Graduation
A student who expects to receive a degree or certificate must submit an Application for Graduation Form and graduation fee of $175. If earning both a certificate and a degree in the same academic year, only one graduation fee of $175 needs to be paid. In order to graduate and receive a diploma for completion of a degree or certificate program, students must first have applied to and been admitted into that same program(s) prior to applying to graduate.
Students who are planning to graduate should apply for graduation using the online graduation application form available through SIS Self-Service. The link to the application is in the Registration menu under Program of Study Information. A copy of the graduation form is also available outside of SIS self-service at: https://education.jhu.edu/student-resources/office-of-the-registrar/forms-and-petitions/ .
All students, regardless of whether or not they plan to attend the ceremonies, need to complete this application for graduation approval. Students must complete separate applications for each degree and/or certificate they expect to receive. Students who have submitted the Application for Graduation will receive a confirmation email from SIS. Their names are then placed on the tentative graduation list for the semester in which they anticipate completing their degree/certificate requirements.
Students who are planning to graduate should complete all coursework on time and should not request or receive the grade of “I” (incomplete) during their final semester. Note: School of Education records are sealed thirty (30) days after the conferral of a degree. After this date, no changes will be made to a student’s academic record. Therefore, it is imperative that students verify all information on their academic record and request any corrections be made before their records are sealed.
The Johns Hopkins University confers degrees at the end of the summer, fall, and spring semesters. The commencement ceremonies are held in May. The May commencement brochure will include the names of those students who applied to graduate by the designated deadlines for the academic year. (See the application deadlines at the end of this section.)
All graduates will receive their diplomas by mail approximately 6-8 weeks after their degree conferral date. To receive their diplomas, students must pay all student accounts in full and resolve all outstanding charges of misconduct and violations of academic integrity.
The deadlines (which are also listed in the Academic Year Calendar) for submitting the graduation application form and fees are as follows:
| Semester | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Summer | May 28 (conferral date August 23, 2024) |
| Fall | August 26 (conferral date December 31, 2024) |
| Spring | January 21 (conferral date May 22, 2025) |
Note: Johns Hopkins diplomas indicate the degree qualification and major without identifying the student’s concentration.
Graduation Eligibility
Coursework
Once admitted to a degree or certificate program in the School of Education, students must complete all coursework at Johns Hopkins University, except with prior written approval from a faculty adviser. Exceptions are rarely given (see Transfer of Graduate Credits).
Students who are planning to graduate should complete all coursework on time and should not request or receive the grade of “I” (incomplete) during their final semester.
GPA
Master’s and certificate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) to retain eligibility for financial aid and to receive approval for graduation. Doctoral students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) to receive approval for graduation.
Time Period
Unless indicated otherwise, students enrolled in master’s or certificate programs have a maximum of five years to complete their degree. With the exception of transfer credits, all credits applied towards a degree or certificate must have been earned within five years prior to the point a student becomes eligible to graduate. Any request for an exemption to this policy—for example, extending the time period allowed to complete a degree/certificate—must be submitted in writing by the student to and approved by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs (or designee). Prior to submitting a formal written request to the Vice Dean (or designee) for an exemption, students are encouraged to discuss matters first with their faculty adviser.
Please note that School of Education records are sealed thirty (30) days after the conferral of a degree. After this date, no changes will be made to a student’s academic record. Therefore, it is imperative that students verify all information on their academic record and request any corrections be made before this date.