A senior planning to receive a degree at May Commencement must file a degree petition with the Office of Academic Advising & Registrar. This petition must be approved by the chair of the major department or by both chairs, if the student has a double major.
A student may finish a program early, so long as all college policies are observed in respect to credit by examination and transfer credit, and all major, general education (i.e., Sophia Program), and degree requirements are satisfied. When a student intends to finish degree requirements early, a special petition to finish early must be completed. Additionally, if the student desires to participate in the May graduation ceremony prior to their degree completion (see policy on degree candidates below), the student must submit a Degree Petition and Degree Candidate Request Form by December 1 the semester prior to the planned participation in the graduation ceremony.
If a student will have completed all of her degree requirements no later than the end of the calendar year of her class year, permission may be requested from the Office of Academic Advising & Registrar to walk in commencement exercise as a “degree candidate.” “Degree candidates” do not receive a diploma and are not graduates of Saint Mary’s College until the end of the semester following the completion of all degree requirements.
Under certain circumstances a student may be given permission to complete requirements for a Saint Mary’s degree by earning transfer credit at a college or university approved by Saint Mary’s College. To receive permission, the student must complete a petition, which is reviewed by the department chair and the Office of Academic Advising & Registrar. The degree is not awarded until the end of the semester following the receipt of an official transcript showing the completion of all degree requirements.
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