if I finish my coursework over the summer, how is graduation handled?
Pretty much what the title says. I’m likely going to graduate after a few extra summer classes, and I’m trying to figure out how graduation will work. Is it University-specific? Or is there a general rule of thumb? I have a baby on the way and I’d like to start my career asap just to help take care of him.
It’s uni-specific. Your degree is conferred as soon as the faculty’s recommendation is approved by the board of regents. Your advisor or registrar can tell which commencement ceremony summer grads are allowed to participate in — assuming you want to walk at all.
Judging by the comments here, it seems it may vary between schools. Mine has a system where you “apply” for graduation. They just go over your records to make sure you’ve earned all the correct credits and enough of them. Once they’ve verified it they let you know they have and that you now have the degree. I’d probably check with your advisor if you have one, or if not contact the school and ask if there are any steps you need to take once your required classes have been completed.
You earn you degree once your last courses end. So if there’s a summer term, you’ll have competed the requirements for the degree at that point and can say so on jobs. Your transcript will reflect this.
However if you are talking about the ceremony, most schools don’t have a ceremony at the end of summer and will have these students choose to walk in the December ceremony (if one exists) or the bigger may ceremony. Or choose not to walk at all.
The specific details are going to vary from university to university though.
The school I work at lets you walk at the commencement immediately before or after your expected fulfillment of requirements. They let you go before so you can still join your friends even if you’re running a little behind.
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