College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Student Resources > Graduate Student Support > Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

​Degree Requirements 

You must successfully complete all of the general and specific degree requirements as listed in departmental or program sections of the catalog under which you were admitted. All requirements must be completed by the grading deadline of the degree conferral quarter.

Degrees with Distinction

Requirements for earning a degree with distinction vary by program. Refer to your program information for any differing or specific requirements on minimum grade point average, final oral or written examination or masters papers, etc.

Degree Conferral

Applying for degree conferral requires the completion of all graduation requirements including completion of all coursework, program standards, field experiences, thesis and/or dissertation requirements, comprehensive exams, language exams and the minimum GPA requirement for graduation. A student should not have any outstanding incomplete grades, outstanding transfer credit, grade changes, substitutes or waivers. The student understands that failure to have these items complete by the end of term applied for may require the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences to deny the application. The student should resolve all outstanding issues with the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences before attempting to apply for degree conferral.

Submitting an online application does not guarantee the conferral (granting) of a degree from DePaul University.  Degree requirements are reviewed at the end of the expected completion term you indicate. If you meet all requirements, your degree will be conferred within 30 days of the end of the term. Diplomas are mailed (to graduates without financial holds) generally within 45-60 days after the end of the term. 

DePaul reports degree information to the National Student Clearinghouse monthly. Many companies and agencies use this service to verify awarded degrees. Your degree will only be verified by the clearinghouse if your privacy settings in Campus Connect indicate this as releasable information at the time your degree is conferred. Please verify your privacy settings before the end of your completion term.

Commencement

The graduation ceremony is symbolic. It is held in June of each year. Students who confer their degrees from the fall quarter through the summer quarter are eligible to participate in that year's June commencement ceremony. June and August degree audits occur after the ceremony, therefore graduation with distinction may not be announced at the ceremony, but will appear on the transcript and diploma. If you cancel or are ineligible to graduate, you must reapply.

Diploma

Your diploma will be mailed by the Office of the University Registrar within three months after the convocation ceremony.

Deadlines for Degree Conferral

The university confers graduate degrees four times a year after the fall, winter, spring and summer terms. 

The application deadlines for degree conferral are as follows:

Autumn QuarterOctober 1
Winter QuarterJanuary 15
Spring QuarterFebruary 1
Summer QuarterJuly 15

 

 



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