Graduation requirements
Bachelor's degree graduation requirements
Bachelor’s degrees are awarded to students who have earned a minimum of 180 quarter hours (equivalent to 120 semester credit hours) of appropriate credit in an approved program of study, with an overall cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher, as well as a 3.0 or higher in their major or concentration. Students pursuing a minor must earn a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher in their minor program. To graduate with a double major, students must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in each major and a minimum overall grade-point average of 2.0. Students must complete all academic requirements for undergraduate majors and minors before beginning a SCAD graduate degree.
Bachelor’s degree students must complete the application for graduation at least two quarters before they complete their degree requirements. The graduation application is required whether or not the student plans to participate in a commencement ceremony. A commencement ceremony is held at the end of spring quarter. Students who plan to participate in the commencement ceremony must complete all degree requirements no later than the summer quarter following the ceremony. Students should note that course offerings may be limited in the summer. Students who would like to participate in the commencement ceremony must apply by the deadline and adhere to ceremony participation requirements posted in MySCAD (MySCAD > Resources > Department Directory > Registrar > Graduation and Commencement).
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree students may be awarded academic honors based on their cumulative grade-point average during their last quarter before commencement. Since commencement is scheduled before final grades are submitted, the cumulative grade-point averages of students who complete their graduation requirements spring quarter are based on their averages the previous quarter. Students who have a cumulative grade-point average below a specific honor level prior to commencement, but earn the required average after grades are calculated, have that honor indicated on their diploma.
Honors
Cum Laude — 3.5 to 3.69 GPA
Magna Cum Laude — 3.7 to 3.89 GPA
Summa Cum Laude — 3.9 to 4.0 GPA
Students enrolled in B.F.A. programs in art history and architectural history are required to complete a thesis as part of their graduation requirements. Students register for the thesis course at the end of their course of study and are expected to complete the thesis by the end of the final enrollment term. Students who do not finish their theses by the end of the term may request a grade of incomplete subject to the temporary grade of incomplete policy.
Master's degree graduation requirements
To graduate, students seeking master’s degrees are required to be continuously enrolled (at least two quarters per academic year, including thesis completion, up to the five-year limit), fulfill all requirements of the program of study, and maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average overall as well as a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average in the major area of study. To graduate with a double major or dual degree, graduate students must fulfill all requirements of each major. Specific completion requirements may vary according to the degree program and may require a thesis, final project, or portfolio appropriate to the course of study. The subject and nature of these projects vary among departments. See specific program requirements for each major posted in MySCAD (MySCAD > Resources > Departments > Graduate Advising > Thesis Information > Departmental Thesis Guidelines).
The M.A. degree is awarded to students who have completed at least 45 graduate quarter hours (equivalent to 30 semester credit hours) in an M.A. program of study. The M.F.A. and M.B.I. degrees are awarded to students who have earned at least 90 graduate quarter hours (equivalent to 60 semester credit hours) in an M.F.A. or M.B.I. program of study. M.A., M.F.A., and M.B.I. students who were assigned intensive coursework upon admission must complete that coursework as part of their degree requirements.
The professional M.Arch. degree is awarded to students who have completed at least 90 graduate quarter hours in the professional M.Arch. program of study and a preprofessional or preparatory degree. The SCAD professional degree is composed of 180 undergraduate quarter hours and 90 graduate quarter hours for a total of 270 quarter hours (equivalent to 180 semester credit hours). Students may fulfill the undergraduate requirement with either the SCAD B.F.A. degree in architecture or a preprofessional degree in architecture or a related discipline from another institution accepted for admittance to the SCAD professional M.Arch. degree program.
Master’s degree students must submit the application for graduation at least two quarters before completing degree requirements. The application may be completed online in MySCAD (MySCAD > Resources > Student Forms > Graduation Application). The graduation application is required whether or not the student plans to participate in a commencement ceremony. A commencement ceremony will be held at the end of spring quarter. Students who would like to participate in the commencement ceremony must apply by the deadline and adhere to ceremony participation requirements posted in MySCAD (MySCAD > Resources > Departments > Registrar > Graduation and Commencement). To participate in the commencement ceremony, students must complete all degree requirements no later than the summer quarter following the ceremony. Students should note that course offerings may be limited in summer.