Honors and Recognition
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 3.50 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 California State University, 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 priority consideration for on-campus housing; complimentary parking permits for fall and spring semesters; invitations to numerous social, cultural and athletic events; and letters of recommendation from the president of the university.
Applicants to Cal State Fullerton’s President Scholars Program must meet the following requirements:
National Merit Scholar finalists and semifinalists are offered an automatic interview with the President’s Scholars Screening Committee if they are legal residents of California, graduate high school in the same year they are enrolled as first-time freshmen at Cal State Fullerton, and apply to Cal State Fullerton as first-time freshmen. National Merit Scholar finalists and semifinalists must submit a completed President’s Scholars Program application and a photocopy of their National Merit Scholarship Corporation notification letter. The university does not guarantee acceptance of National Merit Scholars into the President’s Scholars Program.
Please visit the website at www.fullerton.edu/scholars for more information. The online application is available on this website November through the last Friday in January of every year. If you have any questions, please call the President’s Scholars Program office at 657-278-3458.
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 which provides select students the opportunity to take academically appealing honors courses and participate in unique in-class and out-of-classroom learning experiences. Accounting and Political Science departments offer departmental-based honors programs as well. Details on these programs are listed under the respective department sections of this catalog. Interested students may contact the departments 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:
| cum laude | GPA 3.50-3.74 |
| magna cum laude | GPA 3.75-3.89 |
| summa cum laude | GPA 3.90-4.00 |
HONOR SOCIETIES
Council of Honor Societies
The Council seeks to provide a forum for collaboration and coordination among the various local, national and international honor societies at California State University, Fullerton as they seek to promote, advance and recognize the campus community of scholars and student pursuit of academic excellence. Adviser: Maricela Alvarado, Student Life Coordinator
Discipline-Based Honor Societies
Chapters of nineteen 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 - 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. Adviser: Alan Emery, Sociology
Alpha Phi Sigma - Criminal Justice Honor Society 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. Adviser: Kevin Meehan, Criminal Justice
Beta Alpha Psi - Encourages and gives recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the field of accounting. Open to juniors, seniors and graduate students. Adviser: Mohsen Sharifi, Accounting
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. Adviser: Mark Hoven Stohs, Mihaylo College of Business and Economics
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. Adviser: Maqsood Chaundhry, Electrical Engineering
Eta Sigma Gamma - Promotes and recognizes achievement in the field of health education. Open to all class levels. Adviser: Shari McMahan, Health Science
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. Adviser: Leah Brew, Counseling
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. Adviser: Karen Perell, Kinesiology
Lambda Alpha - National anthropology honor society open to both graduate and undergraduate students that encourages and stimulates superior scholarship and professionalism among students in the field of anthropology. Adviser: Barbra Erickson, Anthropology
Mu Phi Epsilon - Promotes high standards in education and performance in the professional world of music. Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. Adviser: Cynthia Ellis, Music
Phi Alpha Theta - Recognizes and encourages excellence in the study of history. Adviser: Jochen Burgtorf, History
Pi Alpha Alpha - Recognizes high academic achievement in the study of public administration. Adviser: Shelly Arsneault, Public Administration
Pi Sigma Alpha - Recognizes and encourages productive scholarship in the subject of government among junior, senior and graduate students. Adviser: Stephen Stambough, Political Science
Psi Chi - Advances and maintains scholarship in the science of psychology. Adviser: Kristin Beals, Psychology
Sigma Delta Pi - Recognizes high academic achievement in the study of the Spanish language, the literature and culture of Hispanic nations, and other college-level subjects. Committed to academic excellence in the discipline of Spanish and to the aid of the Hispanic community. Open to juniors, seniors and graduate students. Adviser: Pilar Valero-Costa, Modern Languages and Literatures
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. Adviser: Joseph Weber, Sociology/Gerontology
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. Adviser: Marlin Blaine, English
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. Adviser: Marsha Orr, Nursing
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. Adviser: Maqsood Chaudhry, Mechanical Engineering
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 - Promotes and recognizes scholastic excellence and service among juniors and seniors at CSUF. Adviser: Carmen Curiel, University Honors and Scholars Center
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. Adviser: Rachel Lynch, Student Affairs
Order of Omega - Promotes and recognizes scholastic excellence, leadership and service for CSUF fraternity and sorority members with a junior or senior standing. Adviser: Deanna Merino, Greek Life
Phi Beta Delta - Honors excellence among international students, distinguishes faculty who have studied or done research abroad, and students who have studied abroad. Chapter Adviser: Lay Tuan Tan, Office of International Education and Exchange
Phi Kappa Phi - Recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all academic disciplines in institutions of higher learning. Chapter Treasurer: Irene Lange, Marketing
