Students must satisfactorily complete at least 30 graduate credit hours for a MS degree, and 72 graduate credit hours for the PhD degree. Program milestones and a project (MS) or dissertation (PhD) are required. 

To participate in the spring Commencement Ceremony, students must:

• Have an expected degree date recorded in HUB between the previous summer and upcoming summer term*,
• Submit the Commencement Participation Form by March 1,
• Submit the Commencement & Exit Form by May 1, and
• Meet the applicable program-specific and academic progress criteria below.

*Summer (8/31) conferrals: Students whose graduation is delayed in the academic year preceding commencement due to failed rotations, failed courses, or personal choice are not eligible to participate in the upcoming commencement. Only students whose graduation is delayed due to non-academic, unforeseen circumstances (e.g., pregnancy, injury, or hospitalization) may be eligible to participate.

Students graduating in the upcoming summer:

• If delayed due to failing a course or research in the academic year preceding commencement: Not eligible to participate
• If delayed due to research timing: Eligible to participate
• If delayed due to non-academic, unforeseen circumstances: May be eligible to participate

BS/MS, PharmD/MS, and MS Students must have:

• Completed >75% of all laboratory, experimental, or simulation studies, and
• Submitted a draft abstract of the project report to their committee.

PhD and PharmD/PhD Students must have:

• Completed >95% of all laboratory, experimental, or simulation studies, and
• A complete table of contents of planned thesis chapters, and
• At least 75% of thesis chapters in complete draft form to the committee.
• Submitted a complete table of contents of planned thesis chapters, and
• Submitted at least 75% of thesis chapters in complete draft form to the committee.

• Students may participate in only one commencement ceremony for a given degree. Students who participate before all degree requirements are completed will not be eligible to participate again after their degree is awarded.
• Students finishing after the upcoming summer (after 8/31): will participate in the following year’s ceremony.
• Students delayed due to failing coursework, rotations, or other academic requirements in their final academic year are not eligible to participate, regardless of expected graduation term.