Apply for your Degree

The Graduation Application is used by the student to notify the university that they are ready to complete their degree program. The degree program is the combination of the degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.), major(s), and minor(s). All coursework for the degree program must be completed prior to the award date (end of graduation term). The student’s record may not be altered following the awarding of the degree so it is critical that the Graduation Application be accurate at the time of filing.

A Graduation Application is filed once for a degree program. The student pays a $20 application and $10 diploma fee ($30 total) at the time of filing. Once the Graduation Application is filed, it may be updated (e.g. change term, major, minor, etc.) by using the Undergraduate Request to Change Graduation Term form and paying a $25 late filing fee.

Forms used in these instructions:

• Graduation Application for Undergraduate Degrees
• Request to Change Graduation Term (Undergraduate)
• Degree Completion Worksheet for Undergraduates

1. Review your Academic Requirements report in the GET Student Center to ensure you have met the following requirements:
   • Earned at least 90 semester units
   • Earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.000 in each of the following:
     • All college work attempted (includes transfer work)
     • All courses attempted at Cal State LA
     • All general education courses
     • All courses required for major(s)
   • Must be matriculated in order for the application to be reviewed
   • On track to complete all graduation requirements by end of declared term
2. Pay the Application fee ($20), Diploma fee ($10), and, if required, the $25 late filing fee.
   
   Online payments for fees may be made via Transact, the same online system used for payment of tuition and other fees.
3. Complete the online Graduation Application*. Please attach your payment receipts to the online form as proof of payment.
4. Using your Academic Requirements report, list all incomplete graduation requirements on the Degree Completion Worksheet attached to the Graduation Application. This must include all courses you still need to complete as well as any course substitutions or other exceptions that need department approval.
5. Make a graduation advising appointment with your major department(s) or college(s). Bring your completed Graduation Application and Degree Completion Worksheet to the appointment. The Academic advisor(s) will review the Graduation Application and Degree Completion Worksheet. If your plan appears reasonable given the outstanding requirements and the graduation term you have selected, then the advisor will sign the form indicating you have completed the consultation. The advisor's signature does not guarantee graduation. It simply affirms that you have proposed a reasonable plan to achieve degree completion by the end of the declared term.

* If you plan to pay in-person or submit your application via US Mail, please print and complete the Printable Undergraduate Graduation Application Form. If you are submitting in-person you have the option to pay the fees from Step 2 at the counter. If you have paid fees from Step 2 online you will need to provide printed copies of those receipts for both US Mail and in-person submissions.

Applying for Dual Majors / Dual Degrees:

• For Dual Degrees (BS & BA, BS & MS, etc.):
  • You must submit 1 Graduation Application and 1 Degree Completion Worksheet per degree. One-Stop Financial Services will collect the required fees: $20 for the application and $20 for the diplomas.
    • This type of award receives 2 diplomas
• For Dual Majors (BS & BS, BA & BA, etc.):
  • You must submit 1 Graduation Application and 2 Degree Completion Worksheet (1 per major). One-Stop Financial Services will collect the required fees: $20 application fee and $10 diploma fee.
    • Both majors appear on a single diploma.

The Graduation Application is used by the student to notify the university that they are ready to complete their degree program. All coursework for the degree program must be completed prior to the award date (end of graduation term). The student’s record may not be altered following the awarding of the degree so it is critical that the Graduation Application be accurate at the time of filing.

A Graduation Application is filed once for a degree program. The student pays a $20 application and $10 diploma fee ($30 total) at the time of filing. Once the Graduation Application is filed it may be updated (e.g. change term, major, option, etc.) by using the Request to Change Graduation Term form and paying a $25 late filing fee.

• Graduation Application for Graduate/Doctorate Degrees
• Request to Change Graduation Term (Graduate)

1. Review your Academic Requirements report in the GET Student Center to ensure you have met the following requirements:
   • Only international graduate students who graduate from universities where English is NOT the primary language of instruction must pass the Writing Proficiency UNIV 4000 or UNIV 4010 within their first 12 units. For further information, please contact the University Testing Center at 323-343-3160.
   • On track to complete all graduation requirements by end of declared term
   • Must be matriculated in order for the application to be reviewed.
2. Complete the Graduation Application.
3. Pay the Application fee ($20), Diploma fee ($10), and, if required, the $25 late filing fee.
   • Online payments for fees may be made via Transact, the same online system used for payment of tuition and other fees.
4. When you submit the application, be sure to attach:
   • The Transact payment confirmation email showing payment of the Application fee ($20), Diploma fee ($10), and, if required, the $25 late filing fee
   • Your advisor's approval of your applicaton.  An email approval from your advisor is acceptable. 

