At the beginning of the semester or summer session in which graduation is expected, undergraduates must officially apply for graduation to the University Registrar. Fulfillment of all requirements for the degree applied for, as well as official application for the degree, are the student's responsibilities.
Academic Requirements
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the specific requirements of UNCG and of the School/College and department in which they major. They must present for graduation the specific number of hours required for the degree with a minimum cumulative overall grade point average of at least 2.0 on all hours undertaken.
At least 36 of the total semester hours for the degree must be at the 300-level or above.
Residence Requirements
All students are expected to take their last year in residence at UNCG, except those students in programs offered in cooperation with another institution and approved by the faculty. With the approval of the Director of Student Academic Services, students may take 15 of their last 60 hours at another approved institution.
All students must complete at least 31 semester hours in residence at UNCG for the degree, 12 of which must be in the major field and 9 of which must be in the minor if a minor is sought. After enrollment, Extension credit and Correspondence courses offered by UNCG are considered residence credit. However, credit earned by special examination is not considered residence credit.
Time Requirements
General Education Requirements (effective Fall 2001)
The time policies governing completion of the new General Education Requirements, which become effective for new students in Fall 2001, were being developed at the time this Bulletin was published. Please see the Office of Student Academic Services for details.
The following policies regarding time allowed for completion of AULER/CLER requirements (in effect for students who began college prior to Fall 2001) and major requirements became effective Fall 1996. See Appendix D for complete AULER/CLER information.
AULER/CLER Requirements
Students must meet the All-University/College Liberal Education Requirements (AULER/CLER) for graduation as stated in the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin in effect at the time of original enrollment at UNCG. If the student fails to graduate within seven years, however, the University* has the option of enforcing
1. the original requirements, or
2. the AULER/CLER requirements which were in effect at the time the seven year period expired, or
3. the AULER/CLER requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment if the student withdrew.
*Typically, the UNCG Office of Student Academic Services will make the choice among these options in consultation with the department in which the student chooses to major.
Major Requirements
Students must meet the departmental major requirements in effect when the student declares or, if required by the department, is formally admitted to a school/college major. If the student fails to graduate within seven years, however, the University* has the option of enforcing
1. the original requirements,
2. the major requirements which were in effect at the time the seven year period expired, or
3. the major requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment if the student withdrew.
*Typically, the department in which the student chooses to major will make the choice among these options in consultation with the UNCG Office of Student Academic Services.
Application for Graduation
All undergraduate students are required to file an application for graduation in the University Registrar's Office at the beginning of the semester in which they plan to graduate. This application is required for processing the final degree audit and for ordering diplomas. See current graduation application fees. The fee is non-refundable. The deadline dates for filing are also published each year in the University Calendar and in each semester's Schedule of Courses booklet.
Students who do not graduate in the semester for which they file a graduation application must re-file for the next term in which they expect to complete their degrees.
The graduation application deadlines for undergraduates filing for the 2001-2002 academic year are:
- Friday, September 10, 2001, for those graduating in December 2001
- Friday, January 18, 2002, for those graduating in May 2002
- Monday, June 3, 2002, for those graduating in Summer (August) 2002
Undergraduates who do not file applications for graduation by the published deadlines may petition to the Director of Student Academic Services for an exemption. Only extremely unusual circumstances warrant exceptions to these deadlines, however, as notification of the candidates for graduation must be submitted to the Board of Trustees for official action shortly after the deadline dates for filing each term.
Graduation with Honors
The designation of graduation with honors is based on all courses (including the last semester's work) for which grades and grade points are given. Any senior is eligible for honors who, at the end of the senior year, has completed at least 45 hours of work in residence at UNCG. This does not include hours for which credit and grade points have been received by special examinations.
Honors are awarded to graduating seniors as follows:
- Summa cum laude (with highest honor)
- achievement of a minimum grade point average of 3.90
- Magna cum laude (with great honor)
- achievement of a minimum grade point average of 3.70
- Cum laude (with honor)
- achievement of a minimum grade point average of 3.50
Second Degree Honors
Any second degree candidate is eligible for graduation with honors who, at the end of the final year, has completed toward the second degree, at least 45 hours of work in residence at UNCG and has earned the requisite grade point average.
Commencement Participation Policy
Students completing all degree requirements by the end of the spring semester are encouraged to participate in May Commencement. Students completing degree requirements by the end of the Summer Session or by the end of the fall semester are encouraged to participate in the December Commencement.
Students who have three (3) credit hours remaining to graduate in the summer (August) or who are completing a required internship or practicum experience to graduate in the summer (August), and who have applied to complete their degree, may, with the approval of their department and Student Academic Services or the Graduate School, petition the University Registrar's Office or the Graduate School to participate in May commencement ceremonies.
Please note: Summer degree candidates will not earn degrees nor be graduated from the University until they have completed all degree requirements. Participation in a commencement ceremony does not presume graduation from the University.
Students who do not apply for May graduation before the published deadline, or who do not complete degree requirements before the date designated in the University Calendar for final clearance, may apply for graduation in August or December and may participate in the December Commencement.
Degrees are conferred only after all requirements are completed and the Board of Trustees has taken official action.
