Office of the Registrar

The central office that manages academic records, registration, course and classroom scheduling, grading processes

Office of the Registrar / Graduation / Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Graduation is an important milestone in a student’s life. It is the culmination of years of study and hard work. Please read the following information as you prepare to graduate.

What are the overall requirements for graduation?

General College Requirements

  • Completion of at least 128 credit hours (credits), including at least 44 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses, with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00, both on an overall basis and in those courses that meet major requirements.
  • At least 30 of the last 36 credit hours of academic work toward the degree must be St. Mary’s courses.
  • The Core Curriculum requirements.
  • The requirements for a major field of study.
  • Good standing with respect to the Code of Student
    Conduct.
What is Experiencing Liberal Arts in the World (ELAW)?

Experiencing Liberal Arts in the World will bridge the gap between the academy and the world beyond, transcending the theory-praxis divide and giving extra meaning to their academic courses by applying their developing knowledge base to life experiences outside the boundaries of the college campus. There are four general options for satisfying the Experiencing the Liberal Arts in the World requirement:

  • Study Abroad
  • Internship
  • Independent Study or Directed Research With a Community Focus
  • Experiential or Service Learning

All students must complete CORE350, which is a zero-credit course that indicates ELAW has been fulfilled.

Read more about ELAW.

How much is graduation Fee?
$100.00 for undergraduate and graduate. This fee helps to cover the fees for preparing commencement, printing and delivering your diploma.
Can I change the name that is on my diploma?
No, unless you have supplied The Office of the Registrar with official documentation of your change of name.
When I look online it only has my middle initial for my name, can I make changes like this on my diploma?
When you apply for graduation, you will have the option of indicating how you want your official name to appear on the diploma. Since we have to order diplomas so far ahead of time, you will not be able to make a change to the name that appears on your diploma once you are in your final semester.
Do my transfer classes count in my GPA?
No, all classes that are accepted for transfer from another college will only count in your total credits.
Do my transfer credits count for Latin honors?
You must take at least 64 credits at St. Mary’s, 56 of which must be for a letter grade, to receive Latin honors.
How do repeated courses work?

If it is not indicated in the college catalog that a course may be repeated for credit and you take the course again, the most recent course will be the course that counts on your transcript. A course that is being repeated is not indicated as such on your transcript until grades have been submitted at the end of the semester. Please keep this in mind as you calculate your credits, especially if you are in your last semester.

Example:

  • You are in your last semester and you decide to retake COSC130 for a better grade.
  • You are taking exactly 16 credits, including COSC130, to get to the total credit limit of 128 credits.
  • The first time you took the course you received a C-. At the end of the semester you receive an A in the course.
  • The A now replaces the C- and you lose the credits from when you took the course the first time.
  • Because you did not factor in the repeated course, you are now 4 credits short for graduation.
I am going to be 4 credits short for graduation; can I still participate in Commencement?
Yes, as long as you are within 4 credits from completing your requirements and you have atleast a 2.0 GPA.
I did not attend commencement, where will my diploma be mailed?
We will mail your diploma to the current address in our system. Please make sure to change your address if it has changed before you graduate.
Can I take classes at another college during my last year at St. Mary’s?
Yes, but you must complete at least 30 of the last 36 credit-hours of academic work toward the degree at St. Mary’s College.
What if I am taking a course at another college my last semester of St. Mary’s to transfer back to St. Mary’s so I can graduate?
As long as we receive a final transcript from the college you are attending three days prior to Commencement, you will be able to participate and receive your diploma. If you are not able to get a final transcript, you can still have the professor of the course send us a letter letting us know what class you are taking, how many credits, and the final grade you will receive. In this case you can participate in commencement, but you will not receive your diploma until we have received a final transcript.
Who is responsible for making sure I will complete all of my graduation requirements?
You, as the student, are. Advisors have a role in advising you along the way, but ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all graduation requirements, including total, upper division, Core, and major/minor requirements.
What if I don’t complete a minor at the time of graduation?
If you decide to graduate, then you will not be able to complete the minor.
Can I take classes after I graduate to improve my GPA?
No, once you graduate your GPA will restart.