Degree Candidate FAQ
1. What is the minimum GPA required to graduate?
** Please note, your academic department may require a higher GPA for graduate degrees.**
- The minimum GPA required for graduating with an undergraduate degree is 2.0
- The minimum GPA required for graduating with a Master or Master of Science degree is 2.7
- The minimum GPA required for graduating with a PhD degree is 3.0.
2. Who is eligible for honors and how are they calculated?
Honors apply only to undergraduates who have completed at least 60 semester hours in residence at Georgia Tech. In order to receive degree honors, graduates must have the following GPA:
- 3.15 for HONOR
- 3.35 for HIGH HONOR
- 3.55 for HIGHEST HONOR
Grades earned for the graduating term will affect honors. GPA's are not rounded up (Example: A GPA of 3.149 is not rounded to 3.15).
The first notice of possible honors will appear approximately one week after "Drop Day" of your graduating term. Honors will be recalculated following the processing of final grades. This recalculation will take into consideration any grade changes submitted to the Registrar's Office during your graduating term. Your correct honors will be noted on your diploma and on your transcript.
Honors announced at the commencement ceremony will be your possible honors. Your final honors will be determined after final grades are audited.
3. What are the responsibilities of the Degree Certification Staff in the Registrar's office?
The Degree Certification Staff in the Office of the Registrar is responsible for evaluating degree candidates and certifying that all graduation requirements have been met prior to the awarding of degrees.
4. Where is the Degree Certification office located?
The Degree Certification office is located in room 103 of the Administration Building (Tech Tower).
1. What if I do not graduate the first time I petition?
You must reactivate your degree petition by submitting another Degree Petition Form and checking the "Reactivation" box on the form. Reactivated degree petitions must be submitted by the end of Phase II registration for the term during which you wish to graduate. You must obtain major school approval signatures on the petition before turning it into the Degree Certification Office.
2. When should I submit my Degree Petition?
Deadlines are posted on the Official School Calendar. Also, please check with your major academic office, as they may have much earlier deadlines.
Annual Degree Petition Deadlines (by 4:30 p.m. to Registrar’s Office):
- March 15 for summer
- June 15 for fall
- October 15 for spring
If the 15th falls on a weekend, degree petitions will be accepted on the Monday immediately following.
3. How do I petition to graduate?
Complete and submit a Degree Petition form to the Degree Certification Office in Room 103 of the Administration Building (Tech Tower).
Undergraduates MUST attach CAPP or a completed Degree Candidate Checklist with their Degree Petition. CAPP and Degree Candidate Checklists are available in your major school.
Masters degree candidates MUST attach a completed Program of Study with their Degree Petition. Petitions and Program of Study are available in your major school and in the Degree Certification Office.
Please read the instructions on the Degree Petition form and follow them carefully. If you have questions about the form, you should set up an appointment with your major school advisor.
4. Where can I obtain a blank degree petition and/or program of study?
5. How do I petition for a secondary degree (major)?
If you will be petitioning for two degrees during the same term, you must complete two degree petitions, one for each major.
Please note: You will receive two diplomas, one for each degree. All awarded degrees will print on your transcript.
6. How do I petition for a Minor with my degree?
In order to receive a minor, you must submit your approved Program of Study form for your chosen minor to the Degree Certification Office at the time you petition for your undergraduate degree. You should complete the program of study for your chosen minor at the school offering the minor. Approval signatures are required by the school offering the minor, as well as the major school.
Click here for Program of Study information
Please note: Minors are not part of your degree and are not listed on your diploma. Minors are noted on the transcript.
7. How do I petition for a Certificate?
Certificates are not processed through the Degree Certification Office. If you have questions about the certificate, please contact the school offering the certificate.
Please note: Certificates are not part of your degree and are not listed on your diploma. Certificates are not noted on the transcript.
1. Will I be notified of holds on my record that will prevent me from graduating or receiving my diploma?
Any holds on your degree record will be posted on the Web Student Access System. A diploma hold will prevent you from receiving your diploma until the hold is removed. A departmental hold will keep you from graduating. An email message containing instructions on how to remove any holds will be sent to all degree candidates two weeks prior to commencement.
Viewing holds:
- Go to https://oscar.gatech.edu
- Select "Secured Access Login"
- Select "Student Services & Financial Aid"
- Select "Registration"
- Select "Check Your Registration Status "
- Select Term
- Select "View Holds" from the bottom of the screen
2. When and how will I know that I have completed all the requirements for my degree and am cleared to graduate?
Degree Candidate grades will be processed on the Monday following final exam week and a final audit of your degree petition will be completed on Tuesday morning. Access to the Degree Certification Student Access System will be turned off while the audit is taking place and will be turned on again once the audit is complete. You may check the results of this audit at 4:00 pm on Tuesday on the Web Student Access System.
