Graduation

You are automatically made eligible to apply for graduation when you reach a certain threshold of credits for your particular degree. Our office will notify you when this change in your status has taken place. However, this does not necessarily mean that you are ready to graduate.

Review your degree requirements and apply for graduation prior to the start of your final semester. Contact the Graduation Office if you are unable to apply via your Student Dashboard.

Degree Requirements:
Verify that your degree requirements are complete using your Academic Requirements (AR) Report.

Meet with your academic advisor to review your degree requirements.

Other factors to consider -

• Grade Point Average (GPA):
  Undergraduate students must have a 2.0 GPA to graduate.
  Graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA to graduate.
• Incomplete or Missing Grades:
  Any incomplete or missing grades must be resolved before your degree can be awarded. Contact your professor, advisor and/or program director if there is an I or an IP grade on your record.
• Course Repeats:
  Catalog Reference - Repeating Courses
  Be sure to account for any repeated courses you may be taking in your final semester.
  
  A Third Attempt Petition must be submitted for any course which has already been take two or more times.
  
  • Incorrect Program Information:
    Check to make sure that your major(s) and minor(s) are listed correctly in your records.
    
    Undergraduate students should drop any major, minor, or subplan that you will not be completing by submitting the Change of Major Form.
    
    Graduate students should contact their advisor to resolve any discrepancies.
    

For fall and spring graduation applicants, our office will review your academic record which will begin about 2 weeks prior to the start of your final semester. If you are determined to be ineligible for graduation, we will notify you.

For summer graduation applicants, your degree requirements will be reviewed at the end of the summer term. It is your responsibility to review your academic record for any deficiencies which could prevent your graduation.

Graduation - is the academic conferral of your degree after your program is complete and all requirements are verified as having been met.

Commencement - is the ceremony which celebrates the completion, or anticipated completion, of your degree. Participation in Commencement does not guarantee that your degree will be awarded.

While Graduation is a function of the Registrar's Office, Commencement is overseen by the Office of the Provost.

January and May graduates are invited to participate in a spring ceremony, held in May.

August and December graduates are invited to participate in a winter ceremony, held in December.

More information can be found on the Commencement Ceremony Eligibility page.

The specific dates and times of upcoming ceremonies will be published on the Commencement website.

Yes, Commencement registration is a separate process from applying for graduation. However, you must first be applied to graduate in order to be invited to register for your college's Commencement Ceremony.

Registration for the spring ceremony opens around mid-March. Registration for the winter ceremony opens around mid-October. You must register yourself for Commencement by the Provost's deadline or you will not be permitted to attend.

Please visit the Commencement website for additional ceremony details.

Contact the Office of the Provost if you have further questions.

After completing your final semester, our office will conduct a final review of your academic record, according to the following timeline:

• May Applicants
  Academic records are reviewed during the first two weeks of June. Status update notifications are typically sent during the third week of June.
• August Applicants
  Academic records are reviewed in Mid-August. Status update notifications are typically sent during the third week of August.
• December Applicants
  Academic records are reviewed during the first two weeks of January. Status update notifications are typically sent during the third week of January.

Please allow 4-6 weeks after the end of the semester for the Graduation Office to post your degree.

All missing and incomplete grades on your record must be resolved and all degree requirements fulfilled before your degree can be awarded. Such discrepancies in your academic record may extend this timeframe or delay your graduation to a future term.

Once your degree is posted, your transcript will immediately reflect your degree as conferred.

Please visit the Request a Transcript page for information on how to obtain or send a copy of your official transcript.

Undergraduate students may achieve recognition as honors graduates through Latin Honors, Departmental Honors and/or as graduates of the Honors College.

• Latin Honors
• Honors College Convocation
• Consult with your academic department for information about possible Departmental Honors.

Latin Honors will be listed on both your transcript and diploma when awarded.

The Departmental Honors and Honors College notation will appear only on your transcript.

NOTE: These honors are not evaluated or awarded until after student degrees have been posted. Adding them to your record is a manual process conducted by our office and your patience is appreciated.

All students will receive a digital & paper copy of their diploma beginning Fall 2019.

Students who graduated before Fall 2019, can purchase a digital copy of their diploma through Parchment Exchange.

Students who purchased a digital copy through CeDiploma Spring 2017 through Summer 2019:

CeDiploma printing and validation has been disabled. Please email the Graduation Office at graduation AT_TOWSON if you have any questions.

Diplomas are mailed to the permanent home address on record as listed below:

December Graduates
Late February

May Graduates
Late July

August Graduates
Late September

PLEASE NOTE:
Students with Judicial or Financial holds will not receive their diplomas.

Please contact the Graduation Office at graduation AT_TOWSON once your hold has been resolved.

Your official name will appear on your Diploma & in the Commencement Program as listed in your Student Dashboard.

To request a name change, please submit the Change of Name Form along with official documentation to the Registrar's Office.

The Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral, and Certificate of Advanced Study diplomas measure 14 inches wide by 11 inches long.

The Graduate Certificate diploma measures 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches long.

The hard & digital copy of the diploma will feature your name, degree, major & Latin Honors for qualifying students.

Completed minors, tracks & concentrations as well as the Departmental Honors & Honors College notation will appear on your transcript, not on the diploma.

PLEASE NOTE:
Students pursuing two majors under different degrees (BFA, BM, BS/BA or BTP) automatically receive two diplomas.

Students pursuing a double major under the same type of degree will have both majors listed on one diploma.

Replacement diplomas can be ordered through Parchment Exchange.

• A paper & digital replacement is $50*
• A digital replacement is $10*

* plus applicable sales tax.