Degrees & Graduation
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Graduating with a Degree at SOU
Degrees are awarded four times per year at the end of each term. An annual commencement ceremony is held in June and all degree candidates with approved applications for Fall through Summer terms of that academic year are eligible to participate.
You must apply for your degree to be awarded. You should apply in advance to allow sufficient time for application processing and for registration adjustments as necessary. Your graduation term is your last term of classes and/or when you will complete all degree requirements.
Starting Fall 2026, all degrees will be processed in Workday
Degree Application Schedule
Fall 2026: Now accepting applications in Workday for Fall 2026 through December 10, 2026
Winter 2027: application will open Monday 10/26/2026 – 12/10/26 for priority processing.
** Register for Winter FIRST and then submit your application! **
Spring 2027: application will open Monday 1/04/2027 – 2/15/2027 for priority processing.
** Must meet with advisors to get Workday curriculum & catalog year fixed if needed and must have an approved academic plan before applying for Spring**
Summer 2027: application will open when summer registration begins. Date TBD
** Must be registered in spring and summer classes before you apply.**
Upcoming Graduation Workshops: November 2026 dates TBD; students will be emailed more info in early November.
Notes: You must apply for your degree in order to graduate.
1) Meet with your major advisors to review remaining required courses.
2) It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their degree requirements will be met.
3) You can apply after the priority deadline however it could impact degree completion & evaluation processes.
4) Must apply before May 1st to be in the Commencement program and to receive Ceremony emails.
Review Graduation Workshop Resources
Current students should review the following materials before submitting their graduation application
February 2026 Graduation Workshop PowerPoint
Apply for Your Degree in Workday
Students should first meet with their advisors to review the following information and must apply for their degree per the application schedule above. The degree application is required to have your degree awarded later.
Caution: Workday may not have the correct catalog year (effective date) and your degree curriculum (major/minor/cert) may also be incorrect. Work with your Primary Advisor to get fixed!
Graduation Formula: Prepare with your advisors and get curriculum/catalog fixed + Submit degree application + Pass remaining classes = June commencement participation AND diploma issued once your degree is complete and awarded.
No application = no degree awarded and not included in the ceremony program
Use this step by step instruction guide to help you apply.
- In the supplemental questionnaire, you can enter comments on missing requirements and/or notate any curriculum changes you have.
- Students can still reference DegreeWorks as a resource to see degree progress through Summer 2026 and Workday will show Fall 2026 registration and beyond.
- Work with Advisors to get Workday overrides for requirements previously showing met in Degreeworks, but are now showing “Not satisfied” or are missing from your Workday academic progress.
- If it is unclear how you will resolve degree requirements, your application will be put on hold and you will be notified via email.
- You can enter additional comments on the application questionnaire as needed.
Questions? Email graduation@sou.edu
Catalog Year/ Curriculum Changes – Your degree evaluation will be based upon the catalog and curriculum you have listed in Workday at the time of application processing. If you would like to, or need to, update your catalog and/ or add a major, minor, or concentration, please consult with your advisor(s) to make these changes before you apply to graduate. Alert graduation@sou.edu if you make curriculum changes after you have applied to graduate.
Application Fee – A graduation application fee of $85 will be applied to your student account during the processing of your application. This fee is only charged once per bachelor’s degree and while transferable to another term of completion, is not refundable upon cancellation of an application.
Certificate Fee – For students graduating with a certificate from Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Éñ, a $10 certification fee will be applied to your student account in addition to the $85 graduation application fee.
Reapplying – If you have applied previously and were not approved, you will not be charged the application fee again unless it has been more than a full year, at which time you will be charged a reapplication fee of $25.
Degree Evaluation
Once your application has been received, an evaluation will generally be conducted within 3-5 weeks to review your progress toward the completion of baccalaureate, University Studies, and general degree requirements. Your application and evaluation will then be sent to your major and minor departments for approval. All communication regarding your application will be sent to your SOU email.
Degree Deficiency – If a deficiency is found at any point in the application process, you will be notified at your SOU email. You will be required to determine a plan to clear your degree requirement(s) prior to the approval of your application. Please respond promptly to avoid delay and possibly cancellation of your application.
