Graduation
A student at East Stroudsburg University must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.000 in order to graduate (individual departments may, however, stipulate higher graduation requirements), complete the general education requirements and competencies requirements. Your graduation application initiates your graduation clearance process. The Graduation Services Team begins working with your department and college to review and finalize your degree requirements.
Priority processing deadlines for applying for graduation are November 1 for spring graduation, February 1 for summer degree conferral, April 1 for fall degree conferral and December 1 for winter degree conferral. The university holds three commencement exercises during the academic year, one at the end of the fall semester and two at the end of the spring semester. Students graduating in August may participate in the May or December commencement ceremony.
Degree/Certificate Conferral
When students submit their “Intent to Graduate” by the established application deadlines based on their completion semester, their academic record will be put through a graduation clearance process. This process requires a thorough review of the student’s academic record with the collaboration of their respective department chair, college dean and the Graduation Services team. This process is used to certify that students will meet their degree requirements by their intended graduation date. An audit of the student’s degree is performed twice during the graduation clearance process - after the application deadline, and at the end of the semester. Correspondence will be sent to all students who have submitted their “Intent to Graduate” request after their degree audit has been completed to notify students of their graduation status.
If a student has met all the graduation requirements at ESU including the credit minimum (See Graduation Residency policy), s/he will be notified and the degree or certificate will be conferred by the Graduation Services team. Degrees are conferred at the end of the fall and spring semesters and winter and summer terms during the following months: May, August, December, & January.
Once a degree has been conferred, the academic record is final and sealed. Changes to enrollment, courses, grades and program of study associated with the degree conferral are not permitted to the academic record of a graduate. Students who do meet their degree requirements for the semester they had intended upon graduating must declare another “Intent to Graduate” and create a revised plan to complete their degree requirements in a subsequent semester or term.
The official degree conferral/graduation date is posted on the student’s permanent record (transcript) as the semester when all degree requirements have been completed and confirmed by the Registrar or her designee.
Commencement
Commencement
East Stroudsburg University currently holds commencement ceremonies at the end of the fall and spring semester throughout the calendar year to recognize graduates for their academic success at the institution. Students who have officially indicated their “Intent to Graduate”, registered for all remaining required coursework, or are in progress of making up incomplete (“I”) grades, may be eligible to participate in the commencement exercises.
- To be eligible to participate in the December commencement ceremony, students must complete or be on track to complete their degree requirements by the end of the summer, fall or winter terms.
- To be eligible to participate in the May commencement, students must complete or be on track to complete their degree requirements by the end of the spring term. Students who will complete an established internship and/or required coursework in the summer must be registered for summer before being considered eligible to participate in a May commencement ceremony.
Participating in the commencement ceremonies does not signify the completion of a student’s degree program. The outcome of the final graduation clearance will determine if a student has met all university and program requirements to be considered a graduate.
Graduation Honors
Graduation Honors
In order to qualify for graduation honors, a student must have completed at least 45 credits at East Stroudsburg University. These 45 credits can be accrued through any course, internship and/or field placement including student teaching in which a letter grade is assigned (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D or E) or a satisfactory grade is ascribed. The check for the 45-credit minimum includes in-progress courses during the student’s graduation semester. The check for the student’s cumulative grade point average is based on all graded coursework.
Students who have the appropriate cumulative grade point average at the time the honor’s designation is determined, and who will have met the 45-credit minimum once the final semester is completed, will be granted graduation honors as follows:
Summa Cum Laude Cumulative grade point average 3.800 or above
Magna Cum Laude Cumulative grade point average 3.600 to 3.799
Cum Laude Cumulative grade point average 3.400 to 3.599
Graduation honors for the publication of the Commencement Program are based on all graded and in-progress coursework at East Stroudsburg University by:
- March 15 of the academic year for spring and summer graduation or
- November 1 for fall and winter graduation.
The official university transcript will carry the final honors designation based on all finalized grades completed at the university and the outcome of the final graduation clearance.
Graduation Residency Requirement
All first baccalaureate degree students will take at least 30 of their last 45 credits at East Stroudsburg University. At least 50 percent of major requirements must be completed at a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education university.
Active Duty Service Members Exception
For active duty service members, the academic residency requirement will not exceed 25 percent of the undergraduate degree program. If the undergraduate degree is available 100 percent online, the academic residency requirements will not exceed 30 percent of the undergraduate degree program.
With the exception of specific course areas such as majors, the academic residency requirements for active duty service members will not include “final year” or “final semester” requirements. In addition, each program is expected to confirm with their respective accrediting agencies the allowable flexibility in order to meet the needs of active duty service members.
Simultaneous Dual Degrees
Students wishing to earn dual degrees (both a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts) must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours while completing all requirements for multiple majors and the general education competencies.
Students meeting all of the requirements of two majors with less than 150 credit hours can obtain a multiple major designation. In the case of a double major, if the two majors involve multiple degree designations (e.g., B.A. in English and B.S. in Psychology), the student will have the option to select only one degree designation that appears on the transcript and diploma.
Second Degrees
A student who is already the recipient of a baccalaureate degree (either from East Stroudsburg University or from a different regionally accredited university) who wishes to pursue an additional undergraduate field will be required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at East Stroudsburg University including the requirements for the major. The program of study for the additional degree is to be approved by the appropriate department chair and appropriate academic dean.