When do I apply for graduation?
Students are required to apply for graduation on CUNYfirst one semester prior to their expected final semester. See the College Academic Calendar PDF for exact application deadline date. Students should seek advisement from their major department prior to applying for graduation, in order to ensure that they have fulfilled the required courses for their major and are using the correct College Bulletin.
How many credits do I need in order to apply for graduation?
In order to apply for graduation, undergraduate students must have completed a minimum of 90 credits (Senior). Within 2 weeks of the end of every semester, all new seniors are made eligible to apply online for graduation.
Graduate level students will be able to apply once they have completed more than half of their program (students in the MSW accelerated cohort must apply within a few months of admission).
How do I apply for graduation?
Students can apply for graduation on CUNYfirst via their Student Center following the steps below:
Step 1: Sign your CUNYfirst account and select the "Student Center" tile.
Step 2: Scroll down to select the "Graduation and Transcript" tile.
Step 3: A) Click on the Application for Graduation link on the left hand side
Step 4: The Application for Graduation page will display any Expected Graduation Terms that are currently available. You will click the Next button in the upper righthand corner to navigate through these screens and review your information (Primary Name, Home Address, Email/Phone).
Note: The application does not allow you to edit any of your address or contact information on the page. If you notice that any information displayed is incorrect, you must correct it directly on your Student Center Profile after submitting the graduation application.
Step 5 A) Click on the arrow to the right of your Primary Name. A small window will pop up to show you your full Primary Name as it appears on your record. Unless otherwise directed, the diploma will be ordered using the graduate’s full Primary Name as it appears in CUNYfirst at the time of the order, including any middle initial/name and suffix (if listed).
Students who wish to change their last name must complete a Personal Data Change Request form and upload the completed form along with photo ID and supporting documentation displaying the legal name to the Office of the Registrar document upload so that the Office of the Registrar can change the Primary Name in CUNYfirst. Click on the Next button to get to Step 3 of the application if the Primary Name on file is acceptable. If it is not, follow the instructions below.
B) [OPTIONAL] Students who wish to use a different first and/or middle name instead of their Primary Name on file, should click the + button near the center of the page on Step 2 to add a Diploma Name. Potential graduates will have the ability to add/alter their Diploma Name in their CUNYfirst Student Center Profile section up until the conferral date. Students will not be able to modify their Diploma Name once the degree has been conferred onto the transcript.
The Diploma Name does not allow a student to change their last name. A Personal Data Change Request form (along with photo ID and supporting documentation displaying the legal name) is required to request that the Office of the Registrar change a student’s last name in CUNYfirst.
Circumstances under which a student may want to avoid the use of a Diploma Name are:
- Students in professional programs with licensure may wish to avoid use of a Diploma Name that differs from the Legal Name.
- Students who intend to live, work or study outside the United States may want to exercise caution in the use of a Diploma Name, as the diploma is often used as the official document in other countries. Diploma apostille (certified copy of the diploma) can only be provided when using the student’s Legal Name.
Step 6 Click the Next button in the upper righthand corner to navigate through the Address and Email/Phone screens to review your contact information. The Home Address, Preferred Email Address and Preferred Phone number will be provided to the diploma vendor.
Note: The application does not allow you to edit any of your address or contact information on this page. If you notice that any information displayed is incorrect, you must correct it directly on your Student Center Profile after submitting the graduation application.
If any of your contact information was incorrect, go to your Student Center Profile to update. The diploma is shipped to a student’s Home address on file.
Step 7: Click the Black “Submit” button in the upper righthand corner to submit the application. A small dialog box will appear to confirm the submission. Click the “Yes” button to officially submit your application for graduation.
Once you have submitted your application, the Application for Graduation page will now show that you have Applied for Graduation. (A student’s status will remain as Applied until the Degree has been Awarded, unless they do not qualify and the application is Denied.)
What happens after I apply for graduation?
After you successfully submit your application for graduation, the Office of the Registrar will review your York College transcript and DegreeWorks audit to identify your outstanding degree requirements. This Graduation Checklist will be emailed to your York email account prior to the start of this applied term. In the event that you applied on time and have not received this Graduation Audit prior to the start of your final term, please contact the Graduation Unit in the Office of the Registrar at registrar@york.cuny.edu. You should consult your major department if you need assistance with advisement.
What are the degree requirements for my major?
The degree requirements are listed in the York College Bulletin (Undergraduate and Graduate) which is available online. You may also access your degree requirements on Degree Works (the student advisement audit system through the CUNYfirst "Student Center"). Bulletins begin in the fall semester and end in the spring semester. Students who become matriculated in the summer term must follow the fall catalog of that year.
The
What is the Major Residency requirement?
At least half of the credits of most* major programs must be taken at York College. (*Exceptions include: Accounting-BBA and Accounting-BS which require 15 credits in Accounting courses to be taken at York, Finance which states 15 credits in Finance courses at York, and Nursing majors which states 25 credits in Nursing courses at York.)
What is the College Residency requirement?
Students are required to complete at least 40 credits at York College for residency. To graduate with honors, at least 56 credits must be taken at York College.
