Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Requirements

Everything you need to know to walk at graduation.

Undergraduate

Completion of all study required in one of the six-degree programs offered. (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Bachelor of Music)
Completion of the Civitae Core Curriculum or General Education Curriculum, and Additional Degree Requirements
Completion of 120 semester hours of credit for graduation in major programs unless otherwise noted for a major degree program
A minimum average of C (grade point average of 2.0) on all work taken at Longwood and a minimum average of C (grade point average of 2.0) in those courses constituting the major subjects or field. These are minimum requirements; some programs may require higher levels of achievement. By definition, the major subject or field consists of all courses listed as "major requirements" in the major program curriculum plus all additional courses taken in the same discipline as the major, except those courses which may be specifically excluded by the major department. Students choosing to minor in a field of study must have a 2.0 GPA in courses in that field of study
General Education Curriculum students will earn a grade of "C-" or better in at least two writing-intensive and two speaking-intensive courses beyond courses required for General Education in Goals 1-11 and 13
A minimum of 25 percent of the degree credit must be earned at Longwood University
At least 30 credit hours at the upper level must be earned at Longwood University. (Exceptions: A. Biology majors with a concentration in Clinical Lab Sciences who take 300-400 level courses at affiliated institutions will be allowed to count that course work toward fulfilling the 30 hours upper-level graduation requirement; B. students who participate in international exchange programs may request an exception to the 30 hour upper-level graduation requirement. Exceptions must be approved in writing by the student’s college dean prior to the study abroad.)
Approval of the individual by the general faculty as a candidate for graduation
A formal Application for Degree. File an application for degree in the Office of the Registrar prior to the anticipated completion of 75 credit hours. Transfer credit is included in the calculation of credit hours completed. A registration hold will be placed on a student’s record prior to open registration during the term a student is anticipated to complete more than 75 credit hours if an Application for Degree has not been submitted

Graduate and Professional

Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
File an Application for Graduate Degree (pdf) no later than the completion of 24 credit hours for programs requiring 30 to 39 total hours; no later than the completion of 36 credit hours for programs requiring 45 to 60 total hours and prior to enrollment in the final semester of course work:
- Complete Section A
- Make an appointment with your academic advisor
- Complete Section B with your academic advisor making sure both you and your advisor sign the form
- Hand deliver your materials to the Registrar's office (Brock 112) or mail the completed form to The Office of the Registrar.
Complete the number of credit hours required for a specific degree program.
Complete the thesis, the comprehensive examination, the collaborative research, the professional portfolio, or the external experience.
Complete all program requirements within five years from the term of admission.
Enroll each regular semester for a minimum of one graduate credit hour. This registration must continue with no breaks from admittance to graduation. This policy does not include summer sessions. Students must be enrolled in the semester they are scheduled to graduate.

Professional Endorsement

Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
File an Application for Graduate Professional Endorsement (pdf) no later than the completion of 18 credit hours and prior to enrollment in the final semester of course work:
- Complete Section A
- Make an appointment with your academic advisor
- Complete Section B with your academic advisor making sure both you and your advisor sign the form
- Hand deliver your materials to the Registrar's office in Brock 112 or mail the completed form to Office of the Registrar
Complete the number of credit hours required for a specific professional endorsement program
Complete the professional portfolio or the external experience
Complete all professional endorsement program requirements within five years from the term of admission
Complete a minimum of one-third (1/3) of the professional endorsement credits at Longwood University
Enroll each regular semester for a minimum of one graduate credit hour. This registration must continue with no breaks from admittance to graduation. This policy does not include summer sessions. Students must be enrolled in the semester they are scheduled to graduate.

Change to Graduation Plan

If your plans change after you file the Application for Graduation please contact the office of the Registrar for the change to be applied to your Graduation Application.

Application to Walk in Commencement for Non-Graduates

Students who are completing all of their requirements in May are NOT required to complete this form.

Undergraduate students who have registered for courses which, if successfully completed, will allow them to graduate by December of a given calendar year, may participate in the May commencement ceremony of that calendar year.

Students must submit the appropriate Commencement Participation Application (pdf) to be considered for participation in the ceremony. The application must be complete with all required documentation attached at the time of submission. To have your name appear in the commencement program, the application must be received by the Office of the Registrar, Brock Hall, no later than 5 p.m. on April 10.

Graduate students who have registered for courses which, if successfully completed, will allow them to graduate by the end of the subsequent summer term, may participate in the May commencement ceremony of that calendar year. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the applicable graduate program directors.

Graduate students must submit the Graduate Commencement Participation Application (pdf) to be considered for participation in the ceremony. To have your name appear in the commencement program, the application must be received by the Office of the Registrar, Brock Hall, no later than 5 p.m. on April 10th.

Responsibility

It is solely the responsibility of the candidate for graduation to meet all of the listed requirements, including the completion of 120 semester hours unless otherwise noted for that major degree program.

Graduation Honors

Those undergraduate students who have earned 57 or more hours at Longwood and whose general averages for all Longwood credits offered for a degree are 3.35 or above are graduated with the following honors:

Cum Laude -- 3.35-3.54
Magna Cum Laude -- 3.55-3.74
Summa Cum Laude -- 3.75-4.00

Longwood also recognizes graduating undergraduate seniors who have successfully completed an honors program in a specialized academic area.

Commencement

You will receive your seating/name card upon your arrival. Do not lose this! It will be used to call your name as you walk across the stage.

Undergraduate Commencement FAQs

Graduate Commencement FAQs

After Graduation: Diplomas, MyLongwood Access, Longwood Email

Spring and Summer graduating students will receive their diplomas by mail within 4 weeks after their degree is awarded. Diplomas issued to December graduates may take longer than 4 weeks to arrive given holiday closings. Graduates will retain access to MyLongwood until 30 days after graduation. They will retain access to their live.longwood.edu email indefinitely.