Osu Graduate Students: Can You Graduate With Distinction?

do oregon state university graduate students graduate with distinction

Oregon State University holds a commencement ceremony each year in June to celebrate the accomplishments of its graduating students. While the ceremony is optional, students who wish to participate must register in advance. Undergraduate students at OSU no longer need to apply for graduation, as the Degree Completion team identifies students who have completed or are in the process of completing their degree requirements and advances them to graduation candidacy. Graduate students, however, must apply to graduate. OSU awards degrees with distinction to undergraduate students who have completed at least 90 credits at OSU or 60 upper-division credits, and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. There are three levels of distinction: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude, each with a different honour cord colour.

Characteristics Values
Graduate students at OSU must Apply to graduate
Undergraduate students at OSU No longer need to apply for graduation
OSU awards degrees with distinction to undergraduate students who Have completed at least 90 credits at OSU or 60 upper-division credits at OSU, and who have an OSU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
Distinction is noted On the student's diploma and transcript
There are three levels of distinction Cum Laude (orange cord), Magna Cum Laude (gold cord), and Summa Cum Laude (white cord)
Students who meet the criteria for distinction Can purchase commencement honour cords through the OSU Beaver Store
OSU commencement ceremony Held annually in June
OSU provides students with their diploma At the commencement ceremony
OSU commencement ceremony Is a celebratory event recognising the accomplishments of students who have or are expected to complete their requirements within that academic year
OSU degrees awarded Are recorded with the National Student Clearinghouse

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Undergraduate students graduate with distinction

At Oregon State University, undergraduate students are no longer required to apply for graduation. Instead, they must meet regularly with their academic advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

Undergraduate students who are high achievers are recognised through the posting of academic distinction to their transcripts and diplomas. Grade-point averages are computed based on all work attempted at OSU. At the end of each term, after final grades are posted, the academic distinction is evaluated and posted to transcripts and diplomas.

Students who complete an honours degree will have this recorded on their academic record, and it will be included on their diploma, for example, 'Honours Bachelor of Science'. To receive an honours degree, students must meet the requirements of the Honours College.

To graduate with distinction, students must complete at least 90 credits at OSU or sixty upper-division (300- and 400-level) credits at OSU, and have an OSU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Oregon State University also recognises significant engagement and accomplishment in undergraduate research and the arts by awarding the honour distinction of 'Undergraduate Research/Arts Fellow' to students of all majors. To qualify for this distinction, students must demonstrate involvement in all major phases of their project, including conception, implementation, and presentation. This generally consists of sustained work over multiple quarters or the summer, resulting in an original contribution to their discipline. The project presentation must be to an audience beyond the immediate research group or creative context, for example, at a public performance, symposium, or through publication in a journal.

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Graduate students must apply to graduate

At Oregon State University, graduate students must apply to graduate. This is because the university does not automatically advance graduate students to graduation when they meet their requirements. The process of applying to graduate is called Institutional Awarding. During this process, the Degree Completion team identifies students who have completed or are in the process of completing their degree requirements and advances them to graduation candidacy. Students can monitor their degree progress using their MyDegrees degree checklist by logging into Beaver Hub.

Students seeking an honours degree must meet the requirements of the Honours College in order to receive their degree. Students who complete an honours degree will have the honours degree recorded on their academic record. The student’s diploma will also include the honours degree designation (e.g. Honours Bachelor of Science).

To graduate with distinction, undergraduate students must complete at least 90 credits at OSU or 60 upper-division credits at OSU, and have an OSU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. There are three levels of distinction: Cum Laude (orange cord), Magna Cum Laude (gold cord), and Summa Cum Laude (white cord). Students who meet the criteria can purchase commencement honour cords through the OSU Beaver Store.

If a student suspects or is informed by their academic advisor or the Office of the Registrar that an "I/Alternate Grade" will negatively impact their ability to graduate, they should go to the Office of the Registrar to withdraw their application to graduate. This request must be made before all grades are processed for the term in which the student wishes to graduate.

Oregon State University holds its commencement ceremony annually in June. This is a celebratory event recognising the accomplishments of students who have or are expected to complete their requirements within that academic year. The ceremony is optional for students to attend, but those who wish to participate must register in advance.

