College undergraduate students who achieve scholastic distinction may qualify for the following honors and programs.
The highest academic recognition the College confers on its undergraduate students is College Honors, which is awarded to graduating seniors who successfully complete the College Honors program and who have an overall University of California grade-point average of 3.5 or better. The program offers exceptional undergraduate students an opportunity to pursue individual excellence.
The Dean’s Honors list recognizes high scholastic achievement in any one term. The following criteria are used to note Dean’s Honors on student records: a 3.927 grade-point average (GPA) in any one term, with at least 12 letter-graded units. The minimum GPA required is subject to change on an annual basis. Students are not eligible for Dean’s Honors in any given term if they receive an Incomplete or a Not Passed (NP) grade. Dean’s Honors are automatically recorded on the transcript for the appropriate term.
Individual departments and programs in the College offer departmental honors. Admission and curricular requirements vary according to the department or program. See the individual department for details, and consult with a departmental adviser about procedures and arrangements. Students who successfully complete the requirements graduate with departmental honors or highest honors.
Students who have achieved scholastic distinction may be awarded the bachelor’s degree with Latin honors. To be eligible, students must have completed 90 or more units for a letter grade at the University of California and must have attained an overall grade-point average (GPA) at graduation that places them in the top 20 percent of College graduates (GPA of 3.927 or better) for cum laude, the top 10 percent (GPA of 3.969 or better) for magna cum laude, or the top five percent (GPA of 3.992 or better) for summa cum laude. Coursework taken on the Education Abroad Program is applied toward Latin honors at graduation. The minimum GPAs required are subject to change on an annual basis. Required GPAs in effect in the graduating year (fall, winter, spring, summer) determine student eligibility. Students should consult their Degree Audits, or the Registrar’s honors web page, for the most current Latin honors calculations.
Departments may nominate exceptionally promising undergraduate students (juniors and seniors) as UCLA Departmental Scholars to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously. Qualifications include completion of 24 courses (96 quarter units) at UCLA or the equivalent at a similar institution, the requirements in preparation for the major, and eligibility to participate in the College Honors program. Students must also have at least one term of coursework remaining at UCLA. To obtain both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, students must be provisionally admitted to the Graduate Division, fulfill requirements for each program, and maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) GPA. No course may be used to fulfill requirements for both degrees. Interested students should consult with their department well in advance of application dates for graduate admission. For more information, contact the Honors Programs Office in A311 Murphy Hall.