Minimum requirements for all undergraduate degrees offered by the University are listed below. In addition, students must meet the specific degree requirements as established by the college or department in which the degree is offered. A minimum of 120-124 semester hours is required for all baccalaureate degrees with the exception of music education and engineering. The curricula published in the catalog of entry specifies the requirements for the degrees offered at the University. To complete degree requirements an undergraduate student must:

1. Complete a minimum of 120.0-128.0 semester hours of work.
2. Satisfactorily complete the curricular requirements in the major field of study.
3. Earn a cumulative academic average of not less than 2.00 in all courses.
4. Earn a cumulative average of not less than 2.00 in all courses attempted in major field.
5. Complete, in residence, no fewer than 30.0 semester hours of upper-level course work required in major field unless permission is granted otherwise.
6. Complete, in residence, the final semester’s course work, unless permission is granted otherwise.
7. Take all examinations required by the college responsible for the student’s major.
8. Student must fine an “Application for Degree” electronically via the Online Graduation Clearance Process. Students seeking graduation for a past conferral date must complete a paper application found online at www.jsums.edu/registrar. Graduation application deadlines are found on the published Academic Calendar.
9. Every undergraduate student who enrolls as a first-time freshman student is required to complete 120 hours of community service for graduation. Students who transfer with at least 1 academic credit from an accredited university/college are required to complete 60 hours of community service. To ensure that all requirements are met in a timely manner, it is suggested that students complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of community service each academic year. Students can begin to work toward completion of service hours at the beginning of their first year of enrollment.
10. Degrees are awarded at the end of the term in which requirements are completed.

Note: Degrees may be awarded and posted to the students P.A.W.S. account once they complete all academic requirements, however diplomas and transcripts will be issued once all financial obligations are met.

Graduation Ceremony

Commencement exercises are held at the end of the spring semester and at the end of the fall semester.

Degrees are also awarded at the end of the summer semester but there is no commencement exercise held. Diplomas are mailed in August to summer degree candidates. Degree candidates are invited back to the following fall exercise if they desire to be a part of commencement exercises.