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OSU commencement ceremony traditions

Oregon State University holds a single commencement ceremony each June to celebrate the accomplishments of its graduates. The ceremony is reserved for graduates of the spring semester only, and graduates are expected to remain for the entire duration of the ceremony.

Traditions

One of OSU's long-standing traditions is to provide each student with their own diploma at the commencement ceremony. Students who are completing their requirements in spring will still need to have their degrees officially awarded once final grades are posted. However, they will receive their diplomas at the ceremony based on their preliminary grades.

Another tradition is the wearing of honor cords, which are available to students who graduate with a GPA that meets OSU's GPA and credit eligibility. Students who complete an honours degree will also have the honours designation noted on their diplomas.

OSU also has a Commencement Week, a week-long celebration leading up to the Autumn and Spring Commencement ceremonies. Events include Planetarium Shows, Grad Cap Craft Night, and a Candlelight Ceremony.

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OSU's degree requirements and awarding

Oregon State University (OSU) holds a commencement ceremony each June to celebrate its graduates. Students are placed in the graduation pool for the term they are scheduled to complete all their courses. Students who are close to completing their degrees are identified by the Degree Completion team, who work with academic advisors to ensure they address any outstanding issues that may prevent them from advancing to graduation candidacy.

Students should meet regularly with their academic advisor to ensure their progress towards graduation and to verify that they are on track to meet their requirements. Any unmet requirements indicated on their degree audit must be resolved before a degree is awarded. Students can check and monitor their degree progress using their MyDegrees degree checklist by logging into Beaver Hub.

OSU awards degrees with distinction to undergraduate students who have completed at least 90 credits at OSU or 60 upper-division credits at OSU, and who have an OSU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. The distinction is noted on the student's diploma and transcript. There are three levels of distinction: Cum Laude (orange cord), Magna Cum Laude (gold cord), and Summa Cum Laude (white cord). Students who meet the criteria can purchase commencement honour cords through the OSU Beaver Store.

Students seeking an honours degree must meet the requirements of the Honours College in order to receive their degree. Students who complete an honours degree will have the honours degree recorded on their academic record, and the student's diploma will also include the honours degree designation (e.g. Honours Bachelor of Science).

Degrees awarded by OSU are recorded with the National Student Clearinghouse. Students, employers, and other organizations may request verification of a degree directly from the NSC by visiting the website and submitting a request. An official transcript may be ordered through the transcript page, and students may also elect to pick up their transcript at the Office of the Registrar.

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OSU's honours degrees and requirements

At Oregon State University, students can graduate with an honours degree, which is recorded on their academic record. The diploma will also include the honours degree designation (e.g. Honours Bachelor of Science). To graduate with an honours degree, students must meet the requirements of the Honours College. This includes completing at least 90 credits at OSU or 60 upper-division (300- and 400-level) credits at OSU, as well as achieving an OSU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Honours students at OSU can benefit from a range of opportunities, including immersive courses, internships, and research experiences. The University Honours Program offers over 350 sections of Honours classes, with small class sizes of fewer than 25 students each. Students can pursue original research and write an Honours thesis under the guidance of a faculty member.

The College of Engineering offers several ways for Honours students to distinguish themselves, including graduation with honours in engineering, undergraduate research, and graduation with distinction. The College of Public Affairs provides high-ability students with challenging academic curricular opportunities, such as honours and upper-division courses, advanced seminars, and research experiences.

The College of Medicine offers an undergraduate Biomedical Sciences major, where students can gain experience in medical research and prepare for graduate work in medicine or related fields. The nursing major Honours Program offers seminars, mentored relationships with nursing faculty, and the completion of a senior honours thesis.

The College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE) Honours Program assists motivated students in engaging in a rigorous curriculum, while the Fisher College of Business offers a multidisciplinary undergraduate honours program where engineering and business students can work, study, and network as a cohort.

Frequently asked questions

No, only undergraduate students at Oregon State University can graduate with distinction. Graduate students must apply to graduate.

Undergraduate students at Oregon State University can graduate with distinction by completing at least 90 credits at OSU or 60 upper-division credits at OSU, and achieving an OSU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

There are three levels of distinction at Oregon State University: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude.

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