Please make sure to click on all the sections below to get more information about the 2024 Commencement ceremonies.
Be In The Know
Everything graduating students need to know before walking the stage.
Before Commencement
Eligible Declared Graduation Terms for Commencement 2024
- Fall 2023 Semester
Undergraduate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding March 1, 2023
Graduate and Doctorate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding June 15, 2023
- Winter 2024 Intersession
Undergraduate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding September 1, 2023
Graduate and Doctorate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding September 15, 2023
- Spring 2024 Semester
Undergraduate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding October 16, 2023
Graduate and Doctorate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding November 15, 2023
- Summer 2024 Session
Undergraduate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding February 1, 2024
Graduate and Doctorate Degrees Application Deadline: Preceding February 15, 2024
Participation
To be eligible to participate in Commencement 2024, students must:
- FILE FOR GRADUATION
A graduation application must be submitted for the graduation terms of fall 2023, winter 2024, spring 2024, or summer 2024.
The graduation application is used by the student to notify the University that they are ready to complete their bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree program. All coursework for the degree program must be completed prior to the award date (end of the graduation term they applied for). Students will not be able to register beyond their expected declared graduation term, so it is critical that the graduation application be accurate at the time of filing.
If you have questions about the graduation application process, please contact the Graduation Office.
- REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE AT COMMENCEMENT
All graduating students planning to participate in the in-person ceremonies must register in advance to attend. Online registration will start on April 8, 2024 at 9 a.m. (PT), and end on April 26, 2024, at 5 p.m. (PT).
Students who have re-applied to graduate this academic year but have already participated in a Commencement ceremony previously for the same degree are not eligible to participate again.
Cal State LA is celebrating the outstanding achievement of the Class of 2024 on May 20 and 21, 2024. The ceremonies will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall, in downtown Los Angeles.
There will be 6 college-based ceremonies, and graduates will be automatically assigned to a ceremony based on their college, department, and major. For each ceremony, doctoral and master’s students will be hooded, and all graduating candidates will cross the stage and have their names read and appear on the screen, as well as, on the live stream.
MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
Ceremony 1 | 9 a.m. | College of Business and Economics
Ceremony 2 | 2 p.m. | College of Arts and Letters | College of Natural and Social Sciences
Ceremony 3 | 7 p.m. | College of Natural and Social Sciences
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024
Ceremony 4 | 9 a.m. | College of Education | College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology | College of Ethnic Studies
Ceremony 5 | 2 p.m. | Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services
Ceremony 6 | 7 p.m. | Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services
To view the full schedule that includes departments and majors, please visit the Schedule webpage and click on the specific ceremony.
For Commencement, the diploma name used by the Graduation Office is the name that will be used for the following:
- Ticketing information
- Name card during Commencement
- Name display on the jumbo screen
- Name announcement during Commencement
The diploma name is the primary (legal) name as it appears on the graduating candidate's GET account.
As noted on the Registrar’s Office website, graduates can submit a request for a Preferred First Name Change in GET to formally request a preferred first name be used by the University. Please note that this is not automatically used for your diploma. An approved preferred first name may be used on a diploma if requested by the graduating candidate on their graduation application, otherwise, the primary (legal) name will be used.
For the preferred first name change to be reflected for Commencement, requests must be made by April 22, 2024 (extended date), to the Graduation Office.
For any changes or updates to your primary (legal) name, including your last name, to be reflected for Commencement, please submit a Biographical/Demographical Change Request Form to the Admissions and Record Center on the first floor of the Student Services Building by April 22, 2024 (extended date).
Please note that during the Commencement ceremonies, last-minute name changes will not be accommodated. The name cards are printed in advance and are embedded with a unique barcode that will be used for name announcement and name display on the jumbo screen.
For Commencement, the Cal State LA email address, alternate email address, and the mailing address listed on the graduating candidate's GET account is the information that will be used for the following:
- Commencement registration and ticketing (only Cal State LA email address*)
- Commencement notifications and reminders (Cal State LA email address and alternate email address)
- Commencement photography (Cal State LA email address, alternate email address, and mailing address)
In spring 2024, the Graduation Office will start to submit the names of the eligible graduating candidates to the Commencement Office for inclusion in the Commencement ceremonies. Graduating candidates must make any updates to their contact information in GET by March 8, 2024, to ensure receipt of Commencement-related notices.
Please make sure to check your Cal State LA email address regularly for Commencement emails related to ticketing, important deadlines, and ceremony details. If you do not see any notifications, please check your spam folder.
* For Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates, the primary university email address on file will be used.
All graduating students planning to participate in the in-person ceremonies must register in advance to attend. Online registration will start on April 8, 2024, at 9 a.m. (PT), and end on April 26, 2024, at 5 p.m. (PT).
