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Graduation Checklist

Expected Graduation Term

All students scheduled to graduate in a given term will receive an email from the Office of the University Registrar containing a link to the Graduation Confirmation form. On the form you will be asked to provide information that will help ensure the information listed on your diploma and in the Commencement program is accurate.

To request a graduation date change, please note the following:

  • You may submit the request only after completing two regular semesters of coursework.
  • If you wish to change your expected graduation date to an earlier date, please complete the Graduation Date Change form. See the User Guide for more information. The request will be routed to the A&S Office of Academic Services for approval.
  • If you wish to change your expected graduation date to a date later than eight regular college semesters, you must petition the A&S Administrative Committee. Email arts-sci-ac@vanderbilt.edu  for instructions.
  • If you are a senior and would like to change your graduation date (either earlier or later), you must petition the A&S Administrative Committee. Email arts-sci-ac@vanderbilt.edu for instructions.
In-Residence Requirements

A minimum of four normal semesters (at least 60 credit hours), including the last two semesters (at least 30 credit hours), must be spent in residence in the College of Arts and Science unless an exception is made by the A&S Administrative Committee. Students transferring from other schools of the university must spend the last year (at least 30 credit hours) in residence in the College of Arts and Science. Read the full in-residence requirements.

Honors
Departmental Honors

A&S students can apply for departmental honors, which encourage independent work in the student’s major field of study. Students typically apply for honors during their junior year. The College of Arts and Science requires a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 3.3, but some departments’ minimum GPA requirements are higher. Other requirements vary but usually include independent coursework, plus completion of a senior thesis or capstone project supervised by a faculty member.

Students interested in applying for departmental honors should visit the website of the relevant department or contact the department’s director of undergraduate studies.

Latin Honors

Undergraduate students whose cumulative GPAs meet the required threshold will graduate with Latin honors. Honors are earned as follows:

  • Summa cum laude: Students whose grade point average equals or exceeds that of the top 5 percent of the previous three years' graduating seniors.
  • Magna cum laude: Students whose grade point average equals or exceeds that of the next 8 percent of the previous three years’ graduating seniors.
  • Cum laude: Students whose grade point average equals or exceeds that of the next 12 percent of the previous three years' graduating seniors.

Latin honors are noted on the diploma and published in the Commencement program. The thresholds are determined in June for each upcoming academic year.

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