2018 Commencement Summary
Find all the information and news about SDSUs commencement in one, convenient place.
An estimated 10,600 San Diego State University degree candidates have the opportunity to participate in the university’s commencement ceremonies this weekend.
SDSU will host seven separate ceremonies May 11-13 at Viejas Arena and one ceremony on May 10 at SDSU-Imperial Valley.
The Fowler College of Business will host the largest ceremony, honoring 1,858 degree candidates. The smallest, most intimate ceremony will be the College of Engineering, which will award an estimated 952 degrees.
Commencement schedule
Thursday, May 10
Imperial Valley Campus, 7 p.m., Rollie Carrillo Quad
Friday, May 11
College of Arts and Letters, 10 a.m., Viejas Arena
College of Health and Human Services, 3 p.m., Viejas Arena
Saturday, May 12
Fowler College of Business, 8 a.m., Viejas Arena
College of Sciences, 1 p.m., Viejas Arena
College of Engineering, 5:30 p.m., Viejas Arena
Sunday, May 13
College of Education and the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement, 9 a.m., Viejas Arena College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, 2 p.m., Viejas Arena
Connect with commencement
Go behind the scenes of SDSU commencement by connecting with the university on social media.
Follow SDSU’s Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@sandiegostate) prior to each commencement ceremony to see videos and photos of graduates.
Each ceremony will be broadcast online. View the commencement broadcast schedule for more information.
Please visit SDSU’s Commencement website for full details on this year's ceremonies.
Parking and traffic information
SDSU will provide courtesy parking during commencement ceremonies at all main parking structures and lots. Please consult the campus map to locate parking areas.
Campus visitors should be advised that the university expects Viejas Arena to reach its 12,414-person capacity during several ceremonies. The use of alternate modes of transportation to campus is encouraged.
Honorary doctorate
Harry Paul Cuero Jr., a cultural icon for the Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, will receive the honorary doctor of humane letters degree from SDSU at the College of Arts and Letters commencement ceremony on Friday, May 11.
Since the age of 19, Cuero has been involved in nearly every aspect of tribal government, serving as treasurer and chair, and currently serving on the executive committee as vice chair.
SDSU has conferred more than 45 honorary degrees since 1963, when President John F. Kennedy received the first, a Doctor of Laws degree.
Increase in doctoral degrees
SDSU awarded its first doctoral degree in 1967, and since then has graduated increasing numbers of research professionals.
Last year, 143 students earned doctoral degrees from SDSU, compared to 59 a decade ago. This year, 166 doctoral candidates have applied for graduation and/or been cleared to graduate.
“SDSU has launched 11 new doctoral programs since 2007, and some older programs have also grown,” said Edmund Balsdon, associate dean of the Division of Graduate and Research Affairs. “This growth reflects the campus’s considerable research ambitions and increasing breadth of scholarship.”
Top 10 degrees
The most popular degrees among this year's graduates represent a wide variety of academic disciplines on campus. Here are the top 10 degrees of 2018:
No. 1: B.A., Psychology
No. 2: B.S., Criminal Justice
No. 3: B.S., Business Administration - Finance
No. 4: B.S., Business Administration - Marketing
No. 5: B.S., Kinesiology - Pre-Physical Therapy
No. 6: B.S., Mechanical Engineering
No. 7: B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies
No. 8: B.S., Business Administration - Accounting
No. 9: B.A., Economics
No. 10: B.S., Biology
