Degree Application

• A minimum of 20 distributed general education credits for  degree-seeking students in the  School of Engineering and the  School of  Computing and Data Science  and  28 credits for degree seeking students in the  School of Architecture and Design, the School of Management  and the  School of Sciences and Humanities , the requirements of the declared major, and two semesters of required co-op.
• Satisfactory completion of all requirements for a bachelors degree must be under a catalog in effect within two years of the date of graduation. The catalog used, however, may be no earlier that the catalog in effect at the time of matriculation or in the case of a change of major, no earlier than the catalog in effect when the major was formally declared.
• A minimum of 50% of the total semester credit hours of any bachelors degree program must be completed at Wentworth Institute of Technology. 
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and any other academic requirements of the students major as outlined by the academic unit.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is required for an associate degree.
• Students will not receive their diplomas or transcripts until all financial obligations to the University have been met.
• Conferral of a degree occurs when the registrar finalizes the student’s academic record and confirms that all requirements have been satisfied, which includes "IC" grades. Students who complete remaining requirements outside of the University; the degree date will be determined  based upon the date the official documents are received by the registrar, not the date the course was completed. The degree date will be in accordance with the timeline for conferral of degree in April, August or December. 
• Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not constitute conferral of the degree. Similarly, inclusion of a student’s name in such publications as the Commencement program does not confirm eligibility for the degree.

Latin Honors 

Latin honors accompanying undergraduate degrees are awarded in three grades based on the final cumulative grade point average. Students must meet the University Residency requirement to be eligible for Latin honors. 

• Summa cum laude, with highest honors, is awarded to students with a 3.90 cumulative GPA or higher.
• Magna cum laude, with high honors, is awarded to students with a 3.75 to 3.89 cumulative GPA.
• Cum laude, with honors, is awarded to students with a 3.50 to 3.74 cumulative GPA.\

The Commencement program is printed prior to grades being submitted for the student’s final semester, therefore the Registrar’s Office must print honors designation based upon the students last completed semester at the time of publication. The student diploma and finalized transcript will reflect the official honors designation based upon the student’s final grade point average. 

Participation in Commencement

Commencement ceremonies occur in April and August. Students in good academic standing may participate in Commencement and are subject to the following conditions: 

• Students will have satisfied all graduation requirements by Commencement, which includes in-progress courses and
• at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in the semester before graduation.

Walk-on Policy

Students who have not satisfied all requirements may participate in the Commencement ceremony by submitting a Petition to Walk at Commencement form to the Associate Director of Operations and Degree Certification at registrar@wit.edu if they have met the following criteria and are preregistered for the remaining requirements in the upcoming semester:

• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 
  and must meet one of the following criteria:
• No more than eight remaining credits,
• One semester of required cooperative education,
• Four credits maximum and one required co-op semester,
• Exceptions that fall beyond those listed require approval of the provost. If approval is granted, the information will be sent to the Associate Director of Operations and Degree Certification  and entered the student’s permanent record.

Students approved under the walk-on policy will not appear in the Commencement program and must resubmit a new graduation application when all outstanding degree requirements have been met. Failure to do so may delay the awarding of a degree.

Students who have successfully completed all requirements for the degree before a specific graduation date are eligible to receive the degree as of that date. A diploma will not be awarded before all work is completed or before the date of graduation. Upon degree conferral the academic record is sealed; grade changes and the addition of a minor or certificate are not permitted after official award date of an undergraduate degree. Students who do not successfully complete their degree requirements because of their final grades and who are not registered for the next semester will be officially withdrawn from the University. The effective date of the withdrawal will be reported as the final day of classes for the last semester in attendance.