Graduation Requirements
The principal responsibility for fulfilling graduation requirements rests with the individual student. To qualify for graduation with a baccalaureate or associate degree in consultation with their academic advisor a student will:
- Fulfill the core program requirements.
- Complete the requirements of the major program according to the quantity and quality required of a specific degree and the respective department.
- Earn a minimum of 124 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree or 60 credit hours for an associate degree, including core and major requirements, with the necessary quality point average (2.00 minimum in the major and overall).
- For the BS/BA, a student must take at least 30 credits from FUS. With approval of the department chair, students may be allowed to take up to 6 of the final 30 credits at another institution, otherwise they will take the final 30 from FUS. For the AA, a student must take at least 15 credits from FUS. With the approval of the department chair, students may be allowed to take up to 3 of the final 15 at another institution, otherwise they will take the final 15 from FUS.
- Complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in upper-level courses with your academic major at FUS for a BA and a minimum of 6 for an AA.
- File an application for graduation with the Registrar two semesters before anticipated completion of the degree.
Application for Graduation
Prospective graduates must file an application for graduation no later than the end of the semester preceding the one in which they expect to graduate. It is highly recommended that this be done by the end of the junior year. In the month of April, all juniors will receive an application for graduation in the mail. This is to be completed and returned to the Enrollment Services/Registrar’s Office. Seniors completing their degree requirements in summer school, however, should request this application form at the Enrollment Services/Registrar’s Office. If the student fails to carry out the above procedure within the prescribed period, the granting of the degree may be postponed until the next graduation date.
Graduation with Honors
Franciscan University of Steubenville awards baccalaureate degrees with honors for distinguished achievement in all courses taken at the institution. To qualify for honors, students must attain at least a cumulative quality point average of 3.5 as determined by the Registrar. The qualifying cumulative quality point averages determine the following honors at the time of graduation: 3.50-3.699, cum laude; 3.7-3.899, magna cum laude; and 3.9-4.00, summa cum laude. Transfer students must earn a minimum of 62 Franciscan University semester hours in addition to maintaining a cumulative quality point average of 3.5 or higher.
Students who return to the University for a second degree, with their first degree from the University, must earn an additional minimum of 30 semester credit hours to be eligible to graduate with honors. Their last immediate two semesters of full-time course work for the first degree will be used in calculating their quality point averages.
Graduation and Commencement Dates
Franciscan University of Steubenville confers degrees three times a year (August, December, and May) and formally recognizes the completion of degrees during commencement exercises the second Saturday in May.
Application for graduation is a required process. Graduation applications will be sent to prospective candidates in advance of the due dates; candidates may also obtain an application online at www.franciscan.edu/registrar or from the Enrollment Services/Registrar counter, Starvaggi Hall. Students must return completed applications, signed by their advisors to the Registrar’s office two semesters prior to their planned graduation date, according to the following schedule:
| Expected graduation May |
Due date April previous year |
| Expected graduation August |
Due date July previous year |
| Expected graduation December |
Due date November previous year |
Collection of these applications provides the Registrar with accurate student information and allows for timely review of student academic records to determine eligibility to graduate. All graduation applicants and their advisors will receive a written evaluation (graduation audit) from the Registrar’s office.
Students who complete their degree requirements in August and December of a given year are eligible to participate in the following year’s May commencement exercises. May graduates' diplomas will be mailed to them by June 30. August graduates’ diplomas will be mailed by September 30. December graduates’ diplomas will be mailed by January 31.
Students planning to participate in May commencement exercises must attend graduation rehearsal (specific time will be announced in advance). All graduates are also invited and encouraged to attend Baccalaureate Mass and other events prior to commencement.
All students who intend to walk at commencement must wear full academic garb. Cap, gown and hood must be purchased through the University Bookstore to ensure that all students wear the correct University colors and hood design.