Previous Honorary Degree Recipients
Since Commencement 1912, the University of Southern California has awarded honorary degrees, presently the highest award the university confers. Honorary degrees are given:
- To honor individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary achievements in scholarship, the professions, or other creative activities, whether or not they are widely known by the general public;
- To honor alumni and other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the welfare and development of USC or the communities of which they are a part;
- To recognize exceptional acts of philanthropy to the university and/or on the nation or world scene; and
- To elevate the university in the eyes of the world by honoring individuals who are widely known and highly regarded for achievements in their respective fields of endeavor.
While USC once gave as many as 37 honorary degrees in a single year (in 1930), tradition generally limits the number of honorary degrees bestowed at commencement. Since 1946, USC has not given more then seven honorary degrees at a ceremony, and that number has not risen above six since 1975.
For more information about the nomination and selection process, please click here.
Click here to download a complete list of USC's honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers.
Page last updated:
Tuesday, September 22, 2009