Undergraduate Graduation Policies

The University of West Georgia awards degrees and stand-alone certificates three times a year corresponding with the end of each semester and only to the students who have applied and who are meeting all graduation requirements at the time final grades are posted.

For Application Deadlines and Steps to Apply, please visit the Apply for Graduation section of our Graduation Webpage. Please note all students intending to graduate must apply for graduation and pay the required fee regardless of whether they intend to participate in the commencement ceremony.

 

Graduation Policies

1. Candidates may choose to meet the degree requirements of the current catalog or any catalog within six years prior to graduation, provided that the candidate was enrolled in the degree program during the year of the catalog chosen.
2. A student’s graduation will be delayed one semester if:
   1. all incomplete (I) grades are not removed and a grade recorded in the Registrar’s Office by the grade deadline of the term in which the student is graduating;
   2. transient, study abroad, credit by exam or any other type of credit is not recorded in the Registrar’s Office by the grade deadline of the term in which the student is scheduled to graduate;
   3. the student is not meeting graduation requirements after grades are posted for the term in which the student is scheduled to graduate.
3. Students are encouraged to attend graduation. If attendance is not possible, the student should notify the Registrar’s Office. A student may participate in only one graduation ceremony per degree earned.

Undergraduate Honors Policy

The University of West Georgia awards baccalaureate degrees with honors to those undergraduates who have earned a minimum of a 3.50 grade point average at UWG (institutional GPA). Those candidates who have transferred from other institutions will qualify for honors if they meet UWG’s minimum residency requirements and attain the minimum GPA based on the higher of the following calculations: institutional GPA or all UWG and transfer courses. Course repeats are calculated into the institutional & overall GPAs as stated in the Repeat Policy. Baccalaureate degrees are awarded with honors based on the following grade point average range for all courses attempted:

3.50 - 3.79 GPA - honors (cum laude)
3.80 - 3.89 GPA - high honors (magna cum laude)
3.90 - 4.00 GPA - highest honors (summa cum laude)

Because grades are not official until after the commencement ceremony, the initial honors designation is based on the student’s honors GPA at the end of the semester prior to the graduating semester. Students who have not met the GPA requirements to be designated as an honors recipient at the time of commencement will not be allowed to walk as an honors recipient or to purchase honors cords from UWG Outfitters. Official honors designation will be determined after the commencement ceremony when term grades are official and the honors GPA is recalculated. GPAs are truncated to the second decimal place and will not be rounded (example, a 3.49 will not be rounded to a 3.50). Students who graduate with honors will have their honors status (cum laude, etc.) notated on their official academic transcript and their diploma.

This policy is effective beginning in the fall 2023 semester.

History & Constitution Proficiency Requirement

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires that all students must satisfactorily pass a course in US and GA History and a course in US and GA Constitution. If you took HIST 2111 or 2112 (US History I or II) at an institution outside the state of Georgia or POLS 1101 (American Government) at an institution outside the state of Georgia or at a Technical College System of Georgia institution (before Fall 2011), you have met the US requirement, but not the Georgia requirement. You will receive credit for the courses, but you still must meet the GA requirement by taking a departmental exam. PASSING THIS EXAM IS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION.

If you took POLS 1101 at a Technical College System of Georgia institution Fall Semester 2011 or later, you have met both the US and Georgia constitution requirements.

If you received credit for HIST 2111 or 2112 from an out-of-state institution, you will need to take the Georgia History exam. If you received credit for POLS 1101 from an out-of-state institution or a Technical College System of Georgia institution (before Fall 2011), you will need to take the Georgia Constitution exam. The exams are free for students and a study guide for the exams may be purchased at UWG Outfitters. You need to register for each exam through Academic Testing Services.

• Georgia History & Georgia Constitution Proficiency Exams

Degree-Specific Policies

Policies specific to the degree you intend to earn are found in the Undergraduate Academic Catalogs. If you intend to earn two degrees, you must satisfy the requirements for both degrees.

Additional Policies

Limitation on Specific Course Hours which can be used to Meet Graduation Requirements

• A maximum of 6 credit hours total of military science, debate practicum (COMM 1115) and applied music/ensemble courses (for non-music majors and minors) can be applied toward a degree.
• No PWLA course credit may be applied toward the number of academic hours required for a degree.
• Source: 2017-2018 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Requirements for a Double Major within the Same Degree awarded during the Same Semester

• Students may complete two majors under the same degree (example, English major and Theatre major under the BA degree) by completing all major requirements and all Core Area requirements specific to each major, including Core Area F requirements for both majors.
• The second major will satisfy the requirement for a minor if either major requires a minor.
• The Richards College of Business has specific requirements for students wishing to have two majors under the BBA degree. See the College of Business for further information.
• Source: 2017-2018 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Requirements for Two Different Baccalaureate Degrees Awarded during the Same Semester

• Students who wish to earn two different baccalaureate degrees at the same commencement ceremony (example, a BA degree and a BS degree) must:
  • Complete all major and degree requirements for both degrees.

Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree Awarded in a Different Semester than the First Degree

• Students who wish to pursue a second baccalaureate degree after the first degree has been awarded must:
  • Complete a minimum of 30 additional hours in residence (20 of these hours must be in courses numbered 3000 or above).
  • Maintain a 2.0 grade point average or above in the work completed for the second degree.
  • Fulfill all requirements for the major and degree. Candidates for second degrees will be governed by the catalog requirements in effect at the time work on the second degree is begun.