For additional information, please visit the Registration and Ticketing webpage.
Graduates obtaining a bachelor's degree, who maintain an outstanding academic record while earning their degree, are accorded special recognition upon graduation, and are given golden yellow double honor cords to wear during Commencement.
The criteria listed below were established by the Office of the Registrar / Graduation Office. The Commencement Office only distributes the honor cords based on the honors awarded / honors projected by the Graduation Office. For additional information on baccalaureate honors, please visit the Office of the Registrar’s website > Apply for your Degree > Honors at Graduation.
Baccalaureate Honors Criteria
To be eligible for honors, graduating bachelor's degree students must have completed a minimum of 45 units in residence at Cal State LA and have attained the appropriate standing (cumulative grade point average earned at Cal State LA) as described below:
- Summa Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.9
- Magna Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.75 but less than 3.9
- Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.5 but less than 3.75
These honors are designated on the diploma and permanent academic record.
For Commencement, spring 2024 or summer 2024 graduating students must have obtained the GPA listed above for fall 2023 or winter 2024 term ( if you attended winter 2024) to be projected to receive baccalaureate honors. Projected honors are subject to change based on final grades at the end of the spring 2024 semester or summer 2024 session.
Honor Cords Distribution
In late March 2024, information regarding the distribution of honor cords will go out to the following:
- Bachelor’s degree students who graduated in fall 2023 and winter 2024 and have attained the status of graduating with honors based on the criteria listed above.
- Bachelor’s degree students who are projected to graduate in spring 2024 or summer 2024 and attained the status of graduating with honors based on the criteria listed above from completed courses as of winter 2024.
For more information about regalia and other Commencement related merchandise and services such as graduation portraits and sashes, please visit the Regalia, Merchandise, and Services webpage.
Graduating students are encouraged to decorate their mortar board (graduation cap) for Commencement. Send in a photo of your decorated grad cap to [email protected] or the Cal State LA Instagram for a chance to be featured on the University’s social media accounts. Don’t forget to post your photos on social media using the hashtags #calstatelagrad.
Graduating students who require assistance during Commencement can contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (323) 343-3140, or by email at [email protected], two weeks or more before the ceremonies.
OSD can assist graduating students with:
- Check-in
- Seating
- Getting to and from the stage
- Recessional
For graduating students who require mobility equipment, please make arrangements on your own according to specific needs.
The Office of International Programs and Global Engagement at Cal State LA will no longer produce letters of invitation for the purpose of inviting students’ family members to visit the United States or attend the student Commencement ceremony. These letters are not required by the United States Consular Offices in order for families to obtain visitor visas. Their office is providing an invitation letter sample (see link below) for students who wish to write their own letter to invite family members to the United States. Please note that this letter is not required to obtain a visitor visa.
During Commencement
Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall
1201 S. Figueroa Street
(between W. Pico Boulevard and Chick Hearn Court)
Los Angeles, CA 90015
For more information about parking and transportation options for Commencement 2024 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, please visit the Parking and Transportation webpage.
The University will be livestreaming the ceremonies, which will be able to be viewed through the Cal State LA website and the Cal State LA YouTube channel.
Graduating students who registered to participate are strongly encouraged to arrive up to 2 hours before the ceremony.
The graduating student entrance is located underneath the venue, at the West Hall Lobby entrance from the West Hall Parking Garage. For safety and security, graduating students must pass through security protocols including metal detectors and possible bag check.
After security, graduating students must have their Grad Pass ready to be scanned. Once your Grad Pass has been scanned, in-and-out privileges are not permitted.
Graduating students can then proceed to the Student Check-In area, behind the stage, to pick up their pre-printed name cards and to line up for seating.
Please plan accordingly to allow sufficient time to park, pick up your name card, and line up for seating.
For more information on safety and security protocols for Commencement 2024 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, including prohibited items, please visit the Safety and Security webpage.
University Bookstore
During Commencement, the University Bookstore will have a satellite location at the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall Lobby, on May 20 and 21, 2024, with limited merchandise.
Commencement Group
Class T-shirts, sweatshirts, flower bouquets, Cal State LA custom Kukui Nut Lei and more! Graduation gifts are available for pre-order and on-site purchasing on the day of the ceremony. Pre-ordered items will be available for contact-free pick up on-site at the Commencement Group booths.
For more information, please visit the Regalia, Merchandise, and Services webpage.
For convenience, the Galaxy Food Court inside the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall Lobby, will be open. Attendees can have food and refreshments at the food court. Please note however that no food or drinks are allowed inside West Hall.
Graduating students will be seated 30 minutes before the ceremony by degree and major.
