Certificates/Diplomas and Graduation

UMUC awards certificates and degrees in August, December, and May of each academic year. Commencement ceremonies in May recognize AA, BA, and BS candidates who have earned their degrees in any of the three degree periods. Commencement packets will be mailed to students in March. To be eligible to march at Commencement, May degree candidates must be able to demonstrate that they will complete all degree requirements by the time of the May degree deadline.

Download Graduation Checklist here (PDF 2MB)

Certificates/Diploma Application Deadlines

Students expecting to complete requirements for a certificate or degree must submit a Certificate/Diploma Application form and pay the $50.00 diploma fee in their MyUMUC portal: MyAcademics> Graduation> Apply for Diploma or Certificate

Certificate: A student within 6 credits of completing requirements for a certificate may file a Certificate Application.
Associate's Degree: A student within 9 credits of completing requirements for the Associate of Arts degree may file a Diploma Application.
Bachelor's Degree: A student within 15 credits. of completing requirements for a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree may file a Diploma Application.

The completed Diploma Application should be returned in accordance with the following schedule:

Expected Graduation Application Deadlines

Fall (December)	1 October
Spring (May)	15 February
Summer (August)	15 June

Students whose Diploma Applications are received after these deadlines will be considered for the next scheduled graduation. Students may check their diploma application status in thier MyUMUC account under MyAcademics>Graduation>Graduation Application Status.

Graduation Review

Associate's and bachelor’s degree diploma applicants will receive a graduation review to confirm remaining degree requirements. If the remaining requirements include incompletes to be removed, courses to be transferred from other institutions, credit by examination, or military credit, the student must ensure this work is completed and official documentation reaches the University of Maryland University College, Office of Graduation Services, Unit 29216, APO AE 09102, no later than the expected graduation date.

Noncompletion of Degree Requirements

Students who do not complete degree requirements in time for the graduation date specified on their Diploma Application must submit a new Diploma Application and a $50 diploma application fee via thier MyUMUC portal. Students will be informed of remaining degree requirements.

Official Transcript

Associate and bachelor's degree graduates receive an official transcript bearing the degree posting. These are mailed approximately four to six weeks after the student’s graduation date in December, May, or August.

Issuance of Certificates/Diplomas

Certificates
Certificates will also be mailed to the students three times per academic year.

Diplomas
All AA, BA, and BS graduates completing degrees in August, December, or May can expect to receive their diplomas by mail from the Office of the Registrar approximately four to six weeks after the graduation date.

Note: Degrees and certificates are posted on transcripts only three times per academic year. The degree will not appear on any transcript issued prior to the degree date even if all requirements have been completed. Students requiring verification of their degree prior to the graduation date may request a letter of completion from the Office of Graduation Services in Heidelberg.

Conference Courses

Conference courses are exceptional and can only be conducted for a UMUC degree candidate who is within 9 credits of completing bachelor’s degree requirements. All three of the following criteria must exist:

The student has filed a Diploma Application for the next graduation date (i.e., December, May, or August).
The student has a valid reason for needing to complete the degree by that time (e.g., relocation, job offer).
The specific course essential for graduation is not available to the student at any location within commuting distance or through any other viable source (e.g., distance education courses, individualized learning courses, or correspondence courses from another regionally accredited school) prior to the proposed graduation date.

Permission from the Director, Student Affairs must be requested in writing.

Note: Mathematics, statistics, foreign language, and most computer, writing, and accounting courses require a classroom setting and are not offered as conference courses.

Last updated: 23 September 2009