Awarding of Graduate Degrees

Degree Type (student status)	Fall/Spring Semesters	Winter/Summer Semesters
Masters (Domestic students)	At least 1 graduate credit	A graduate course for at least zero credits
Masters (International students)	At least 1 graduate credit	At least 1 graduate credit (GRD 700, if no other course)
Doctoral (all students)	At least 1 graduate credit	At least 1 graduate credit (GRD 800, preferred)

Degree candidates must be registered in the semester they intend to graduate. A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for graduation clearance. All students who intend to graduate in the spring or fall must register for at least one graduate credit. Doctoral students who intend to graduate in the summer or winter must register for at least one graduate credit. International masters students who intend to graduate in the summer or winter must register for at least one graduate credit. Domestic masters students who intend to graduate in the summer or winter must be registered in a graduate course for at least zero credits.

When all requirements have been completed, the Graduate Program Director will certify to the Dean of the Graduate School and recommend that the degree be awarded. To be eligible for a degree, a student must have completed all University requirements, all program degree requirements, satisfied any provisional admission requirements, submitted the appropriate documents, obtained all University clearances, and have maintained matriculation according to the regulations outlined in this Bulletin. Students may elect to print their preferred name on the diploma.

Degree Application

All graduation information can be found on the Graduate School website . All students must apply for graduation in accordance with published deadlines. This includes doctoral students who intend to receive a master’s degree during the course of their doctoral career and completion of an advanced certificate. If degree requirements are not completed, students must reapply for any subsequent awarding periods using the Change of Graduation Date form. When all program requirements are satisfactorily completed, the graduate program will recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School that the degree be granted.

Degrees Awarded Posthumously

Upon request, the University may award a degree posthumously. Any such request requires the following for consideration:

1. The parent, legal guardian, partner, relative, or legal equivalent must provide a written request to the University Registrar.
2. The student must have been enrolled and in good disciplinary and academic standing at the time of passing.
3. Masters students must have been in their last semester; doctoral students must have been advanced to candidacy.
4. The graduate program director and the final examining committee for doctoral students must provide a letter of recommendation in support of the request. 

The Vice Provost of Graduate Education will have final authority for the approval and awarding of a posthumous degree.

Degree Revocation  

If a degree is revoked or rescinded, the degree conferral will be removed  from the academic record and adjusted in the student information system.