Graduation Requirements and Commencement

Degree Candidacy

Academic advisors provide counsel to students regarding curriculum and graduation requirements; however responsibility for completing appropriate requirements for graduation rests with the student. Students working toward a graduate degree must file an online Application for Degree with the registrar’s office at the beginning of their last full year in the Program. Applications require the approval of the Graduate Council and the Community of Educators before students are formally admitted to degree candidacy. This is the only means by which a diploma is awarded and the degree is recorded on the student’s transcript. Students working toward a certificate must follow this same application and approval process for the certificate to be awarded.

Requirements for all Masters’ Degrees:

Successful completion of credit hours as defined by each program and faculty, with a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate level, (Pennsylvania Department of Education, 22 Pa. Code § 31.21(b)(5)).
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 for all coursework listed for the degree.
Completion of requirements as specified under the department of instruction in which that program falls.

Requirements for all Doctorate Degrees:

Successful completion of credit hours as defined by each program and faculty, and reflect the recommendations of professional associations or National learned societies, (Pennsylvania Department of Education, 22 Pa. Code § 31.21(b)(6)).
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 for all work listed as requirements for the degree.
Completion of requirements as specified under the department of instruction in which that program falls.

Attendance at Commencement

Messiah University hosts a commencement ceremony in May for graduate students earning a degree in December, May or August of the academic year in which commencement is held. Graduate students indicate on their Application for Degree whether they will be attending the ceremony. Degree-seeking students who are within nine credits of completing academic requirements for their degree are permitted to participate in the May commencement ceremony, so long as the coursework can be completed by the last day of the summer semester following commencement. These students are required to be registered for the outstanding requirements in order to be eligible to participate in the ceremony. Students who do not complete the outstanding requirements by the end of summer semester may incur an additional fee. Students earning a certificate are not eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Awarding/Release of Diplomas/Certificates

Diplomas and certificates are awarded to graduate students in May, August, and December upon successful completion of all requirements in the corresponding semester. In order for diplomas and certificates to be released, the following guidelines must be met:

All course work, including approved transfer credit, must be completed and recorded on the student’s Messiah University transcript. The diploma and transcript will reflect a graduation date concurrent with the time in which the work is completed, and in accordance with the certification cycle (i.e. May, August or December graduation).
A deadline of 30 calendar days from the anticipated conferral date will be extended to students with outstanding coursework (i.e. incomplete grade, pending transfer work). If the incomplete or transfer course work is not completed within 30 calendar days from the anticipated date of graduation, the student will be awarded on the next scheduled conferral date.
For students with extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness, emergency) who complete their degree requirements by the middle of the semester (i.e. fall, spring, summer), the Registrar's Office in collaboration with the program of instruction may authorize a mid-semester conferral date. This is to be documented during the degree certification review process and on the student's record.
Students must satisfy all outstanding financial balances with Messiah University.
Diplomas and certificates will be mailed to students upon completion of all requirements.

Credential Re-Evaluation for Former Graduate Students

Former students of Messiah University who applied for a credential and who did not complete all credential requirements may request to re-open their Application for Degree/Certificate for purposes of evaluation. Students who are more than twelve (12) months from their original anticipated date of completion are subject to a $75 fee which is assessed at the time the application is re-opened. After the evaluation, students have six (6) months to complete the outstanding requirements for the credential and after that time may be subject to an additional fee if another evaluation is required.

Students are required to complete the curriculum and graduation requirements in effect at the time the credential evaluation application is re-opened, which may result in different courses, credit amounts, or other requirements from their initial registration.