Seniors
Congratulations to you as you near the end of your time as a CCAS undergraduate student. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the necessary terms and deadlines in preparation for your graduation day.
Jump to a Section:
- Key Terms
- Graduation Timeline and Deadlines
- Graduation Eligibility and Requirements
- Reaching Degree Completion
- Graduation Ceremonies
- Graduation Ceremonies: FAQ
- Resources and Reminders
Key Terms
Celebration: The ceremony held by the Columbian College to celebrate your accomplishment. You will sit with other students from your major and your name will be called.
Conferred: This means you have officially been granted your degree. If you have finished your requirements but have not yet been granted your degree, then your degree has not yet been conferred.
Graduation: The point in time when your degree is conferred. This happens after the Celebration and Commencement ceremonies, and is dependent upon your completion of your degree requirements. It is possible to participate in Commencement and Celebration and not graduate from the Columbian College.
Commencement: The university-wide ceremony held on the National Mall. All schools and degree candidates are present for this event.
Graduation Timeline
Apply to Graduate
- Carefully review the graduation application instructions and deadlines on the Registrar’s website.
- Apply to graduate on GWeb. Find the application under the "Student Records & Registration" menu, in "Student Records Information." Your DegreeMap will update to indicate that you have applied to graduate.
- If you apply after March 14, 2025, please contact your POD.
Please note: Students who submit an application after the published deadline may not be listed in the Commencement Program.
Graduation Clearance
- Clearance begins after classes end and grades are posted.
- You cannot be cleared for graduation with courses still “in progress,” incomplete grades or administrative holds.
- Ensure that study abroad, transfer, AP and IB credits are posted before graduation. It can take up to three weeks for credit to be posted.
- You will be notified via email when your clearance form is forwarded to the Registrar's Office for processing and degree conferral OR if there are any challenges in clearing you for graduation.
Diploma Receipt
- Diplomas are mailed eight to 12 weeks after your transcript has been updated to reflect your degree conferral.
- Plan ahead for jobs and graduate schools if they require proof of your degree. You can use your official transcript as proof of graduation once your degree is conferred.
- Questions? Contact diploma
gwu [dot] edu (diploma[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Please note: Participating in Celebration and/or Commencement is not the same as actually graduating (having your degree conferred).
Deadlines to Apply for Graduation
| Application Due Date | Expected Graduation |
| March 15* | Spring |
| July 15** | Summer |
| November 15 | Fall |
*If you are a spring graduate and you apply before the December deadline, you will receive a graduation review via email before the first day of spring classes.
**If you are a summer graduate and you wish to walk in Celebration/Commencement the spring prior, you must apply by March 15. You may participate in Celebration and/or Commencement if you have no more than 9 credits of requirements remaining to complete your degree.
Graduation Eligibility and Requirements
120 credits complete
2.0 GPA minimum
Major, Minor, GPACs complete
To be eligible for graduation, a student must:
- have completed satisfactorily the scholarship, curriculum, residence and other requirements for the degree, as stated in the GW Bulletin;
- file an application for graduation by the published deadline date; and
- be free from all indebtedness to the University.
Enrollment is required for the semester or summer session at the close of which the degree is to be conferred; all degree requirements must be completed by the last day of final examinations for that semester or summer session. Undergraduates who pursue a double major across two schools must complete the primary major in their home school in order to graduate. A second major may supplement the primary major, but may not substitute for it.
The minimum cumulative grade-point average required for graduation is 2.0 for undergraduate students. Students must also complete 120 credit hours and all General Education (G-PAC), major and minor courses (where applicable).
Make sure to follow up with your major or minor faculty advisor if you have any requirement waivers or substitutions. If you have additional questions, please email your POD or schedule an appointment on the CCAS Advising website.
Please note: If you are on track to meet your requirements, your DegreeMap should reflect 98% for requirements and 100% for credits until your final grades post, at which point both progress bars should be at 100%.
Requirements for Graduation
Once you have confirmed that you have all of the necessary courses "In Progress" on your transcript, please also keep in mind:
- You must earn a C- or better in all upper-level courses counting toward your major. There may be exceptions to this due the Pass/No Pass policy changes in spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021.
- You must keep your GPA above a 2.0.
- Your credits must total 120 academic hours. Of these 120, 60 must be in-residence, 30 must be upper-level, 12 must be in the major and 6 must be in the minor.
