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College of Education College of Education

Graduation and commencement

Graduation: Fall - Winter - Spring/Summer

Students who complete degree requirements may graduate in Fall (December), Winter (May) or in Spring/Summer (August). Degrees will be conferred at the end of each term. While graduation is three times a year, there are only two Commencement Ceremoniesone in December and the other in May. Please review the information below regarding participation in the December and May Commencement Ceremonies.

Students may participate in Commencement Ceremony, during the semester they will fulfill these graduation requirements. The Commencement Ceremony often takes place before the end of the semester. Student may participate in the Commencement Ceremony  while they are still completing remaining criteria. Often students are still completing internship hours. The degree is actually awarded after the end of the semester when all criteria are met. Diplomas are mailed to the students' homes (not actually handed out at Commencement).

Applying for Graduation: Deadlines and Instructions

Students must apply online (through Academica) for graduation before the fourth week of classes of the term in which they are completing all requirements for their degree. Please see the instructions listed below. Graduation Deadlines and Information.

Notice for Spring/Summer Graduates

To participate in the Commencement Ceremony, Spring/Summer graduates must apply online for August graduation by March 1st (College of Education Policy). Doctoral Candidates (Ed.D and Ph.D) graduating in Spring/Summer will participate in the Fall Commencement Ceremony (Graduate School Policy).

Notice for Candidates for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degrees

Doctoral students should apply for graduation the term in which they are completing all requirements for their degree, including the Final Dissertation Defense. Deadline dates are established by the Graduate School each term for completion of all degree requirements. Please review the deadline dates in the section below for participation in the December and May Commencement Ceremonies and for important limitations on the participation of Ed.D. and Ph.D. candidates in the Commencement Ceremony.

Instructions

  1. Logon to Academica at wayne.edu.
  2. Log in using your WSU Access ID and Password.
  3. On the left side of the screen you will see "Resources".
  4. Click on the Student Resources.
  5. On the left side of the screen you will see "Student Records".
  6. Click on the heading of "Student Records," select the link entitled "Apply for Degree or Certificate".
  7. Complete the required information.

Questions or problems applying for graduation may be directed to the Registrars Office by emailing the graduation office at graduation@wayne.edu or calling 313-577-2100.

Common Graduation Application Issues to Avoid

When applying for graduation, the online application uses terms such as "primary" and "secondary." These terms do not correspond to "elementary" or "secondary" education. The University uses the term "primary" to refer to a student's first degree and "secondary" for a second degree. Some students may be graduating in more than one program. Most College of Education students are applying for one degree, the primary degree. For example, a student's Primary degree may be the Master of Arts in Teaching with a major in Secondary Education and their Secondary degree may be a Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching.

The online application process is for "degree/certificate." The use of the term "certificate" does not mean a teaching certificate. Students must apply online for graduation and file a supplementary Certification application (see instructions below).

Note: The degree application process is not completed and therefore NOT submitted until the payment option has been completed either by successful credit card payment online, or the sending of a bill.

Non-Completion of Degree Requirements

Students who do not complete their degree requirements during the term for which they applied to graduate must reapply before the fourth week of classes during the term when they will complete all requirements for their degree.

Diploma Preparation and Delivery

After each graduation, it can take up to one month for the Records Office to complete the process of verifying and mailing diplomas and certificates. Therefore, if you graduate in May, diplomas and certificates will be mailed in late June. If you graduate in August, diplomas and certificates will be mailed in late September. If you graduate in December, diplomas and certificates will be mailed in late January. Any questions regarding your diploma should be directed to the Registrars Office by emailing the graduation office at graduation@wayne.edu or calling 313-577-2100.

Participation in the Commencement Ceremony

Participating/Walking in Commencement does not constitute graduation. Please check with the appropriate College of Education Degree Auditor to confirm that you have met all requirements for the degree for which you applied.

Students meeting the participation criteria listed above will be invited to the Graduate Expo. At this event, students may purchase caps and gowns, pick up tickets for Commencement, order class rings and announcements, have commencement photos taken, order diploma holders, and join the Alumni Association.

For more information about the Commencement Ceremony, please visit the Commencement. Please direct questions about the ceremony, date/time, program, cap and gown orders, etc., to the Special Events Office, A/AB, 5700 Cass Avenue, Suite 4300, 313-577-0300 or commencement@wayne.edu.

Participation in December Commencement Ceremony

Graduate Certificate and Bridge Certificate students do not participate in the Commencement Ceremony, which is limited to degree granting programs and the Education Specialist Certificate program.

Students who have completed the following criteria may participate in the December Commencement Ceremony:

  1. Students that graduated in Spring/Summer including candidates for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees).
  2. Students that applied for Fall graduation.
  3. Candidates for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees may participate in the December Commencement Ceremony if the candidate has applied for Fall graduation and has met ALL requirements by the completion deadline. For more information about the Final Defense deadline dates and the doctoral commencement policy, please visit the Doctoral Resources.

Participation in May Commencement Ceremony

Graduate Certificate and Bridge Certificate students do not participate in the Commencement Ceremony, which is limited to degree granting programs and the Education Specialist Certificate program.

Students who have completed the following criteria may participate in the May Commencement Ceremony:

  1. Students that applied for Winter graduation.
  2. Students that applied for Spring/Summer graduation by March 1st (excluding doctoral degree applicants).
  3. Candidates for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees may participate in the May Commencement Ceremony if the candidate has applied for Winter graduation and has met ALL requirements by the completion deadline. For more information about the Final Defense deadline dates and the doctoral commencement policy, please visit the Doctoral Resources.

Degree Auditors

Please direct questions about College of Education academic requirements for graduation to one of the following Degree Auditors:

Undergraduate Students

Fawne Allossery
489 College of Education
313-577-1601

Graduate Students

Michael J. Foley
489 College of Education
313-577-1606

Applying for Teacher Certification

Students completing requirements for an Initial Provisional Teaching Certificate must apply during the term in which they complete all certification requirements. The deadline to apply for certification is the same as for graduation: By the fourth week of each term.

To apply, students must complete the Initial Provisional Teaching Certification application, which is available in Room 489, College of Education or from the Teacher Certification webpage. Please submit the completed application and all necessary documentation.