Honors and Awards

The Leavey School of Business Graduate Programs (GBP) offers awards and recognitions to students for outstanding academic achievement.

Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Gamma Sigma is The International Business Honor Society that was founded in 1913. It recognizes and honors top performing students from around the world in business schools accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and also a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). The mission of the Beta Gamma Sigma Society is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business, to cultivate and celebrate leadership and professional excellence, to advance the values of the Society, and to serve its lifelong members. Members will receive educational and professional benefits through various programs, connections, and opportunities.

The Santa Clara University chapter was created in 1955. Election to membership is the highest scholastic honor a business student can achieve. It is limited to outstanding students with promising success in the field of business and who rank in the top 15 percent of MBA/M.S./Online graduates.

The Beta Gamma Sigma calculations include the cumulative GPA of all graduates from each of the four terms, pulled once a year in early Spring, to screen for Beta Gamma Sigma eligibility. Terms included are Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024, and Spring 2024. The GPA's are sorted, by term, and the top 15% of graduates from that term are identified and notified of their eligibility to join the Beta Gamma Sigma Society.  There is a fee to join the Society and the decision to join, or not, lies with the eligible student themself.

We will re-evaluate Spring graduates after final grades are posted (late-June).  Any Spring term graduate with a GPA at or above the top 15% will be invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma at that time.

For information visit their website https://www.betagammasigma.org/home.

Dean’s List

The Dean's List honors all students who receive a term GPA of 4.0 for the eligible term, if they were enrolled in a minimum of 8 units. Students not in good academic standing are not eligible for the Dean's List. Students are notified quarterly and recognition is acknowledged annually.  This award is only applicable to quarters after Fall 2022.

Leavey Award of Excellence

This new annual award is only applicable to any student who started the program in Fall 2023 and forward. Students can receive the Leavey Award of Excellence by maintaining exceptional performance from the start to the end of their program. Below are the three criteria students must meet to be nominated, maintain, and receive the award. Award recipients must be degree-seeking and have maintained 8 units enrollments per quarter excluding summer and final term in the graduate business school. Final recognition is acknowledged annually at the Commencement Reception. 

Off to a Great Start: A handful of students will be nominated by their teaching faculty as exceptional students who stood out during the following courses below. To be nominated, students should exhibit professionalism and leadership as stated in the Professional Agreement. Students will be notified by receiving a letter of recognition from the Assistant Dean of Graduate Business Programs.

  • MBA Program - MGMT 3000 & OMIS 3200
  • MSM Program - MKTG 2300 & MKTG 3000
  • MSFA Program - FNCE 2400 & MSIS 2403
  • MSBA Program - MSIS 2502/IDIS 3802 & MSIS 2503/2403
  • MSIS Program - ACTG 2608 & MSIS 2601

Turning the Corner: To still be considered for the Leavey Award of Excellence, students nominated at the beginning of their program must maintain a 3.9 cumulative GPA and professionalism during the middle of their program. Below are the minimum units required to be considered during a program.  

  • MBA students who have completed 36 or more units.
  • MSFA/MSM students who have completed 18 or more units.
  • MSBA students who have completed 22 or more units.
  • MSIS students who have completed 24 or more units.

The Home Stretch: Lastly, professors for the following courses below will select a maximum two winners out of the provided nominees who maintained professionalism and leadership as stated in the Professional Agreement and achieved a 3.9 cumulative GPA at the end of the program. MBA Program - MGMT 3050 & MGMT 3060

  • MSM Program - All classes taken in the final quarter
  • MSFA/MSBA/MSIS Program - Practicum or Capstone

Bronco Service & Inclusivity Award

This annual award recognizes a student who has significantly contributed to the Silicon Valley, global and/or their professional communities through service as  a student at the Leavey Graduate School of Business. The award was created to honor leaders in community and professional service and to inspire others to engage in their communities to build a more humane, just, faith-filled, and sustainable world.

This student has also fostered an inclusive and safe space for everyone on-campus and online. Awardees’ meaningful contributions to the LSB community uphold the dignity of all LSB members, inspire open dialogue, and reinforce that we are better as a community when people of different backgrounds come together.

Any graduating student can be nominated by their peers and faculty at the end of Spring quarter. Recognition is acknowledged annually at the Commencement Reception.