- Up to 3 credits of Health and Wellness (HLWL) and 3 credits of Lifestyle, Sport and Physical Activity (LSPA) — taken for a letter grade and earned a D- or better — may count toward your credit hours total.
- If you took any course more than once, you may only count the credit once.
- All coursework must be completed no later than the last day of final exams for the semester you intend to graduate. This means no Incompletes can be taken your final semester. For example, if you planned to graduate in the spring of 2024 but take an Incomplete in a course in the spring of 2024, you cannot graduate in spring 2024.
- Check with your department website to see if you are eligible to apply for departmental honors.
- Be sure that all transfer credit and/or study abroad credit has posted to your transcript.
Reaching Degree Completion
After all of your grades have posted, you will receive an email from your advisor letting you know whether or not you have been cleared to graduate.
- If You Have Been Cleared
- Your degree will be conferred 5-10 business days after you receive the email notice from your advisor.
- Your degree will be conferred by the Registrar’s Office. Your diploma will be mailed to the diploma address you provided in GWeb in 8 to 12 weeks.
- In 10 business days from the date you receive the email from your advisor, you can check your unofficial transcript to see if the degree is now included at the top: "Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts/Science [date]." If not, check back periodically, as sometimes processing takes additional time.
- Should you need documentation of your degree, you can request an Official Transcript. Before requesting your transcript, double-check your unofficial transcript on GWeb to see if “Degree Awarded” is showing. If so, visit the Office of the Registrar transcripts page to learn the various ways to request your transcript.
- If You Have NOT Been Cleared
Work closely with your advisor to complete your degree. If you completed the coursework to satisfy your missing requirements during this past semester and your missing requirement(s) is/are the result of an administrative delay, you can still be a graduate in this term. Administrative delays include but are not limited to: missing grades for completed work and/or missing transfer credit from a U.S. institution or study abroad program. Since there is no automated way for your advisor to monitor changes to your transcript, it is your responsibility to monitor your GWeb transcript and contact your advisor when missing requirements have been completed.
If you did not complete the requirements for your degree during this past semester, you must take these steps to complete your degree:
- Maintain your enrollment at GW, semester by semester, either by taking courses at GW or registering for Continuous Enrollment as you take classes elsewhere, until you complete your degree. You can complete your final six hours elsewhere, but other residency requirements may need to be reviewed before making this decision.
- Submit a new graduation application for your new graduation term.
Graduation Ceremonies
Columbian College Celebration Ceremony
Saturday, May 17 | 12 P.M. & 3:30 P.M.
CCAS holds multiple ceremonies to honor our graduates.
- Two undergraduate ceremonies, grouped by department (not sure which one to attend? Check the list.)
- Location: Charles E. Smith Center
- Tickets: Six (6) per student
University Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, May 18 | 10:30 A.M.
While each school holds its own ceremony, University Commencement on the National Mall includes graduates from all degree levels and schools across GW.
- One ceremony, university-wide
- Location: the National Mall
- Tickets: Six (6) per student
Information and deadlines for purchasing regalia for the ceremonies can be found on the main Commencement website. CCAS will provide all graduates with a medal at the CCAS Celebration ceremony on May 17. We do not provide graduation cords or pins; however, your specific academic department, student organization, fraternity, sorority and/or the GW Bookstore may. Please consult with them for details.
Please note: Students who submit an application to graduate after the published deadline are not guaranteed Commencement materials and may not be listed in the Commencement Program.
Commencement Ceremony Participation
Participation in the annual Commencement ceremony held in May is open to students who have applied to graduate in the current spring semester or summer* semesters, or the preceding summer or fall semesters.
*Students (graduate or undergraduate) who need no more than nine (9) credit hours to complete their degree requirements in the summer and are enrolled in those remaining credits, may participate in the May Commencement ceremony. The maximum of nine (9) semester hours is firm and not subject to petition.
Participation in the Celebration and/or Commencement Ceremony DOES NOT equate to degree conferral!
Graduation Ceremonies: FAQ
- Which Celebration ceremony does my major participate in?
There will be two undergraduate CCAS Celebration ceremonies. One ceremony will be at 12 P.M. and one will be at 3:30 P.M. EST on Saturday, May 17. A list of which majors are in each CCAS ceremony is released each spring and can be found on the CCAS Celebration website.
- Which Celebration ceremony do I attend as a double major?
If your majors participate in separate ceremonies that pose a time conflict, choose a primary major and attend that ceremony.
- Which ceremony do I attend as a double degree student?
