Graduation Information

First, it is important to clarify terminology.

Graduation means officially earning your bachelor's degree or post-bac certificate by completing all of your requirements.

Commencement is the cap-and-gown ceremony celebrating graduation. Participating in commencement is a choice and we hope you are able to attend!

NOTE: Participating in commencement alone does not mean that you have officially graduated or that your degree has been awarded. Graduation will occur when PSU verifies that all requirements are met. At that point, your degree will be posted on your PSU transcript and your diploma will be issued.

Graduation Instructions

Students seeking undergraduate credentials must apply for the bachelor's degree and any certificate/s two terms in advance of your expected graduation term. One application is submitted for all credentials being earned at the same time.

On the graduation application, you will need to indicate your expected term of graduation. This is the term that you expect to be your last term of classes.

Here's an example: If your last term taking classes will be spring term, your term of graduation should be listed as spring and you should submit the application during fall term (two terms before).

See the following website for the graduation application instructions and more information regarding diploma availability: https://www.pdx.edu/registration/applying-for-a-degree

Apply through myPSU, click Academics, click Graduation Application.
Apply for majors / minors first. Click on Continue. Then click on Add Another Degree / Certificate to add any certificates.

NOTE FOR ALL ADVANCED CRIME ANALYSIS STUDENTS & CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR STUDENTS ON 2023-2024 CATALOG OR OLDER: These certificates require a separate application that students need to submit when the certificate's requirements are complete. These can be found through the individual Certificates pages.

Tips for the Graduation Process

The application will ask for your catalog year. See your degree map for this information or contact your CCJO Academic Advisor. Please do not guess and don't assume that the default listed is correct for you.

If you will be transferring credit to PSU during (at the end of) your last term, you must alert your CCJO Academic Advisor and the Office of Degree Requirements (askdars@pdx.edu). This prevents your graduation application from being prematurely cancelled while we wait for the last official transcript to arrive.

If you need to make a change to your graduation application after submitting it, you can do so using the Degree Application Change Form.

Keep an especially close eye on your DARS report as you approach graduation. This is important to make sure you are still on track for completing all your degree requirements. You should also check in with your CCJO Academic Advisor to discuss your remaining requirements and plan for staying on track toward your expected term of graduation.

Commencement

Commencement is an amazing experience and we encourage you to attend to celebrate your accomplishment!

PSU holds commencement ceremonies every June (at the end of spring term) for bachelor’s degree and post-bac certificate recipients, for those who have graduated or plan to during the academic year. In other words, you do not have to be graduating in spring term to participate in the spring commencement.

You need to apply to participate in commencement and PSU will verify your eligibility.

Because PSU is such a large institution, it holds multiple ceremonies. The commencement ceremony students participate in depends on their "college" within PSU (like most large universities, PSU is subdivided into schools and colleges.)

CCJ is a member of the PSU College of Urban & Public Affairs. Our graduates participate in this commencement ceremony. Be sure to confirm this when planning to attend commencement.
The traditional tassel color for CCJ students is called peacock blue.

PSU has a commencement website that provides information on preparing for and participating in commencement, including how to order your cap and gown, and much more: https://www.pdx.edu/commencement/

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