CLAS Undergraduate Graduation Certification
Graduation is not an automatic process upon the completion of requirements. Students planning to graduate with a major from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must adhere to the following:
Meet with an Academic Advisor prior to the final semester to review remaining degree requirements and establish a plan for completion.
Complete an Application for CLAS Undergraduate Graduation in accordance with the following deadlines:
May Graduation: October 1
August Graduation: October 1
December Graduation: March 1
To graduate following a given semester, all of your courses (including transfer) and grades must be posted to your transcript by the "Transcripts available with grades" date as published on the IU South Bend Academic Calendar. Apply online using the link below. You will need to attach a current, signed degree progress report from your major, minor and/or certificate departments before submitting.
**BEFORE YOU BEGIN**
- Have your documents and your plan ready before you begin.
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
CLAS Application for Undergraduate Graduation
If you are not currently in *review status, you must complete the CLAS Application for Undergraduate Graduation to be considered for graduation.
CLAS Undergraduate Application Update
If you are currently in *review status, you must complete the CLAS Undergraduate Application Update to make changes to graduation information you previously submitted.
Graduation is not the same as commencement and each has its own requirements and procedures. Graduation refers to the completion of your degree and the receipt of a diploma; commencement is the ceremony the university conducts to celebrate your graduation. Indiana University South Bend conducts commencement once per year. Commencement is held in May for graduates from the previous December and candidates for graduation in May or the following August. Commencement is coordinated by the Alumni Relations Office.
*To check your review status, go to SOAR (Student Online Advising Records) in your Student Center. Pull down the arrow next to your major on the left hand side. If your "Degree Checkout Status" says "Program in Review", you are in review for graduation. The semester listed under "Exp Grad Term" indicates the semester you are expected to graduate. If "Degree Checkout Status" is blank, you are not in review for graduation.
Degrees Awarded with Distinction
We recognize outstanding performance in course work by awarding degrees with three levels of distinction:
Distinction - 3.65
High Distinction - 3.80
Highest Distinction - 3.90
In order for a transfer student to graduate with distinction, you must successfully complete 60 Indiana University credit hours.
If you graduate with distinction, you will be given special honors cords (fourragéres) to wear at commencement.
Distinction: Crimson
High Distinction: Cream
Highest Distinction: Cream and Crimson