Nearly 6,000 Graduate

President Neil L. Rudenstine will award 5,778 diplomas during today's 345th Commencement exercises.

The National Weather Service predicts the ceremonies will take place under sunny skies, with a high temperature near 80 degrees this afternoon.

The College will grant 1,562 bachelor degrees to 893 men and 673 women, according to Associate Registrar Thurston A. Smith.

All but 14 undergraduates will receive bachelor of the arts (A.B.) degrees, with the rest receiving bachelor of science (S.B.) degrees.

Of that total, 227 are without honors, 350 cum laude in general studies, 353 cum laude in a field of concentration, 473 magna cum laude, 44 magna cum laude with highest honors and 115 summa cum laude.

Thirty-six more summa cum laude degrees will be awarded this year than last. Smith said the increase is evidence that the Class of 1996 "was exceptionally strong at the very top."

While Rudenstine will confer degrees upon all of the University's graduates, undergrads will receive their diplomas in ceremonies held at their residential houses.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will award 222 doctorates of philosophy, 191 master of the arts and 22 master of science degrees to its students at Sanders Theatre, according to Lauren Lemire, staff assistant to the graduate registrar.

Ten master of medical sciences (M.M.Sc.) and 158 doctor of medicine (M.D.) degrees will be awarded at the Medical School, according to Registrar Carol A. Duffy.

The Business School will award 775 master of business administration (M.B.A.) and six doctor of business administration (D.B.A.) degrees at Aldrich Hall, according to Registrar Coral A. Sullivan.

The Law School will award 695 degrees: 142 master of laws (L.L.M.), four doctor of juridicial science (S.J.D.) and 549 doctor of law (J.D.) degrees, according to the registrar. Diplomas will be awarded at Holmes Field.

The Graduate School of Education will award 58 doctor of education (Ed.D.) degrees, 27 certificates of advanced study (C.A.S.) and 496 master of education (Ed.M.) degrees to its graduates, according to Judy A. Reilly, staff assistant in the registrar's office. The ceremony will take place in Radcliffe Yard.

The John F. Kennedy School of Government will award 479 degrees: 226 one-year master of public administration (M.P.A.), 29 two-year M.P.A., 220 master of public policy (M.P.P.) and four master in public policy and urban planning degrees at Kennedy Memorial Park, according to the registrar.

The Divinity School will confer 50 master of divinity (M.Div.), 88 master of theological studies (M.T.S.), seven master of theology (Th.M.) and eight doctor of theology (Th.D.) degrees, according to Registrar Maria Cedargreen. Diplomas will be granted in front of Andover Hall.

The School of Public Health will award 278 degrees: 128 master of science (M.S.), 122 master of public health (M.P.H.), five doctor of public health (D.P.H.) and 23 doctor of science (D.S.) degrees, according to Tracy E. Anderson, staff assistant in the office of the registrar. Degrees will be conferred at the Kresge Building.

The Graduate School of Design will award 198 degrees: 97 master in architecture (M.Arch.), 32 master in landscape architecture (M.L.A.), 25 master of architecture in urban design (M.A.U.D.), four master of landscape architecture in urban design (M.L.A.U.D.), 10 master in urban planning (M.U.P.), 27 master in design studies (M.D.S.) and three doctor of design (D.D.) degrees, according to Registrar Laura S. Snowden. Students will receive their diplomas at a ceremony behind Gund Hall.

The School of Dental Medicine will award 39 degrees: 20 doctor of dental medicine (D.M.D.), eight master of medical sciences in oral biology (M.M.Sc.) and 11 doctor of medical sciences in oral biology (D.M.Sc.) degrees, according to the registrar. Diplomas will be awarded this evening at the Harvard Club of Boston.

--C.R. McFadden contributed to the reporting of this story.

Thirty-six more summa cum laude degrees will be awarded this year than last. Smith said the increase is evidence that the Class of 1996 "was exceptionally strong at the very top."

While Rudenstine will confer degrees upon all of the University's graduates, undergrads will receive their diplomas in ceremonies held at their residential houses.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will award 222 doctorates of philosophy, 191 master of the arts and 22 master of science degrees to its students at Sanders Theatre, according to Lauren Lemire, staff assistant to the graduate registrar.

Ten master of medical sciences (M.M.Sc.) and 158 doctor of medicine (M.D.) degrees will be awarded at the Medical School, according to Registrar Carol A. Duffy.

The Business School will award 775 master of business administration (M.B.A.) and six doctor of business administration (D.B.A.) degrees at Aldrich Hall, according to Registrar Coral A. Sullivan.

The Law School will award 695 degrees: 142 master of laws (L.L.M.), four doctor of juridicial science (S.J.D.) and 549 doctor of law (J.D.) degrees, according to the registrar. Diplomas will be awarded at Holmes Field.

The Graduate School of Education will award 58 doctor of education (Ed.D.) degrees, 27 certificates of advanced study (C.A.S.) and 496 master of education (Ed.M.) degrees to its graduates, according to Judy A. Reilly, staff assistant in the registrar's office. The ceremony will take place in Radcliffe Yard.

The John F. Kennedy School of Government will award 479 degrees: 226 one-year master of public administration (M.P.A.), 29 two-year M.P.A., 220 master of public policy (M.P.P.) and four master in public policy and urban planning degrees at Kennedy Memorial Park, according to the registrar.

The Divinity School will confer 50 master of divinity (M.Div.), 88 master of theological studies (M.T.S.), seven master of theology (Th.M.) and eight doctor of theology (Th.D.) degrees, according to Registrar Maria Cedargreen. Diplomas will be granted in front of Andover Hall.

The School of Public Health will award 278 degrees: 128 master of science (M.S.), 122 master of public health (M.P.H.), five doctor of public health (D.P.H.) and 23 doctor of science (D.S.) degrees, according to Tracy E. Anderson, staff assistant in the office of the registrar. Degrees will be conferred at the Kresge Building.

The Graduate School of Design will award 198 degrees: 97 master in architecture (M.Arch.), 32 master in landscape architecture (M.L.A.), 25 master of architecture in urban design (M.A.U.D.), four master of landscape architecture in urban design (M.L.A.U.D.), 10 master in urban planning (M.U.P.), 27 master in design studies (M.D.S.) and three doctor of design (D.D.) degrees, according to Registrar Laura S. Snowden. Students will receive their diplomas at a ceremony behind Gund Hall.

The School of Dental Medicine will award 39 degrees: 20 doctor of dental medicine (D.M.D.), eight master of medical sciences in oral biology (M.M.Sc.) and 11 doctor of medical sciences in oral biology (D.M.Sc.) degrees, according to the registrar. Diplomas will be awarded this evening at the Harvard Club of Boston.

--C.R. McFadden contributed to the reporting of this story.