How many Liberal Arts credits are required for graduation?
To earn Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Business Administration degrees, students are required to complete 30 credits in Liberal Arts courses. To earn a Bachelor of Science degree, students are required to complete 60 credits in Liberal Arts courses. To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, students are required to complete 90 credits in Liberal Arts courses.
This is a New York State Education Department requirement that MUST be completed.
What GPA is required for graduation?
Most majors require a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 for major and overall GPA. Clinical Laboratory Science majors require a 2.5 GPA. Social Work majors require a 2.7 GPA. Occupational Therapy, Public Health, all Teacher Education majors, and all Graduate-level programs require a 3.0 GPA.
What grade point average (GPA) does an undergraduate need in order to graduate with honors?
To Graduate with Honors the following criteria apply:
Cum Laude: 3.500 - 3.699.
Magna Cum Laude: 3.700 - 3.849.
Summa Cum Laude: 3.850 - 4.000.
Students must meet
Computation of Graduation Honors will be based on all grades of A+ through F, NC, R, FIN, applicable WU grades and all failing grades will be calculated as F grades, including repeated courses with the Exclude Credit and GPA repeat code (CUNY F-grade policy).
How many majors and minors can I declare?
There is a limit of two majors and/or minors a student can declare. However, a course cannot be used to complete two different requirements (major/minor). For example, an Aviation Management major could not complete a Business Administration minor because each requires BUS 201, BUS 283, ECON 102, ECON 103. If a student chooses to major in disciplines offering different types of degree (for example History [BA] and Biology [BS]), the student will only earn one degree based on their primary major.
Additionally, minors and secondary majors are optional. Students are NOT required to declare a minor or secondary major to earn a bachelor’s degree at York College. Courses taken to complete them may not count as eligible towards a student’s full-time course load for NY State Financial Aid (TAP/PTAP/Excelsior).
Can I earn two degrees at the same time?
No. Students with more than one declared major will only earn one degree based on their primary major. Occupational Therapy is the only dual degree program offered by York College in which graduates will receive two degrees (Bachelor of Science and Master of Science).
Will the diploma show my major?
Bachelor's diplomas do not show the major, only the degree type. The transcript will display any declared major(s) and minor(s). Master's diplomas will show the major and the degree type.
The degree requirements have changed since I entered the York College. Will that affect my graduation?
Possibly. If a student stops attending the college for more than one consecutive semester, that student will be required to follow the current bulletin for Pathways General Education requirements upon readmission. If a student stops attending the college for more than two consecutive semesters that student will also be required to follow the current bulletin for major requirements upon readmission. Continuing students who have not missed any semesters can continue to follow the bulletin for the academic year in which they declared their major and were matriculated.
How many credits do I need to earn a degree at York?
Undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 120 credits for a Bachelor's degree. Waivers of courses do not release students from acquiring the total number of credits required to earn a degree. Students in the Accounting and Finance CPA licensure program are required to complete 150 credits.
Graduate students must complete all required courses. Aviation (MS) 30 credits; Clinical Trial Management 36 credits; Nursing Education 45 credits; Pharmaceutical Science and Business 36 credits; Physician Assistant 87 credits; Social Work (1-year Accelerated) 36 credits, Social Work (2-year program) 62 credits.
Is it possible for me to graduate prior to completing the courses required by my declared major or minor?
No, All degree requirements for All declared majors and minors must be completed to qualify for a degree conferral.
Can I graduate if I have a temporary grade (INC/PEN) grade on my record?
No, students cannot graduate with a temporary grade on their record (INC/PEN). The graduation term would be postponed to the following term if the final grade is not received prior to the conferral date.
If the department has not submitted a grade change by the deadline reflected on the Academic Calendar PDF then the grade will lapse into a failing grade (FIN), which will affect the cumulative GPA and may negatively impact eligibility for graduation. A student’s conferral date cannot be assigned retroactively. Such students will be conferred at the end of the next term.
Can I graduate without the posting of my ePermit course?
No. All grades must be received for any course taken on ePermit whether or not the course is a degree requirement.
Can I receive a grade change after graduation?
No. Once a student has been granted a degree, this academic record is closed. Grade changes for courses taken in semesters prior to receiving the degree cannot be processed.
Any applicants for graduation who are in contact with their professor/department regarding a grade change must notify the Graduation Unit in the Office of the Registrar immediately at registrar@york.cuny.edu.
Can I improve my GPA after graduation?
No. Once the degree has been conferred onto the student’s record, the student’s academic record is closed and the degree GPA remains permanently frozen. Any additional classes taken after the conferral date will be applied towards the student's next academic record with its own separate GPA.
I missed the deadline for submitting my application for graduation online. Will I still be able to apply for that graduation term?
Yes, any student who missed the deadline and have registered for ALL degree requirements must first apply online for the next available graduation term in their CUNYfirst Student Center then contact the Graduation Unit in the Office of the Registrar (from your York email account) at registrar@york.cuny.edu one month after the start of their final semester to request that their application for graduation be switched to the current term. We will accept late applications up until one month prior to the degree conferral date. After that time, a student must apply to graduate in the following graduation term.
