Graduation

The Registrar's Office is honored to help ensure each DU student receives the necessary preparation for graduation.

University graduates are recognized at several commencement ceremonies each year. Under some circumstances, students who have not met graduation requirements are allowed, by petition, to participate in commencement exercises.

Graduation Requirements

A student must complete the degree requirements for their chosen degree listed in the bulletin that were in effect at the time they were admitted to the University. Any non-final grade (i.e., incomplete or non-reported grade) must be changed to a final grade.

Information for graduate students on thesis and dissertation requirements is available through the Office Of Graduate Education.

Graduation Application

The graduation application is no longer required for students in traditional undergraduate program; however, students in the Bachelor of Arts Completion Program through University College and all graduate students are still required to apply to graduate.

The graduation application can be found on MyDU, and step-by-step instructions can be found below.

When to Apply

  • Traditional Undergraduate Students

    Students in traditional undergraduate programs are not required to apply to graduate. Students will receive an email two quarters in advance of their anticipated graduation quarter notifying them or their eligibility. They will receive a degree evaluation at a later point in that some quarter outlining outstanding degree requirements.

  • Bachelor of Art Completion Program Students

    Students in the Bachelor of Arts completion program should apply at least two quarters in advance of their intended quarter of graduation or after they have earned a minimum of 164 credits.

  • Graduate Students

    Graduate students must apply at least two quarters prior to the intended quarter of graduation.

  • Law School Students

    Law students planning on graduating spring or summer semester may apply as of November 1st of that academic year. For those planning on graduating fall semester, the application will be available the first day of that semester.

Check Your Curriculum Before Applying

Before applying to graduate, make sure your curriculum record is accurate and up to date. Changes to your curriculum made during the quarter you submit your application may not be reflected on the graduation application. You may check your current curriculum through MyDU, search for Degree Audit (Login Required).

If during the application process you determine that a recent curriculum change is not reflected on your application, please email the appropriate graduation contact below to notify him or her of the correct curriculum.

If You Need to Withdraw Your Application:

If you need to withdraw your application to graduate or move your graduation to a different term, please fill out Withdrawal of Undergraduate Application to Graduate form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation Contacts

Graduation with Honors

Honor designations for baccalaureate degrees are cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude.

Cum laude is awarded to a degree candidate who has completed at least 90 quarter hours at the University with a minimum GPA of 3.75 in all coursework taken at DU.

Magna cum laude is awarded to a degree candidate who has completed at least 90 quarter hours at the University with a minimum GPA of 3.85 in all coursework taken at DU. A candidate for this honor must present a thesis or project, or receive distinction in his or her major.

Summa cum laude is awarded to a degree candidate who has earned a minimum of 90 quarter hours at the University with a minimum GPA of 3.95. A candidate for this honor must present a thesis or project, or receive distinction in his or her major.

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Commencement Ceremonies

DU holds four formal commencement ceremonies each year.

  • At the end of the spring semester, a Commencement ceremony is held for the Sturm College of Law.
  • At the conclusion of the spring quarter, separate ceremonies are held for undergraduate and graduate students.
  • At the conclusion of the summer quarter and summer semester, a Commencement ceremony is held for all summer graduates.

Students who have completed all graduation requirements during fall or winter, or will complete all graduation requirements during spring quarter of the current academic year, are invited to participate in the spring ceremony.

Important Graduation Resources