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« Return to Academic Policies
It is the student’s responsibility to complete the specified requirements of the degree program in which he or she is enrolled.
Graduation Petition
Meeting requirements for graduation is the student’s responsibility and each student is encouraged upon entering the final year of the degree program to consult with the Registrar to ensure that all major requirements will be completed on schedule for graduation by submitting a formal “Petition to Graduate.” The petition can be submitted via the UArts Portal (instructions can be found on the resources page of the Office of the Registrar’s website) or in person in the Office of the Registrar.
Residency Requirements
The time it takes for a student to reach graduation will depend upon the time needed to fulfill The University of the Arts’ degree requirements. Detailed information regarding the remaining credits needed to fulfill degree requirements can be found on each student’s degree audit.
Every student must complete a minimum of four full-time semesters in residence preceding graduation and must earn a minimum of 48 credits in studio and/or liberal arts courses. The final 12 credits toward degree requirements must be earned in residence at the University. Transferable credits will be applied only to the requirements stipulated for a UArts degree. For this reason, transfer students may be required to remain in residence at the University for more than the minimum four semesters and to complete more than the minimum 48 credits, regardless of the number of credits earned at previously attended institutions. Transfer credit is evaluated by the department chair or school director and the Director of Liberal Arts in consultation with the Office of the Registrar.
Undergraduate Degree Candidacy and Completion
To be certified for a degree, a student must:
- Submit a Petition for Award of Degree to the Office of the Registrar;
- Fulfill all degree requirements;
- Satisfy the minimum residency requirements (four semesters in residence, a minimum of 48 UArts credits, and the final 12 credits must be in residence);
- Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C average); and
- Receive the approval of his/her department chairperson or director as having met all major requirements, including any and all requirements unique to the department.
Once the student has submitted a Petition for Award of Degree and the Registrar has certified that student as having completed the degree requirements, the degree will be awarded. Two-year certificates are awarded only to students who are in residence and are matriculated in the certificate program.
Graduate Degree Candidacy and Completion
Midway through the program, each graduate student’s progress in his/her discipline and thesis proposal will be reviewed by the appropriate Graduate Committee to formally determine whether a student becomes a degree candidate, and is ready to continue toward development and completion of the thesis or graduate project.
Graduate students have up to seven years from their date of matriculation to complete a two-year master’s program or the MFA in Studio Art program, and up to five years from their matriculation date to complete a one-year program.
To be certified for a degree, a student must:
- Submit a Petition for Award of Degree to the Office of the Registrar;
- Fulfill all degree requirements with a B- or better;
- Satisfy the minimum residency requirements; and
- Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0.
Graduation - Conferral of Degrees and Diplomas
Students expecting to complete requirements for a degree within the year (December, May, or August) are required to file a Petition for Award of Degree with the Office of the Registrar or, online in the MyUArts Record section of the MyUArts Portal, by the deadline indicated below. The Office of the Registrar is responsible for certification of completion of requirements for the degree. Students may and are encouraged to petition during registration for their final semester.
Deadline for submission of Petitions:
- April 5 - August completion
- September 12 - December completion
- November 2 - May completion
The University of the Arts holds commencement once a year in May following the Spring semester. For students who complete degree requirements in other terms, the transcript will be posted “degree granted” with either the date of December 31 for the fall semester or August 31 for summer semester graduates. Diplomas will be mailed to August and December graduates’ permanent addresses approximately six weeks after the graduation date. Students graduating after the summer or fall semesters are invited to participate in the next May Commencement exercises with the May graduates.
Participation in Commencement Exercises
Only those students who have completed the degree requirements may participate in commencement exercises.
The University recognizes that there are extenuating circumstances that are beyond a student’s control that may affect a student’s ability to complete the degree requirements as anticipated and will consider petitions from students to participate in commencement exercises.
Students who request an exception to the policy noted above must meet the following requirements:
- Have petitioned for graduation:
- Have no more than six credits to complete at the time of the request:
- Show proof of registration for the remaining credits required to complete the degree requirements.
The process for requesting an exception is as follows:
- The student must submit to the Office of the Dean of Students a written explanation of the unusual circumstances and the request for an exception to the policy. Requests may be submitted via e-mail when done so through the student’s University e-mail account.
- The Dean of Students or his or her designee, after considering the request, will make a determination and communicate the outcome to the student and the Office of the Registrar.
- Requests for an Appeal of the Dean of Student’s decision may be submitted to the Office of the Provost.
- Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Provost. Once received, the Provost or his or her designee will review the case and make a final determination. The decision will then be communicated to the student, Dean of Students, and the Office of the Registrar by the Office of the Provost.
Graduation with Honors
Candidates for the baccalaureate degree may graduate with honors if they achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6.
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