Graduation Criteria

General graduation information, including instructions on how to petition for graduation, can be found on the Registrar's page under Graduation Information.

Graduate Students

A cumulative quality point ratio of 3.00 and completion of all program and university requirements are required for graduation and the conferring of master's degrees.  All students must file a graduation petition form in order to have their names placed on the list of potential graduates.

A cumulative quality point ratio of 3.30 in doctoral coursework and satisfactory completion of the written and oral doctoral comprehensive examinations, followed by successful completion and defense of the doctoral dissertation, are required for graduation and the conferring of the doctoral degree.  All doctoral candidates must also file a graduation petition form in order to have their names placed on the list of potential graduates.

Graduation petition forms are available in the Graduate Records Office.  No fee is charged for an initial petition for a degree.  A candidate who does not complete all the requirements for graduation before the deadline will have to petition again at a later date.  At that time, only the refiling fee of $50 will be charged.  All financial obligations to the university must be met prior to graduation.

Undergraduate Students

Graduation is not automatic.  Graduation petitions, once filed, ensure that a student's record will be formally assessed in terms of degree requirements.  A petition may be denied if graduation requirements are not met.  If a petition is approved, a degree will be awarded for the appropriate commencement.

A degree will be conferred when a student has satisfied all program requirements and met all university requirements by having:

1. successfully filed a petition signed by the department chairperson;
2. earned a cumulative quality point ratio (gpa) of no less than 2.00 in all courses applicable toward the undergraduate degree;
3. earned a cumulative quality point ratio (gpa) of no less than 2.00 (or higher if required by an individual department) in all courses in the student's major field of study;
4. passed the university's Writing Proficiency Examination (for bachelor candidates);
5. been recommended by the faculty (via department chairperson approval of the petition);
6. met all financial and other obligations and conformed to any local, state, or federal law concerning graduation; and
7. met the residency requirement of the university.

If a student does not meet all the requirements as outlined above prior to the commencement date, a diploma with the requested commencement date will not be issued.  It is the student's responsibility to file a new petition for a future commencement date.  At that time, only the refiling fee of $50 will be charged.