Graduation Policies

Application for Graduation or Completion

Specialist and Master's Candidates
A candidate for the specialist or master's degree should file an application for graduation accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee. This application is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at the beginning of the semester in which the work for the degree is anticipated to be completed. Deadline dates for application for graduation are listed in the academic calendar section of this bulletin and in each semester's class schedule.

Sixth- and Fifth-Year Candidates
Students completing a sixth-year or fifth-year program, file an application for completion accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee. This application for completion of the program is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at the beginning of the semester in which the work is anticipated to be completed. Graduation ceremonies are reserved for specialist and master's degree students.

Certificate Candidates
A candidate completing the course work for a graduate certificate program must file an application for completion with the School of Graduate Studies. Deadline dates are the same as those for application for graduation as listed in the academic calendar and in each semester's class schedule. Graduation ceremonies are reserved for specialist and master degree students.

All Graduation Candidates
If a student does not complete all of the requirements for graduation in a given semester the student must re-apply for graduation at the beginning of the semester in which the remaining requirements are completed.

Summary of Requirements for Graduation Completion

Specialist and Master's Degree
It is the responsibility of the graduate dean to certify that a student has met all the following requirements for the degree sought.

Application for graduation accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee must have been submitted at the beginning of the semester in which the degree is to be granted.
The student must have satisfactorily completed all courses required for the approved program. All changes must be substantiated by an approved petition.
The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average in the major, in the total program, and in all graduate courses taken at St. Cloud State University.
Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit. The honor point deficiency created by such marks must be made up by marks of A in other courses.
The student must have satisfactorily completed the required final examination(s), written, oral, or both.
A student completing a thesis, fields study, creative work, or starred paper(s) must have submitted three approved copies to the School of Graduate Studies for binding, together with the required binding fee. Two additional abstracts must have been submitted by those completing a thesis or field study.

Sixth-Year Certificate
It is the responsibility of the graduate dean to certify that a student has met all the following requirements for the certificate completion.

Application for completion accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee must have been submitted at the beginning of the semester in which the certificate is to be completed.
The student must have satisfactorily completed all courses required for the approved program. All changes must be substantiated by an approved petition.
The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average in the major, in the total program, and in all graduate courses taken at St. Cloud State University.
Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit. The honor point deficiency created by such marks must be made up by marks of A in other courses.

Fifth-Year Certificate
In order to complete the Child and Family Studies fifth-year certificate program, the candidate must have met the following requirements:

The student must have earned a minimum of 30 semester credits of creditable work: in secondary school programs, 10 of these credits must have been taken in courses open only to graduate students; in elementary school programs, 10 of these credits must have been completed at the graduate level.
1. The student must have earned a minimum of 21 semester credits in the major and related areas.
2. The student must have earned a minimum of six semester credits in professional education.
3. The student must have completed ED 615, Methods of Educational Research.
The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average in the major, in the total program, and in all graduate courses taken at St. Cloud State University.
Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit.
At the beginning of the semester when the student plans completion of the required course work, an application for completion of the program, accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee, must be filed with the School of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Certificate Programs
In order to have a certificate posted to the transcript, a student must have met the following requirements:

Filed an application for completion in the School of Graduate Studies.
Satisfactorily completed all courses required on the certificate program of study.
The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average over all the graduate courses completed at St. Cloud State University.
Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit. The honor point deficiency created by such marks must be made up by marks of A in other courses.

Conferring of Specialist and Master's Degrees

Diplomas for specialist and master's degree programs will be mailed by the Office of Records and Registration approximately eight weeks after the close of the semester. A transcript with the degree posted upon it should be available through the Office of Records and Registration approximately three weeks after the end of the semester in which the student graduated.

At the request of the student, the graduate dean will send a letter verifying graduation to appropriate officials as soon as all requirements are met.

Completion of the Sixth-Year Certificate Program. The satisfactory completion of an approved sixth-year program is verified by an appropriate statement on the transcript.

Completion of the Fifth-Year Certificate Program. The satisfactory completion of an approved fifth-year program is verified by an appropriate statement on the transcript.

Completion of a Graduate Certificate Program. The satisfactory completion of a certificate program is verified by an appropriate statement on the transcript.

Certificates for the sixth-year program, fifth-year program, and Graduate Certificate programs are mailed by the School of Graduate Studies approximately three weeks after the close of the semester.

Graduate Hooding and Commencement Exercises

There are two graduate hooding commencement ceremonies each year. Spring commencement is held at the end of the spring semester, typically in mid-May. Fall commencement is held at the end of the fall semester, typically in mid-December. A graduate hooding ceremony for summer session graduates is not available. A student may choose to walk in the spring or fall ceremony depending on the department's guidelines.

The evening graduate hooding and commencement ceremony involves graduate students only and is held in Ritsche Auditorium for the December ceremony and in Halenbeck Hall for the May ceremony. The ceremony generally concludes in 90 minutes. While attendance is not compulsory, students are urged to participate. Graduates report the ceremony is meaningful to them and those in their lives, and the ceremony confirms their achievement.

Graduates will receive instructions from the School of Graduate Studies regarding commencement exercises. Invitations are available for purchase through the Husky Bookstore. Gowns, and permanent caps and hoods may be purchased for a minimal fee from the Husky Bookstore and are required.

