Steps to Graduation

By 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 baccalaureate degree must satisfy all of the specific requirements of UNC Greensboro and of the School/College and department in which they major. They must present for graduation the specific number of semester hours required for the degree with a minimum cumulative overall grade point average of at least 2.0 on all credits undertaken.

At least 36 of the total credits for the degree must be at the 300 level or above.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete the specific number of credits 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 credits for the degree must be at the 300 level or above; all students must complete at least 31 credits in residence at UNC Greensboro for the degree.

Residence Requirements

All students must complete at least 31 credits in residence at UNC Greensboro 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 UNC Greensboro  are considered residence credit; however, credit earned by special examination is not considered residence credit.

Time Requirements

Minerva's Academic Curriculum (MAC) and Communicating Ideas in Context (CIC) Requirements

Minerva's Academic Curriculum (MAC) is UNC Greensboro's General Education program. Communicating Ideas in Context (CIC) are additional requirements that apply to College of Arts and Sciences majors. The following policies regard time allowed for completion of MAC and MAC + CIC requirements. The Office of the University Registrar can provide additional details.

Students must meet the General Education requirements and, if applicable, the College of Arts and Sciences additional requirements (CIC) for graduation as stated in this University Catalog in effect at the time of original enrollment at UNC Greensboro. If the student fails to graduate within seven years, however, the university * has the option of enforcing:

  1. The original requirements, or
  2. The MAC and CIC requirements in effect at the time the seven year period expired, or
  3. The MAC and CIC requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment if the student withdrew.
*

Typically, the UNC Greensboro Office of the University Registrar 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 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 UNC Greensboro Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

Application for Graduation

All undergraduate students are required to file an application for graduation with the University Registrar’s Office at the beginning of the semester in which they plan to graduate. The online degree application is available via UNCGenie.

This application is required for processing the final degree audit and for printing diplomas. See the topic Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses in the Expenses, Payments, and Refunds section. The fee is nonrefundable. The deadline dates for filing are also published each year in the Academic Calendar and on the University Registrar’s Office website.

Students who do not graduate in the semester for which they file a graduation application must refile for the next term in which they expect to complete their degrees.

Applications are accepted for a short period of time beyond the published deadlines in order to allow for extenuating circumstances; however, once the application for a term is disabled and deemed closed, students must apply to graduate for the next available term. These deadlines are not negotiable as notification of the candidates for graduation are submitted to the Board of Trustees for official action shortly after the deadline dates for filing each term.

Graduation with Latin Honors

Graduation with Latin 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 credits of work in residence at UNC Greensboro. This does not include hours for which credit and grade points have been received by special examinations. Honors information printed in the commencement program is based on course work completed through the previous semester, as is the list provided for the purchase of honor cords.

Latin 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

Commencement Ceremonies

Commencement ceremonies are held in May and December of each year; there is no formal ceremony in August. The names of August degree recipients are printed in the December commencement program and listed on the University Registrar’s Office website. Visit http://commencementcentral.uncg.edu for information about the commencement ceremonies.

Commencement Participation Policy

Approved by the Chancellor, February 19, 2003

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 fall semester are encouraged to participate in the December Commencement. There is no ceremony in August for summer graduates.

Students completing degree requirements by the end of the Summer Session may participate in either the May (preceding the completion of the summer term) or the December (following the completion of the summer term) commencement ceremony by applying to graduate for the summer term, paying the graduation fee, and completing the RSVP form found at http://commencementcentral.uncg.edu. Note that the names of August graduates appear only in the December commencement program.

Please note: Degree candidates will neither 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 graduation before the published deadline for any semester must apply for graduation during the next semester. Students who have applied for graduation but fail to meet the requirements must reapply for graduation by the published deadline for the semester in which they will fulfill the requirements.

Degrees are conferred only after all requirements are completed and the Board of Trustees has taken official action.

Visit http://commencementcentral.uncg.edu for information about the commencement ceremonies.