A Matter of Degrees

In the opening graduation ceremonies for Cal State Northridge, the College of Arts, Media and Communication presented 777 bachelor of arts degrees and 59 master’s degrees.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 people attended a ceremony Wednesday morning on Oviatt Lawn. Oz Scott, a successful theater, television and film director, was the main speaker. Scott has directed episodes of “Party of Five,” “The Practice” and “Chicago Hope.”

The school also presented an honorary doctorate of humane letters to Abraham Polonsky, who was blacklisted from Hollywood for 16 years during the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings in the early 1950s.

The College of Education and the College of Business Administration and Economics also held commencement ceremonies Wednesday.

The College of Education presented 71 bachelor of arts degrees and 256 master’s degrees during its ceremony at the University Club. Arlinda Eaton, chair of the university’s department of elementary education, was the speaker.

The College of Business Administration and Economics awarded 1,268 bachelor of arts degrees and 36 master’s degrees during its ceremony on Oviatt Lawn. Charles H. Noski, president of Hughes Electronics Corp., was the speaker.

CSUN officials said 6,162 students are candidates to receive their degrees during ceremonies over the next few days. Of those, 5,298 will receive bachelor’s and 864 will receive master’s degrees.

The ceremonies began Tuesday with the university’s Honors Convocation and will end Friday with commencement for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.