You can check the status of your Graduation Application and the details of your remaining requirement(s) on your Academic Requirements report.

Applied:

If your checkout status is Applied, your Graduation Application has been received and will be reviewed before the start of the declared term. An email will be sent to you when the review has been completed. When you receive this email, be sure to check your Academic Requirements report to verify the updates and review any remaining requirements. Keep your mailing address and e-mail address up-to-date so that important notices reach you!

In Review:

If your checkout status is In Review, your Graduation Application has been reviewed and will be reviewed again after the grades are finalized at the end of the term. If you have not already, be sure to check your Academic Requirements report.

Denied:

If your checkout status is Denied, the review at the end of the declared Expected Graduation Term determined that there are remaining degree requirement(s) that have not been met. Your remaining requirements are available on your Academic Requirements report. It is recommended that your work closely with your Academic Advisor.

Use the Request to Change Graduation Term form to update the anticipated graduation term you originally submitted on your Graduation Application (restrictions apply). If needed, schedule an advising appointment to review and confirm a new anticipated graduation term.

Request to Change Graduation Term (Undergraduate)

Request to Change Graduation Term (Graduate)

Awarded:

If your checkout status is Awarded, Congratulations! Your degree information is now posted to your transcripts and your diploma will be mailed to your address in a few weeks.

Your degree will not be awarded if you fail to complete any of the Academic Requirements, including:

• All degree requirements completed by your declared graduation term:
  • Please review your remaining Academic Requirements report through GET Student Center.
• Maintaining a 2.000 in all GPA categories:
  • College work attempted (including transfer work)
  • Courses attempted at Cal State LA,
  • GE courses
  • Courses required for the major(s).
• Completion of Incomplete Grades
  • An Incomplete that is not removed before the degree is awarded will be charged as an 'F' in the grade point average calculations. Once your degree has been awarded, all coursework leading up to the degree cannot be changed for any reason.
• Transcripts from other institutions
  • If official transcripts showing final grades are required from other institutions, these must be submitted to the Admissions Office (SA 101). Be sure to follow up with your academic advisor. Course Substitutions require the approval of the academic department.

The minor filed will be noted on the student’s transcript and on the student's diploma if the individual program has been approved by the offering department/division/school and is completed at the same time as or prior to the work for the degree itself.

If the minor is not completed by the time the degree is completed it will be removed from the student’s record and the degree will be awarded without it.

Awarding of the degree(s) will not be delayed to facilitate the completion of a minor. The student does not need to submit a Request to Change Graduation Term form to remove an incomplete minor.

Cal State L.A. uses three designations of honors at graduation: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude. Effective Fall 2016, to be eligible for honors, an undergraduate student must have completed a minimum of 45 units in residence at Cal State L.A. and have attained the appropriate standing (in terms of cumulative grade point average earned at Cal State L.A.) as described below:

• Summa Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.9
• Magna Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.75 but less than 3.9
• Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.5 but less than 3.75

All students attaining these minimum grade point averages will be awarded the corresponding honors upon conferral of degree.

Graduating from the University and participating in Commencement are two different things. Graduation is when the student has officially and successfully completed all their degree requirements. Commencement is the ceremony in which degrees are conferred and celebrates the achievement of the students who have graduated or will soon graduate during the academic year.

Commencement

Commencement is produced and managed by the Commencement Office (University Events and Protocol). Their office facilitates and coordinates the Commencement ceremonies and activities.

Participating in Commencement is optional and not mandatory. If a student chooses to not participate, it does not affect their eligibility to graduate from the University. In addition, participation in Commencement does not automatically mean that the student has graduated.

Commencement is a separate process from graduating. Eligible graduating candidates can register to participate in Commencement in mid-spring. When a student confirms participation in Commencement, Cal State LA will reserve a seat for the student at the ceremony and provide a select number of guest tickets.

For more information, please visit the Commencement website regularly. It contains valuable information for graduates and guests. Please scroll through each section and read the information as details are posted as soon as they are confirmed.

Commencement Website:
liashapiro.com/commencement 

Questions?
Contact the Commencement Office