The doors to West Hall will temporarily be closed five minutes before the start of the ceremony to prepare for the academic procession of the faculty and stage party. All students who arrive late will be able to check-in and be seated after the national anthem.
Only graduating students, faculty, and authorized staff are allowed in the graduating student seating area.
ACCESSIBILITY SEATING
Wheelchair accessible spaces and designated accessible seating will be clearly marked at the graduating student seating area. For additional assistance, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at (323) 343-3140, or by email at [email protected], two weeks or more before the ceremonies.
Sign language interpreters will be projected on the jumbo screen during each Commencement ceremony. Closed captioning will also be available to access on your mobile device. The links for the closed captioning for mobile devices will be available the week before the ceremonies.
Each ceremony will be between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours in duration. The order of events may vary per Commencement ceremony and will include most of the activities below.
- Academic procession of faculty and platform party
- National anthem
- Welcome remarks and introduction of the stage party by the college dean
- President's remarks
- Academic honors
- Presentation of doctoral degrees
- Presentation of master's degrees
- Presentation of bachelor's degrees
- Conferral of degrees by the president (including the traditional turning of the tassel for baccalaureate degrees)
- University hymn*
- Closing remarks by the college dean
- Recessional of platform party, faculty and conferees of doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees
*After the University Hymn, streamer cannons will be deployed. It will emit a loud, but brief, popping sound. Please be aware and let your guests know.
Out of respect for all attendees including your fellow graduates, graduating students participating in Commencement must stay for the entire duration of the ceremony to not disrupt the event.
Your pre-printed name card has a unique bar code with the pre-recording and text display of your name. It will be scanned just before you are presented on stage.
For doctoral and master's degree students, your name will be announced and displayed on the jumbo screen just right before you are hooded (stage right, audience left).
For bachelor's degree students, your name will be announced and displayed on the jumbo screen just before you walk across the platform (stage right, audience left).
Please note that during the Commencement ceremonies, last-minute name changes will not be accommodated. The name cards are printed and embedded with a unique barcode in advance. Changes to preferred first names and/or last names, must be submitted by April 19, 2024. For more information, please visit the Name Verification section above.
The Cal State LA diploma cover will be distributed to graduating students as they exit the stage.
Official graduation portrait photographers will be at Commencement taking photos.
For doctoral and master's degree students, photos will be taken while you are hooded onstage (stage right, audience left), and also when greeting the president at the other stage (stage left, audience right).
For bachelor's degree students, photos will be taken when you are presented onstage (stage right, audience left), and also when greeting the president at the other stage (stage left, audience right).
To ensure that graduating students receive their photo proof after the ceremony, please complete the back of the name card, which will be given to you at the check-in area.
University photographers will be photographing the ceremonies and candid photos will be available for free download on the Cal State LA Smug Mug webpage during Commencement week.
Once the ceremony is done, the conferees of doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degree students and guests will be directed to exit towards the North Side of West Hall towards Hall A (North) Plaza. This is either to prepare for the next ceremony or closing of the venue lobby.
After Commencement
Immediately after each ceremony, all attendees will be directed to exit on the North Side of West Hall towards Hall A (North) Plaza. Hall A Plaza is where you can meet your family and friends, professors, and fellow graduates. The area will have photo backdrops.
The Graduation Office will mail out diplomas to graduating students four to six weeks after grades have been posted and verified. The mailing address used is the address on file with the University. To track your diploma, please visit the DiploMatic website.
For graduating students who did not attend Commencement but would like to get a diploma cover, please contact the Graduation Office. Diploma covers are only available for pick-up during normal business hours and cannot be mailed.
Questions? Please contact the Graduation Office at 323-343-3890 or email [email protected].
Graduates who received their bachelor’s degree, and were not able to pick up their honor cords during the distribution period, can pick up their cords by appointment two weeks after the ceremonies at the Commencement office. Please contact the Commencement Office for more information.
The Cal State LA Alumni Association looks forward to your participation and your continued connection with the University. Members can enjoy benefits, which include newsletters, networking opportunities, consumer discounts, professional services, and family fun.
For more information, please visit the Cal State LA Alumni Association website, email [email protected], or call 323-343-2586.
California State University, Los Angeles | Commencement
All information, including dates and activities, are subject to change.
Updated: April 24, 2024
Commencement will be photographed and/or recorded. By attending the ceremonies, you agree and grant irrevocable permission to have your likeness, image, voice, and appearance photographed and recorded for any University business-related purpose and that the CSU owns the images and all rights related to them. The images may be used in any manner or media without notifying you, such as university-sponsored websites, publications, promotions, broadcasts, advertisements, posters and theater slides, as well as for non-university uses. You waive any right to inspect or approve the finished images or any printed or electronic matter that may be used with them.