I applied late for the Spring graduation term, can I still attend the commencement ceremony?
Yes. Student Affairs will be notified to add a student's name to the list. A student's name may not appear in the commencement booklet depending on how late the student applied. Attending the ceremony does not mean that the student has graduated. The commencement booklet refers to all students as "Candidates" which means that students might possibly earn their degree that year. The Office of the Registrar will certify a student's graduation status after all final grades have been posted.
My major department plans to substitute or waive a major/pre-major/minor requirement, when should the department submit the request?
Ideally, the department should submit a memo to the Office of the Registrar formerly requesting this change shortly after advisement and a discussion with the student. Requests should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than one month prior to the graduation date.
Why do I have a Registration Hold for Potential Graduate?
This hold is assigned to all applicants who are deemed okay as registered for graduation in the current term. It is a good hold to have as it indicates that you just need to complete your last set of enrolled courses to graduate. It is there to prevent future enrollment and will get removed within 5 months after a student has graduated.
Can I choose to defer my graduation to a later term?
Yes, contact the Graduation Unit in the Office of the Registrar (from your York email account) at registrar@york.cuny.edu. Provide your EMPL ID#, the semester and year in which you have currently applied, the semester and year in which you want to change it to, and a brief sentence(s) explaining the reason for the request. Alternatively, you can complete the Application to Defer Graduation form and submit it along with your photo ID to the York College Registrar Secure Document Portal. Once processed, the Registration hold and any lists which identify students as a potential graduate will be removed.
What is the difference between graduation (conferral) and commencement?
Students graduate at the point when
Commencement is a ceremony held once a year for all candidates for graduation within
What name will be displayed on my diploma?
Unless otherwise directed, the diploma will be ordered using the graduate’s full primary name as it appears in CUNYfirst at the time of the order, including any middle initial/name and suffix (if listed). To view your name in CUNYfirst, click on the Student Center tile. Then click on the Profile tile to view your Names on file within the Personal Details section. Click on your name and a window will open to show that full name.
Students who wish to use a different first and/or middle name instead of their primary name on file, must update their Diploma Name in their CUNYfirst Student Center Profile section. Click the + button in the Names section to add a “Diploma Name” on or before the conferral date. Graduating students will not be able to modify their Diploma Name once the degree has been conferred onto the transcript.
Students who wish to change their last name must complete a Personal Data Change Request form and upload the completed form along with photo ID and supporting documentation displaying the legal name to the Office of the Registrar document upload so that the Office of the Registrar can change the Primary Name in CUNYfirst.
Should I use a different first and/or middle name for my diploma?
Circumstances under which a student may want to avoid the use of a Diploma Name are:
- Students in professional programs with licensure may wish to avoid use of a Diploma Name that differs from the Legal Name.
- Students who intend to live, work or study outside the United States may want to exercise caution in the use of a Diploma Name, as the diploma is often used as the official document in other countries. Diploma apostille (certified copy of the diploma) can only be provided when using the student’s Legal Name.
How much does the initial diploma cost?
York College provides your first diploma upon graduation at no cost. If you should need another copy of your diploma at a later date, you will be required to purchase a duplicate diploma.
Can I pick up my diploma at the college?
Students who are moving or experiencing other extenuating circumstances can notify the Graduation Unit in the Office of the Registrar at registrar@york.cuny.edu to inquire about a pick up option.
When can I pick up my diploma if it was shipped to the college?
Please email the Office of the Registrar at registrar@york.cuny.edu to schedule a pick-up during the Office of the Registrar's business hours.
If extenuating circumstances prevent the student from picking up their diploma in the Office of the Registrar, the email should specify a mailing address for the diploma to be shipped to. The diploma usually ships within 1 week of the request.
Recent graduates must wait at least two months for delivery of their diploma. If the diploma has not been received two months after the graduation date, then
Will I receive my diploma if I have hold on my account?
Bursar, Financial Aid and Library holds no longer prevent the release of the diploma nor the transcript. (There are a few campus holds from Student Development and Public Safety that will prevent the release of the diploma and transcript.)
When can I request a transcript?
When placing the order, be sure to select "Hold for Degree" to prevent the transcript from being printed until after the degree is posted. Transcripts with the degree posted are typically available within 3 weeks after the graduation date.
How can I order a duplicate copy of my diploma if I misplaced the original?
There is a $30 fee per duplicate diploma requested. If ordering more than one diploma, please adjust the quantity accordingly. Information on accessing your digital diploma will be sent to you by email and mobile text (if cell phone number was provided on order) when the order is placed within 2 weeks. Printed diplomas will be mailed to the address provided within 6 weeks from order date.
Alumni who have created a Parchment account can order by logging into their Parchment Account.
Alumni who have not yet created a Parchment account can order by visiting Parchment and creating an account.
How can I order a duplicate diploma with my current legal name?
Students must complete the Personal Data Change Form and upload the necessary supporting documentation to the Office of the Registrar document upload. After you receive confirmation from the Office of the Registrar that the name was updated in CUNYfirst, then follow the instructions on the prior question to order a Duplicate Diploma.
When can I request a letter of completion?
Once all