Attend the ceremony of your home school, not both.
- How do I apply to be the Commencement Speaker?
Students can apply on the Commencement website to be the University Commencement Speaker. For additional information or questions, contact University Events at commencement
gwu [dot] edu.- How can I apply to be the CCAS Celebration speaker?
The undergraduate Celebration Speakers are the students selected as the CCAS Distinguished Scholars. Distinguished Scholar nominees are nominated by faculty members and then selected by the CCAS Undergraduate Studies Committee.
- How do I get my cap and gown?
Please visit the GW Commencement website for information. CCAS will provide all graduates with a medal at the Celebration ceremony on May 17. We do not provide graduation cords or pins; however, your specific academic department, student organization, fraternity, sorority and/or the GW bookstore may. Please consult with them for details.
- How do I check my diploma details?
Graduates can log into the GWeb Information System and update their diploma mailing address under the Personal Information Menu. For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar.
- Who can I contact with ADA-related concerns for the Celebration Ceremony?
You can contact ccascele
gwu [dot] edu.- What ADA accommodations are available for the University Commencement Ceremony?
Information will be on the GW Commencement website under Accessibility.
- Who can I contact with Celebration questions?
You can email ccascele
gwu [dot] edu with any Celebration questions.
For additional details, including a checklist for graduates, FAQ and special events and activities for the Class of 2025, please visit the GW Commencement website.
Resources & Reminders
- Taking Less than 12 Credits
Institutional financial aid/scholarships can be prorated for seniors who need less than 12 credits to graduate. Check with Student Financial Assistance to verify any impact on your scholarship/institutional aid when considering part-time status. As a reminder, athletes, international students and other special populations must contact their respective offices to get approval to take a reduced course load. International students must also take at least one course on campus.
- Adding an Hour to a Course
CCAS students can request to add one credit to any upper-level CCAS class. Make sure to complete an Additional Credit Hour Form and accompanying RTF (PDF) by the end of the tenth week. You will need to meet with your professor for the course you wish to add a credit to for permission and to confirm the extra coursework you need to complete. Return all signed forms by uploading them as a PDF through the CCAS Forms page.
- Course Overload
Students may request to register for more than 18 credit hours. Please check the requirements on the CCAS Advising website if you need to apply to take 19+ Credits.
- Departmental Honors
Each department has different requirements for their honors, so please reach out to your faculty advisor for more information.
- Undergraduate Academic Forgiveness Policy
Undergraduate students are eligible to repeat for credit and grade forgiveness three undergraduate-level courses taken at GW in which they received a grade of D+ (1.3) or below (except if the failing grade was due to a violation of GW’s Code of Academic Integrity). With the approval of their academic advisor, a student may repeat a course under this policy at any time during their enrollment at GW; however, a course is not eligible for this policy if the student has taken a subsequent course for which the initial course is a prerequisite. The student’s registration, including the repeated course, may not exceed 18 credits in the semester in which the course is repeated
Under this policy, the original grade remains on the transcript until the student repeats the course. Once the course is repeated, a permanent notation of RP replaces the grade for the first attempt of the course in the semester in which it was taken. The grade earned in the repeated course appears on the transcript in the semester in which the course was repeated. Only the grade earned for the repeat enrollment is factored into the student’s cumulative grade-point average. The grade for the repeat enrollment is the final grade for the course, regardless of whether it is above or below the original grade. If you’re interested in this option, meet with your POD advisor.
- Pre-Professional Advising
Meet with one of our pre-professional advisors for questions about law school, medical/health professions school, as well as MBA, master’s and PhD programs.
- Career Services/Life After GW
Take advantage of the many opportunities for seniors through the Career Center, including career coaching, self-assessment, online resume and cover letter development and assistance with networking and interviewing to help students discover their talents and interests, decide on a major, explore industries and career options and create an effective job search strategy. They also help employers brand their organizations on campus through information sessions, a robust interviewing program and participation in career and industry fairs, programs and panels.
To see upcoming events, visit the Career Center website.
- GW Alumni
Did you know that the GW Alumni Office provides events and services for undergraduate students? Visit the GW Alumni website for more information.
- Study Abroad
If you studied abroad, please make sure all your documentation has been submitted to the Office for Study Abroad. Visit the Study Abroad website and log in to your account to check for your transcript from your international institution. Remember to use GW CATS (Course Approval Transfer System) to get course equivalencies for your courses abroad and submit that information to Study Abroad.