Honors Programs and Recognition
Honors Transfer Program
The Citrus College Honors Transfer Program (HTP) provides highly motivated students unique learning opportunities in an enriched academic environment and honors community with outstanding faculty and students. The Honors Transfer Program helps students build their skills in various areas, such as critical thinking, problem solving, grit, growth mindset, public speaking, and leadership to better prepare them for success in transfer and their educational and career goals. Honors coursework enhances a student's ability to read, write, and think critically about current topics and issues as well as build their life skills for success beyond the classroom.
Additional program benefits include:
- Diverse courses that meet UC, CSU, and private university transfer requirements
- Enhanced transfer opportunities to competitive institutions
- Interaction with highly motivated students and faculty within the HTP community
- Smaller class sizes
- Honors courses are noted on Citrus College transcripts
- Priority registration
- Scholarship opportunities
- Service and volunteer opportunities
- Medallion and Certificate of Completion for those who complete the program requirements
To apply to the Honors Transfer Program, a student must have a minimum 3.00 college grade point average (GPA), or a minimum 3.5 weighted or 3.25 non-weighted high school GPA.
More information and the application are available online at the Honors Transfer Program webpage. Additionally, students can go to the Honors Transfer Program office in the Earth Sciences (ES) building, Room 614 (effective summer 2025), located on the southeast end of campus.
Academic Honors
Every fall and spring semester a press release is sent to the local media, on behalf of each member of the board of trustees, listing each student from their area who earned a place on the President’s List and the Dean’s List. Academic honors criteria are presented in the Evaluating Academic Progress section. Please note that this is different from the Honors Transfer Program. Students who are on the President’s List and the Dean’s List should consider applying to the Honors Transfer Program to receive the additional benefits listed above.
Achievement Awards
Every year, Citrus College hosts its Academic Achievement Awards ceremony in honor of the college’s top students. The college’s highest academic honor, The Keys of Knowledge, is awarded to the 10 Citrus College students who achieve the highest overall academic performance in the college. Additional awards include the Citrus College Service Leader of the Year, the Male Athlete of the Year, the Female Athlete of the Year and Distinguished Student Awards for students who demonstrate high academic performance in an academic department.
Honors at Graduation
Citrus College graduates who earn a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.30 or more in all college work, at Citrus College and at other colleges and universities, are recognized at Commencement for having an outstanding GPA. Students who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.30-3.59 GPA are recognized for Honors. Students who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.60-3.79 GPA are recognized for High Honors. Students who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.80-4.00 GPA are recognized for Highest Honors. Due to the scheduled dates of Commencement and spring semester final exams, Honors at Graduation GPAs do not reflect spring semester grades.
Please note that this is different from the Honors Transfer Program (HTP) and the AGS and PTK Honors Societies. Earning honors at graduation recognition does not include any regalia to wear at Commencement, such as medallions, stoles or cords. To earn this type of regalia, students must participate in campus programs, clubs, honors societies and/or organizations, such as the Honors Transfer Program (HTP), Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society and/or Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) honor society. Students who complete the HTP or who have permanent membership in the PTK, or AGS honor societies are recognized in the Commencement program and with special regalia such as a medallion for the HTP, a stole for AGS and a cord or stole and pin for PTK. Students who are interested in earning this type of regalia should consider applying to the HTP and/or AGS and PTK honor societies.
Honors Societies
Alpha Gamma Sigma
Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) is the honor scholarship society of the California Community Colleges. Its purpose is to encourage students to achieve the highest degree of development in scholastic, leadership, and community service endeavors while attending Citrus College.
AGS membership is renewed each semester and is based on GPA and number of units completed. Permanent membership can be obtained two ways:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.25- 3.49, with three semesters AGS membership and 45 total service hours
- 20 hours AGS related
- 15 hours community service related
- 10 hours optional (AGS or community service related)
- A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, with two semesters AGS membership, and 30 total service hours
- 20 hours AGS related
- 10 hours community service related
For additional information, visit the AGS website.
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), an international honor society of two-year colleges, is the world’s largest and most prestigious honor society serving two-year colleges. Membership in PTK is designed to recognize excellence in academic achievement, with eligibility based on GPA, number of units completed and payment of membership.
The organization offers many opportunities for scholarships, intellectual enrichment, and personal development through programs based on Phi Theta Kappa’s four hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.
Citrus College's Beta Nu Eta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa consistently receives Five Star rankings which is the highest ranking awarded from PTK. In recent years, Phi Theta Kappa members from Citrus College have achieved prominence in Phi Theta Kappa at the state and national level, through their rankings on the organization's academic teams. For more information, visit the PTK website or Beta Nu Eta.