Graduation Requirements

Degree candidates must file an application for graduation, with a $100.00 fee, by the graduation application deadline of the term in which they expect to graduate. Graduation application deadlines are listed in the Academic Calendar, and after the graduation application deadline, graduation fees are doubled. Students should file the form in the Office of the Registrar. A graduation application is required before a degree will be awarded.

Participation in Commencement

Below are the guidelines and there are no exceptions - if you do not meet the minimum criteria to walk, your request will be denied:

Graduate students must be within one course of completing the degree program and/or one-degree requirement.  Participation in the ceremony does not imply that the student has earned a degree. No degree is awarded until the completion of all degree requirements.

Students who wish to participate early in commencement must apply to graduate for the semester in which they plan to graduate - not the semester in which the commencement is held. For example, if you are graduating in the summer and want to walk early in May, you MUST apply to graduate summer, and then complete the request form to walk early in the May commencement.  The Request to Walk in Commencement Ceremony Form can be found on the Registrar's Graduation webpage.

Candidates must apply to graduate with the Registrar's Office at the start of their final semester. Please review the academic calendar for application deadlines. 

College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs

Successful completion of all master's degree programs in the College of Arts and Sciences requires the student to earn a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. The MFA requires (P) passing grades in all courses. 

The following additional graduation requirements by program are shown below:

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Minimum of 44 credit hours of coursework, earning (P) passing grades, successful completion of open studio craft talk, and final performance.  

Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, 180 hours of internship, action research project and passing score on the K-12 Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE). Candidates not seeking certification may graduate from the MED Educational Leadership program without passing the FELE (Florida Educational Leadership Exam). 

Masters of Education in Exceptional Student Education
Minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, and an action research project. 

Educational Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction
Minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, and an action research project.

Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Supervision
Minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework, and an action research project.

Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Minimum of 60 credit hours, practicum, two internships, pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE), and successfully present their portfolio.  

Master of Science in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
Minimum of 60 credit hours, practicum, two internships, pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE), and successfully present their portfolio.

Master of Science in Counselor Education with Advanced Studies
Minimum of 66 credit hours, practicum, two or three internships, pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE), and successfully present their portfolio.

Degree candidates must file an application for graduation, with a $100.00 fee, by the graduation application deadline of the term in which they expect to graduate. Graduation application deadlines are listed in the Academic Calendar, and after the graduation application deadline, graduation fees are doubled. Students should file the form in the Office of the Registrar. A graduation application is required before a degree will be awarded.

Participation in Commencement

Students must have completed or be within one course of completing the degree program and/or one degree completion requirement and must be able to complete this degree requirement by the end of the subsequent summer or fall term to participate in Commencement. Participation in the ceremony does not imply that the student has earned a degree. No degree is awarded until the completion of all degree requirements.

Students who wish to participate early in commencement must apply to graduate for the semester in which they plan to graduate - not the semester in which Commencement is held. For example, if you are graduating in the summer and want to walk early in May, you MUST apply to graduate summer, and then complete the request form to walk early in the May Commencement.  The Request to Walk in Commencement Ceremony Form can be found on the Registrar's Graduation webpage.

Candidates must apply to graduate with the Registrar's Office.  Please review the academic calendar for application deadlines.

Students must be in good financial standing with the University by the first day of final exams for the spring semester.

School of Business Administration Graduate Programs

Successful completion of all graduate programs in the School of Business Administration requires that the student earn a minimum of 3.0 overall GPA in all advanced-level courses. In addition, successful completion of the M.Acc. requires an overall minimum 3.0 GPA in all accounting courses in the program. A student who completes all required advanced-level courses in a graduate business program with an overall GPA lower than 3.0 may petition the director of that graduate program for permission to retake a maximum of two courses in which a grade of less than B was earned. The new grade will replace the one originally earned, although the original grade will remain on the student’s transcript.

Students needing to retake a graduate-level business elective course may retake the same elective course. The new grade will replace the grade originally earned in the student’s overall GPA calculation; however, the original grade will remain on the student’s transcript. Alternatively, students needing to retake a graduate-level elective course will be permitted to take a different graduate-level business elective course. The grade of the new graduate elective course will replace the grade originally earned in the student’s overall GPA calculation; however, the original course and grade earned will remain on the student’s transcript. Retakes of graduate elective courses count toward the two-course maximum.

Dual Degree Programs (Master of Pharmacy/M.B.A., Master of Healthcare Administration/M.B.A., J.D./M.B.A.):  Students MUST complete all graduation requirements for the partner school's program to be eligible to receive the transfer elective credits to the Master of Business Administration, even if all MBA coursework has been completed.