Ready to graduate? Review all the steps in the Undergraduate Checklist or the Graduate School Checklist outlined below. Please note the prerequisites differ for undergraduate, graduate, masters, thesis, and doctoral candidates.

Undergraduate Checklist

Step 1
Prerequisites

Before you apply to graduate please consider the following prerequisites:

  • You will have earned a minimum of 98 total semester hours.
  • You have a signed Program of Study / Check Sheet or you have reviewed your online Degree Evaluation (CAPP or DegreeWorks) with an advisor.
  • You have at least a 2.0 GPA.
  • You have reviewed your unofficial academic transcript to verify that the degree(s), major(s), concentration(s), and minor(s) are listed within the Current Program section. (If something is incorrect on your transcript please meet with your advisor in order to update the information.)
  • You have confirmed your official uah.edu email account is active or your messages are forwarded to a working email address. (All official UAH correspondences and reminders will be sent to your UAH email address.)

Step 2
Apply to Graduate

Apply to graduate by submitting your application 1 to 3 semesters prior to your expected date of graduation.

Step 3
Degree Audit

You will receive an email with your official degree audit results approximately 2-4 weeks after you have submitted an application. Delivery time of official degree audit results may vary if prerequisites are not followed. Review the degree audit results with your advisor.

Step 4
Countdown to Cap and Gown

The Countdown to Cap and Gown is a two day event for degree candidates to purchase their cap and gown, class ring, and verify degree information.

(During the Fall and Spring semesters only.)

Step 5
Reserve Your Seat

You will receive an email with instructions on completing your Reserve Your Seat and Grad Quote questionnaires. You will verify your name and degree information. Notify the Office of the Registrar if you will not be attending the Commencement ceremony. Questionnaire deadlines are listed below:

Summer Graduates and Fall Candidates

Questionnaires are emailed in early October with instructions on how to complete the process. If you plan to attend the Commencement ceremony, complete your questionnaire by the end of October. If you are not attending please let us know.

Spring Candidates

Questionnaires are emailed in late February with instructions on how to complete the process. If you plan to attend the Commencement ceremony, complete your questionnaire by the end of March. If you are not attending please let us know.

Step 6
Commencement

The Commencement Guide, a detailed list of what will occur before, during, and after the Commencement ceremony, will be emailed and posted to Commencement Website. Please review these instructions. Two or three days prior to the ceremony take your gown out of its plastic packaging and hang it up so that it will not be wrinkled for the ceremony. Arrive no later than one hour prior to the ceremony. Student check-in is in the Von Braun Center East Hall.

Step 7
Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed approximately 6 - 8 weeks after graduation.

Graduate Checklist

Step 1
Prerequisites

Important: Review the Graduate School Deadlines for thesis, dissertation, and exam dates and deadlines.

Before you apply to graduate please consider the following prerequisites:

Masters Candidates
  • You will have earned a minimum of 24 total semester hours (not including thesis hours).
  • You have a signed Program of Study / Check Sheet or you have reviewed your online Degree Evaluation (CAPP or DegreeWorks) with an advisor.
  • You have at least a 3.0 GPA.
  • You have reviewed your unofficial academic transcript to verify that the degree and major are listed within the Current Program section. (If something is incorrect on your transcript please meet with your advisor in order to update the information.)
  • You have confirmed your official uah.edu email account is active or your messages are forwarded to a working email address. (All official UAH correspondences and reminders will be sent to your UAH email address.)
Thesis Candidates
  • You will have completed a minimum of 6 thesis hours.
  • Your thesis defense is scheduled on or before your expected semester of graduation. (Note: You must be registered for thesis hours the semester of your thesis defense.)
  • You have confirmed your official uah.edu email account is active or your messages are forwarded to a working email address. (All official UAH correspondences and reminders will be sent to your UAH email address.)
Doctoral Candidates
  • You have completed a minimum of 27 (DNP) /48 (PhD) graduate-level hours.
  • You have completed a minimum of 3 scholarly project hours (DNP) / 18 dissertation hours (PhD). (Note: You must be registered for scholarly project (DNP) or dissertation (PhD) hours the semester of your dissertation defense.)
  • You have a signed Program of Study.
  • You have at least a 3.0 GPA.
  • You have passed the PhD / DNP Qualifying exam.
  • Your dissertation defense is scheduled on or before your expected semester of graduation.
  • You have reviewed your unofficial academic transcript to verify that the degree and major are listed within the Current Program section. (If something is incorrect on your transcript please meet with your advisor in order to update the information.)
  • You have confirmed your official uah.edu email account is active or your messages are forwarded to a working email address. (All official UAH correspondences and reminders will be sent to your UAH email address.)

Step 2
Apply to Graduate

Apply to graduate by submitting your application 1 to 3 semesters prior to your expected date of graduation.

Step 3
Degree Audit

You will receive an email with your official degree audit results approximately 2-4 weeks after you have submitted an application. Delivery time of official degree audit results may vary if prerequisites are not followed. Review the degree audit results with your advisor.

Step 4
Countdown to Cap and Gown

The Countdown to Cap and Gown is a two day event for degree candidates to purchase their cap and gown, class ring, and verify degree information.

(During the Fall and Spring semesters only.)

Step 5
Reserve Your Seat

You will receive an email with instructions on completing your Reserve Your Seat and Grad Quote questionnaires. You will verify your name and degree information. Notify the Office of the Registrar if you will not be attending the Commencement ceremony. Questionnaire deadlines are listed below:

Summer Graduates and Fall Candidates

Questionnaires are emailed in early October with instructions on how to complete the process. If you plan to attend the Commencement ceremony, complete your questionnaire by the end of October. If you are not attending please let us know.

Spring Candidates

Questionnaires are emailed in late February with instructions on how to complete the process. If you plan to attend the Commencement ceremony, complete your questionnaire by the end of March. If you are not attending please let us know.

Step 6
Commencement

The Commencement Guide, a detailed list of what will occur before, during, and after the Commencement ceremony, will be emailed and posted to Commencement Website. Please review these instructions. Two or three days prior to the ceremony take your gown out of its plastic packaging and hang it up so that it will not be wrinkled for the ceremony. Arrive no later than one hour prior to the ceremony. Student check-in is in the Von Braun Center East Hall.

Step 7
Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed approximately 6 - 8 weeks after graduation.