Degree and Graduation Information

Academic success coaches provide counsel to students regarding choice of curriculum and of each semester’s program of courses, but responsibility that the required subjects are included at the proper time rests with the student. Final responsibility for the fulfillment of all requirements for graduation also rests with the student, who is expected to seek advice when needed. Any deviations from the published requirements require the approval of the Registrar.

Application for Degree. Students working toward a degree must file an application for degree with the Registrar’s Office at the beginning of their final year of study. This presupposes the completion of a minimum of 87 semester hours of credit. Applications require the approval of the ADP Council and the Community of Educators before students are formally admitted to degree candidacy.

Graduation Attendance. Graduating seniors are expected to participate in the Commencement exercises. Exemption requests should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

Messiah University hosts a commencement ceremony in May for students earning a degree in December, May or August of the academic year in which commencement is held. ADP 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. Only degree seeking students are eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies.

Requirements for All Degrees

  1. 120 hours of credit, except as noted in the requirements for selected majors.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) for all academic work presented for the degree.
  3. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) for all work listed as specific requirements for the major.
  4. The last 30 credits preceding the conferring of the degree earned at Messiah University with a minimum of 12 credits in the major.
  5. For transfer students, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) for hours required at Messiah University for graduation.
  6. Completion of a major with requirements as specified by the respective academic department.
  7. Completion of all General Education requirements.