Graduation Information
May 2012 Commencement Information
Did you graduate or walk in the May 2012 ceremony? Check out our May 2012 Commencement site.
How to Apply
All students must apply for graduation one year in advance. Forms are available outside of Student Services, room 123.
Boston University has three graduation dates: September, January and May. There is only one Commencement ceremony held each year in May. Graduates are invited to participate in the ceremony held during the calendar year in which they graduate. For example, if you graduate in January or September 2012, you can walk in the May 2012 ceremony.
If you are aware that you will be unable to complete your requirements by your anticipated graduation date, please contact Student Services as soon as possible.
Latin Honors
Breakdown of Latin Honors for May 2012, September 2012, and January 2013.
Among graduating seniors in each school and college, five percent will be awarded degrees summa cum laude, 10 percent degrees magna cum laude, and fifteen percent cum laude. “Break points,” which are the grade point averages (GPA) corresponding to each of these categories, will be determined for each graduating class in each school and college at the end of the seventh (penultimate) semester by applying these percentile ranges to the list of eligible graduates arranged in order of GPA. Students falling in the designated percentile ranges on the basis of their GPA after seven semesters will be certified for degrees with the corresponding Latin honors. Students who, by virtue of strong academic performances during their final semester, advance their GPA’s beyond a breakpoint will be awarded degrees with the correspondingly higher Latin honor. Students whose academic performance during the final semester causes their GPA’s to fall below a break point will retain the Latin honors as originally determined after seven semesters. In no case will students be awarded Latin honors for grade point averages below 3.0. This is a University-wide policy.
Latin Honors are for undergraduate students only.
Graduate students qualify for “distinction” with a 3.7 or higher cumulative GPA.
Graduation Requirements
- Minimum of 32 courses/128 credits (not including physical education) Note: 124–128 credits if transferring four (4) or less 3 credit courses
- Overall GPA of at least 2.0, COM GPA of at least 2.3
- Completion of freshmen/sophomore requirements
- Completion of CAS concentration, minor or dual degree
- No more than 11 COM courses (JO), excluding CO 101, 201
- No more than a total of 16 credits of ‘D’ grades
Please check with your department for specific department requirements.
Master of Science and Master of Fine Arts degree candidates:
- Applied Communication Research: 48 credits
- Communication Studies: 48 credits
- Advertising: 52 credits
- Public Relations: 48 credits
- Dual degree with Law: 32 COM credits
- Journalism: 48 credits
- Photojournalism: 48 credits
- Broadcast Journalism: 48 credits
- Business & Economics Journalism: 48 credits
- Science Journalism: 48 credits
- Television: 48 credits
- Television Management: 48 credits
- Dual degree with GSM: 48 COM credits
- Film: 64 credits
A 3.0 (B) grade point average is required to qualify for the Master of Science or Master of Fine Arts degree. If a student’s grade point index is less than 3.0 in ANY semester, or if more than 8 credits for grades below B- are received during the length of the program, the student’s record is reviewed by the department of enrollment to determine whether the student should be permitted to continue as a candidate for the degree or should be placed on academic probation.
A student who receives more than two C grades will be subject to a status review by the College’s academic committee. A grade of D will not receive graduate credit (information taken from the COM bulletin).
Graduate students are responsible for their graduation requirements. Please check with your department for other specific requirements.