St. Cloud State University

Graduate Catalog | School of Graduate Studies |

Graduation Policies

Application for Graduation or Completion

Summary of Requirements for Graduation Completion

Conferring of Specialist and Master's Degrees

Graduate Hooding and Commencement Exercises

Undergraduate Catalog (contact information)

	A-Z Index \| News \| Library \| Technology \| Support St. Cloud State \| St. Cloud State University Home Admissions Academics Student Life About SCSU Athletics Alumni & Friends Graduate Catalog \| School of Graduate Studies \| Table of Contents \| Graduate Programs \| Graduate Course Descriptions \| Admissions Information \| Alphabetical Index Graduation Policies Application for Graduation or Completion Specialist and Master's Candidates A candidate for the specialist or master's degree should file an application for graduation accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee. This application is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at the beginning of the semester in which the work for the degree is anticipated to be completed. Deadline dates for application for graduation are listed in the academic calendar section of this bulletin and in each semester's class schedule. Sixth- and Fifth-Year Candidates Students completing a sixth-year or fifth-year program, file an application for completion accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee. This application for completion of the program is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies at the beginning of the semester in which the work is anticipated to be completed. Graduation ceremonies are reserved for specialist and master's degree students. Certificate Candidates A candidate completing the course work for a graduate certificate program must file an application for completion with the School of Graduate Studies. Deadline dates are the same as those for application for graduation as listed in the academic calendar and in each semester's class schedule. Graduation ceremonies are reserved for specialist and master degree students. All Graduation Candidates If a student does not complete all of the requirements for graduation in a given semester the student must re-apply for graduation at the beginning of the semester in which the remaining requirements are completed. Summary of Requirements for Graduation Completion Specialist and Master's Degree It is the responsibility of the graduate dean to certify that a student has met all the following requirements for the degree sought. Application for graduation accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee must have been submitted at the beginning of the semester in which the degree is to be granted. The student must have satisfactorily completed all courses required for the approved program. All changes must be substantiated by an approved petition. The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average in the major, in the total program, and in all graduate courses taken at St. Cloud State University. Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit. The honor point deficiency created by such marks must be made up by marks of A in other courses. The student must have satisfactorily completed the required final examination(s), written, oral, or both. A student completing a thesis, fields study, creative work, or starred paper(s) must have submitted three approved copies to the School of Graduate Studies for binding, together with the required binding fee. Two additional abstracts must have been submitted by those completing a thesis or field study. Sixth-Year Certificate It is the responsibility of the graduate dean to certify that a student has met all the following requirements for the certificate completion. Application for completion accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee must have been submitted at the beginning of the semester in which the certificate is to be completed. The student must have satisfactorily completed all courses required for the approved program. All changes must be substantiated by an approved petition. The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average in the major, in the total program, and in all graduate courses taken at St. Cloud State University. Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit. The honor point deficiency created by such marks must be made up by marks of A in other courses. Fifth-Year Certificate In order to complete the Child and Family Studies fifth-year certificate program, the candidate must have met the following requirements: The student must have earned a minimum of 30 semester credits of creditable work: in secondary school programs, 10 of these credits must have been taken in courses open only to graduate students; in elementary school programs, 10 of these credits must have been completed at the graduate level. The student must have earned a minimum of 21 semester credits in the major and related areas. The student must have earned a minimum of six semester credits in professional education. The student must have completed ED 615, Methods of Educational Research. The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average in the major, in the total program, and in all graduate courses taken at St. Cloud State University. Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit. At the beginning of the semester when the student plans completion of the required course work, an application for completion of the program, accompanied by a $20 non-refundable fee, must be filed with the School of Graduate Studies. Graduate Certificate Programs In order to have a certificate posted to the transcript, a student must have met the following requirements: Filed an application for completion in the School of Graduate Studies. Satisfactorily completed all courses required on the certificate program of study. The student must have maintained a 3.0 (B) grade point average over all the graduate courses completed at St. Cloud State University. Courses in which a mark of C-, D, F, FN, or U was earned will not be accepted for graduate credit. The honor point deficiency created by such marks must be made up by marks of A in other courses. Conferring of Specialist and Master's Degrees Diplomas for specialist and master's degree programs will be mailed by the Office of Records and Registration approximately eight weeks after the close of the semester. A transcript with the degree posted upon it should be available through the Office of Records and Registration approximately three weeks after the end of the semester in which the student graduated. At the request of the student, the graduate dean will send a letter verifying graduation to appropriate officials as soon as all requirements are met. Completion of the Sixth-Year Certificate Program. The satisfactory completion of an approved sixth-year program is verified by an appropriate statement on the transcript. Completion of the Fifth-Year Certificate Program. The satisfactory completion of an approved fifth-year program is verified by an appropriate statement on the transcript. Completion of a Graduate Certificate Program. The satisfactory completion of a certificate program is verified by an appropriate statement on the transcript. Certificates for the sixth-year program, fifth-year program, and Graduate Certificate programs are mailed by the School of Graduate Studies approximately three weeks after the close of the semester. Graduate Hooding and Commencement Exercises There are two graduate hooding commencement ceremonies each year. Spring commencement is held at the end of the spring semester, typically in mid-May. Fall commencement is held at the end of the fall semester, typically in mid-December. A graduate hooding ceremony for summer session graduates is not available. A student may choose to walk in the spring or fall ceremony depending on the department's guidelines. The evening graduate hooding and commencement ceremony involves graduate students only and is held in Ritsche Auditorium for the December ceremony and in Halenbeck Hall for the May ceremony. The ceremony generally concludes in 90 minutes. While attendance is not compulsory, students are urged to participate. Graduates report the ceremony is meaningful to them and those in their lives, and the ceremony confirms their achievement. Graduates will receive instructions from the School of Graduate Studies regarding commencement exercises. Invitations are available for purchase through the Husky Bookstore. Gowns, and permanent caps and hoods may be purchased for a minimal fee from the Husky Bookstore and are required. Undergraduate Catalog (contact information) 720 4th Avenue South - St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498 Page Revised: 11/07/2008 Phone: (320) 308-3144 © 2009 St. Cloud State University Site Map \| Map & Directions \| Contact SCSU \| Accreditations St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.