Steps to Graduation

Candidates for a baccalaureate 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 semester 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.

Students must complete 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 hours undertaken; at least 36 of the total semester hours for the degree must be at the 300 level or above; all students must complete at least 31 semester hours in residence at UNCG for the degree.

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.

General Education Requirements

The following policies regard time allowed for completion of GEC and GEC + CAR requirements. The Office of the University Registrar can provide additional details.

GEC or GEC + CAR Requirements

Students must meet the General Education or General Education and College Additional Requirements for graduation as stated in this Undergraduate Bulletin in effect at the time of original enrollment at UNCG. If the student fails to graduate within seven years, however, the University1 has the option of enforcing

1. the original requirements, or
2. the GEC or GEC + CAR requirements in effect at the time the seven year period expired, or
3. the GEC or GEC + CAR requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment if the student withdrew.

1Typically, the UNCG 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 UNCG Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

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 current graduation application fees. The fee is nonrefundable. The deadline dates for filing are also published each year in the University Calendar, in each semester’s Registration Guide booklet, and on the University Registrar’s Web site.

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.

The graduation application deadlines for undergraduates filing for the 2012–13 academic year are:

For those graduating in December 2012
early deadline: June 22, 2012
final deadline: September 7, 2012

For those graduating in May 2013
early deadline: November 20, 2012
final deadline: February 1, 2013

Early deadlines: It is in the student's best interest to apply by the early graduation application deadline for the term in which requirements are to be completed. By applying early, the student receives graduation status feedback before the end of drop/add for the upcoming term.

Undergraduates who do not file applications for graduation by the published deadlines may petition to the Office of the University Registrar 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 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 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 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

Honors for Second Degree Recipients and Transfer Students

To maintain equity with students who have attended all four years at UNCG and who may have a semester GPA that would qualify them for honors, the following policy is in place: Any second degree candidate or degree candidate who transferred to UNCG from another institution is eligible for graduation with honors who, at the end of the final year, has completed toward the degree (in the case of second degree students, toward the second degree) at least 45 hours of work in residence at UNCG and has earned the requisite grade point average.

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 on the University Registrar's Web site at www.uncg.edu/reg/DegreeFiles. For detailed information on each semester's ceremony, see CommencementCentral.uncg.edu.

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 or December commencement ceremony by applying to graduate for the summer term, paying the graduation fee, and completing the RSVP form found on 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.

(See CommencementCentral.uncg.edu)