Changes to Degree Application – Changes to your degree application, including anticipated term of completion and curriculum changes (catalog year, adding/dropping minor), must be reported to the Degree Coordinator via email graduation@sou.edu . Failure to inform the Degree Coordinator of changes may delay your graduation. All registration changes should be approved with your academic advisor in advance and they can enter substitutions in Workday if needed. Students do not need to report course changes to the Degree Coordinator unless they are repeating courses previously passed with D- or better grade.
Final Review
After grades post for the term, a final review will be conducted to ensure you have completed all degree requirements. Please allow 3-5 weeks for final review processing. All communication regarding your final review will be sent to your SOU email.
Degree Deficiency – Degree evaluation is based on the graduation plan submitted and the student’s final terms of courses. If you do not meet your degree requirements by your anticipated term of completion you will need to determine a plan to clear your degree requirement(s). Please email graduation@sou.edu if you do not successfully complete your degree requirements to avoid cancelation of your application.
Unresolved Grades – A degree cannot be awarded if there is an unresolved grade (‘I’, ‘E’ or ‘M’) on your record. Students must clear all grades prior to degree awarding. To avoid delay in degree awarding, all incomplete grades (‘I’ or ‘E’) must be completed within 60 days from grade posting in final term. Changes made after 60 days will move a student’s degree awarding date to the end of the term in which the change is entered.
Degree Awarding
Degree Awarding starts after final grades have been posted and can take 4-6 weeks to get through all of the degree applications (longer for Spring due to volume of degrees). After it is determined that you successfully completed all degree requirements, your degree will be awarded and you will see it posted to your records in Workday. You will receive an email to your SOU email account once your degree has been awarded. Your transcripts will not reflect the degree until it has been officially awarded by the Degree Coordinator.
Institutional Honors:
Undergraduate students (seeking their first undergraduate degree) graduating with a SOU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible to receive graduation honors. The honors are listed on students’ transcripts and diplomas. Graduation honors are based on SOU GPA only. Masters and Post-Baccalaureate students are not eligible for these honors, including Post-Baccalaureate students seeking an undergraduate degree.
Honors are as follows (in GPA):
Cum Laude – 3.50 to 3.74
Magna Cum Laude – 3.75 to 3.89
Summa Cum Laude – 3.90 to 4.00
Graduate Degree Students
Â鶹´«Ã½Å®Éñ students whom are graduating with a master’s degree should speak with their graduate coordinator about their specific program’s application process. Masters students who are ready to apply for graduation can follow the link below.
Diplomas
Diploma Name – Diploma names are based on the information provided on the degree application. Name changes must be submitted to graduation@sou.edu in order to update your degree application information. You may submit an Affidavit of Name Change prior to awarding. Any changes made after awarding will not prompt a new diploma; however, you may order one online for a fee.
Degree Information – Degree type and major(s) will be listed on diplomas. Minors and concentrations will not be included on the diploma. Double majors leading to the same degree type will be awarded as one degree/diploma. Dual degrees (any non-duplicative combination of BA/BS/etc) will be awarded as two degrees/diplomas.
Mailing – Diplomas will be ordered and mailed approximately two weeks after degree awarding. Diplomas will be sent to the diploma mailing address provided on the degree application. Any address changes should be reported to graduation@sou.edu . Student’s will be charged a $30.00 reissue fee if their diploma information is incorrect at the time of degree awarding. Our vendor will send an email to you when the diploma is en route.
Commencement is the celebratory graduation ceremony held once a year in June and a wonderful opportunity for you to share your accomplishments with friends and family. Students with an approved degree application on file for the current academic year, including the upcoming summer term, are eligible to participate in the ceremony.
*This page is intended for undergraduate students graduating with a bachelor’s degree. Students graduating with a master’s degree should speak with their graduate coordinator regarding the application process.
*Make sure to apply for the correct graduation term: Graduation Term = Your last term of classes and/or when you will complete all degree requirements & coursework.
*You must apply for your degree in order to graduate.
*It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their degree requirements will be met.
*Late applications could impact degree completion & evaluation processes.
*Students must apply before May 1st to be in the Commencement program and to receive ceremony emails
*Late applications will be accepted but may affect graduation term and degree awarding.