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 your Academic Advisor(s) prior to the final semester to review remaining degree requirements and establish a plan for completion.
To view your Academic Advisor(s), as well as your current degree plans (and much, much more!) go to SOAR (Student Online Advising Records) in One.IU. If your record includes plans you are no longer pursuing, go to Add/Drop a Major, Minor, or Certificate to make changes.
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**
- Contact your advisor(s) and request a signed electronic degree progress report(s).
You will need to attach one of these to your application for each of your degree programs (major, minor, certificate). - In consultation with your advisor(s) (major, minor, certificate), determine the classes you have remaining to complete your degree.
You will need to record remaining courses on your application
Please note: 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.
Degree Name
Your degree name will appear on diplomas, certificates, commencement programs, and on university websites that list graduates. By default your degree name will be the same as your primary name and at your preference, you may update this name through your Student Center in One.IU.edu.
Changes made to degree names less than 30 days prior to your graduation date may not be reflected on your diploma. Additionally, changes made after February 28 may not be reflected in the May Commencement Program.
For more information, click here.
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