All deficiencies must be cleared before 12:00 Noon on the Thursday following the final audit in order for your degree to be awarded as scheduled.
- Go to https://oscar.gatech.edu
- Select "Student Services & Financial Aid"
- Select "Student Records"
- Select "View Degree Candidate Information"
3. How will I know the status of my degree petition?
The Degree Certification Office will audit your degree petition before the end of Phase II registration. Once your petition is audited, your Degree Candidate status and deficiencies will be located on the Web Student Access System.
- Go to https://oscar.gatech.edu
- Select "Student Services & Financial Aid"
- Select "Student Records"
- Select "View Degree Candidate Information"
Select the Secured Access Login option using your student ID number and PIN. Go to the Student and Financial Aid Menu. Next, go to the Student Records Menu and select view Degree Candidate Information.
It is important that you check your e-mail and the web site for Degree Candidate status frequently during your graduating term. (All degree certification e-mail messages will be sent to your GT e-mail address). It is your responsibility to contact the Degree Certification Office concerning any discrepancies in your records.
4. How do I verify that my name will be spelled correctly on my diploma and that I will be awarded the proper degree?
Once your name has been entered as a degree candidate, you may check it, along with your graduation status, on the Degree Certification Information page of the Web Student Access System. Please note that special punctuation will not appear on the Web. Approximately the 5th week of the term the Degree Certification Office will send an e-mail to all current degree candidates (with a GT e-mail account) and remind them to check their WEB status for the correct diploma name and degree. All errors or changes must be reported to the degree certification office by the end of the 6th week of the term for the name to appear accurately in the Commencement Program. Any changes made after diplomas are printed will incur a $100 diploma reprint charge.
- Go to https://oscar.gatech.edu
- Select "Student Services & Financial Aid"
- Select "Student Records"
- Select "View Degree Candidate Information"
1. Are degree candidates exempt from taking final exams?
Degree candidates are not exempt from taking final exams.
2. Is there anything I can do if I fail a course that is required for me to graduate?
If you have only a single course deficiency from the final term of enrollment for graduation except in laboratory or studio courses, courses in which a significant portion of the grade is based upon projects, or when the deficiency is in any way a result of academic dishonesty, you will be permitted one re-examination immediately following the awarding of degrees, thereafter, one examination per annum, until the deficiency is removed. It will be necessary for you to submit a reactivated degree petition for the future term during which you plan to graduate. See Rules and Regulations VII. Deficiencies B3 in your Georgia Tech General Catalog for more details about eligibility for a re-examination.
You may pick up your re-examination authorization form from the Degree Certification Office on the Wednesday morning following the commencement.
1. How do I order a duplicate diploma?
Should you ever need a replacement copy of your diploma complete the following request form. There is a $100 replacement fee, plus mailing.
2. When will my diploma arrive?
Diplomas are printed by an outside company. It takes time for them to be printed and returned to Georgia Tech. Diplomas are normally mailed 6-8 weeks after commencement.
3. How do I receive my diploma?
All diplomas will be mailed to the Diploma Mailing Address that you will enter via the web using the instructions below.
DIPLOMA MAILING INFORMATION
To enter your diploma mailing address:
- Go to https://oscar.gatech.edu
- Select "Secured Access Login"
- Select "Personal Information"
- Select "Update Address & Phone"
- Select "Diploma Mailing" from the pull-down list at the bottom of the page
4. Which degree candidates will be allowed to participate in the commencement exercise?
Degree candidates with no deficiencies as of noon the last day of regularly scheduled classes will be allowed to participate in the commencement exercise. These degree candidates should have a status that reads "OK" on the Degree Certification Information screen. The "OK" status indicates the degree candidate has met all requirements for the degree pending final term grades.
5. Where do I get information about caps, gowns, invitations, photographs and commencement day activities?
Toward the middle of your graduating term, you will receive a packet from the Special Events Office located in the Wardlaw Building. This packet will provide detailed information about the commencement ceremony. Visit the Special Events - GT Commencement website www.gatech.edu/commencement to obtain more information.
We highly encourage you to visit the bookstore to purchase graduation regalia approximately the fourth week of the term that you are graduating. Cap & gown information is also available at the GT Commencement website.
To purchase graduation announcements visit the Balfour website at www.balfour.com.
