Graduation
You are eligible to receive a UIC undergraduate degree on the recommendation of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to the UIC Senate when you have met all of the following conditions:
- complete the Basic Graduation Course Requirements
- complete all other UIC and LAS graduation requirements
- earn a minimum of 120 hours that apply toward the degree
- complete all major and collateral requirements in your major field
- have at least a 2.00(C) average in your UIC course work and, if you have transfer course work, a C average in the combined average of your UIC and transfer work
- meet the GPA requirements in your major field
- meet the residency requirements
- submit a Declaration of Your Intent to Graduate form by the end of the first week of the term in which you intend to graduate
Declaring the Intent to Graduate
You must declare your intent to graduate during the registration period for your last term at UIC.
THE DEADLINE FOR:
- Fall Semester graduation is the Friday of the third week of the Fall Semester.
- Spring Semester graduation is the Friday of the third week of the Spring Semester.
- Summer Session graduation is the Friday of the second week of the Summer Session.
To declare your intent to graduate you must complete the Pending Degree List Form.
Graduation Review
In your last term, LAS initiates three reviews to evaluate your status in meeting all college and major degree requirements.
-
An LAS Academic Advisor reviews your academic record relative to the following factors:
- successful completion of all college graduation requirements, including the basic course requirements and all other requirements
- successful completion of the courses in which you are currently enrolled
- successful completion of any courses in which you have an outstanding grade of Incomplete and for which the completion period has not lapsed
- approval by your major department that you have satisfied your major course, collateral, and GPA requirements
You will receive a letter from the LAS Academic Advisor who is responsible for this review confirming one of the following:- that you are eligible to graduate pending the successful completion of your term enrollment and any other specific outstanding conditions.
- that your request to graduate has been denied because you are deficient in one or more graduation requirements and you are not currently enrolled in a course(s) to remedy the deficiency.
It is expected that a Declaration of Intent to Graduate would not have been filed without a DARS report review in the previous semester. - An LAS Academic Advisor will forward certification form (s) to your major and minor departments for approval. Your major department will either approve your graduation pending completion of your term registration and any outstanding major or collateral courses with grades of Incomplete, or it will deny your request to graduate. You will receive a written notice of the decision.
- On completion of the term in which you plan to graduate, the College advisors will evaluate final grades, final GPA, and all other requirements. This process generally takes about 3 weeks after which, the College will forward the final list of certified degree recipients signed by the Dean and Associate Dean to the Registrar. The Registrar sees that the degree is posted to the transcript and orders diplomas that are mailed to graduates in several weeks. Appearance of a name in the UIC Commencement Program is not an assurance that the degree has been awarded since commencement is held before all evaluations have been completed.
Graduating with College Honors
Students who have demonstrated outstanding academic excellence throughout their entire undergraduate program may be eligible for graduation with College Honors.
College Honors is awarded at the time of graduation to those students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 (A=4.0). In no term, however, will LAS award College Honors to more than 15 percent of the total number of graduates. If the number of potential College Honors recipients exceeds the 15 percent maximum, the minimum qualifying grade point average will be raised.
To qualify for graduation with COLLEGE HONORS, a student must meet one of the following conditions.
- If all course work has been entirely in residence at UIC, the UIC cumulative average must be at least 3.50.
- If all course work has not been in residence at UIC, the UIC cumulative average, based on at least 30 graded hours, and the combined UIC plus transfer cumulative average must also be at least 3.50.
Graduation with College Honors is recorded on the student's diploma and transcript.
Graduating with Departmental Distinction
Departmental Distinction is awarded at the time of graduation to those students who have shown exceptional competence in their major field of study. Individual departments determine the criteria to qualify for distinction, and thus departmental distinction varies from unit to unit. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for the qualifying criteria in your major field. Graduation with Departmental Distinction is recorded on the student's diploma and transcript.
Phi Beta Kappa
Seniors with a 3.7 cumulative average or higher may be eligible for Phi Beta Kappa. Membership is based on academic excellence, breadth and depth of study in the liberal arts and sciences. New members may be elected either prior to or after graduation.