSB International. The mission of the International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business, to foster personal and professional excellence, to advance the values of the society, and to serve its lifelong members. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in a business program accredited by AACSB International. Contact: Jenny Zhang, 657-278-4841

Eta Kappa Nu

Eta Kappa Nu recognizes students in electrical engineering — distinguished by scholarship, activities, leadership and exemplary character — and helps these students progress by association with alumni. Contact: Electrical Engineering, 657-278-3013

Eta Sigma Gamma

Eta Sigma Gamma promotes and recognizes achievement in the field of health education. Open to all class levels. Contact: Lilia Espinoza, 657-278-8697

Kappa Omega

Kappa Omega promotes and recognizes achievement in the field of counseling. Open to graduate students who are current members of the American Counseling Association and have a 3.5 GPA. Contact: Lea Beth Lewis, 657-278-4471

Kappa Omicron Nu

Kappa Omicron Nu promotes scholarship, research and the spirit of inquiry in the fields of kinesiology, human services and child and adolescent studies. Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Contact: Michelle Barr, 657-278-5919

Lambda Alpha

The national anthropology honor society, Lambda Alpha, encourages and stimulates superior scholarship and professionalism among students in the field of anthropology. Open to both graduate and undergraduate students.

Mu Phi Epsilon

Mu Phi Epsilon promotes high standards in education and performance in the professional world of music. Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Contact: School of Music, 657-278-3511

Phi Alpha Theta

Phi Alpha Theta recognizes and encourages excellence in the study of history. Contact: Jochen Burgtorf, 657-278-3560

Pi Alpha Alpha

Pi Alpha Alpha recognizes high academic achievement in the study of public administration. Contact: Myungjung “MJ” Kwon, 657-278-3809

Pi Sigma Alpha

Pi Sigma Alpha recognizes and encourages productive scholarship in the subject of government among junior, senior and graduate students. Contact: Valerie O’Regan, 657-278-3468

Psi Chi

Psi Chi advances and maintains scholarship in the science of psychology. Contact: Kristin Beals, Psychology, 657-278-3136

Sigma Phi Omega

Sigma Phi Omega promotes scholarship, professionalism, friendship and services to older persons, and recognizes exemplary attainment in gerontology/aging studies and related fields. Open to juniors, seniors and graduate students. Contact: Karen Wong, 657-278-6733

Sigma Tau Delta

Sigma Tau Delta confers distinction for high achievement in undergraduate, graduate and professional studies in English language and literature. The aim of Sigma Tau Delta is to promote a mastery of written expression, to encourage worthwhile reading, and to foster a spirit of good fellowship among students of the English language and literature. Contact: David Kelman, 657-278-3315

Sigma Theta Tau

Sigma Theta Tau recognizes superior achievement and fosters high professional standards in the field of nursing. Open to qualified juniors, seniors and graduate students in nursing. Contact: Deanna Jung, 657-278-5365

Tau Beta Pi

Tau Beta Pi promotes and encourages scholastic excellence and service among the top eighth of junior and the top fifth of senior students in all engineering disciplines. Contact: Mechanical Engineering Department, 657-278-3014

Special Interest Honor Societies

The following five societies also recognize specialized groups of individuals or areas of interest, but are not limited to a specific academic field:

Golden Key International Honor Society

The Golden Key International Honor Society promotes and recognizes scholastic excellence and service among juniors and seniors at CSUF. Contact: Marisol Cardenas, 657-278-5453

National Society of Collegiate Scholars

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars recognizes outstanding academic achievement and assists students in achieving their career objectives. Open to freshmen and sophomores, and encourages members to become and remain involved in community service and leadership activities throughout their college experiences and beyond.

Order of Omega

The Order of Omega promotes and recognizes scholastic excellence, leadership and service for CSUF fraternity and sorority members with a junior or senior standing. Contact: Fraternity and Sorority Life, 657-278-7622

Phi Beta Delta

Phi Beta Delta honors excellence among international students, distinguishes faculty who have studied or done research abroad, and students who have studied abroad. Contact: Dipasri Ghosh, 657-278-4821

Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all academic disciplines in institutions of higher learning.

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