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Please see the Requests for Early Commencement Participation page,

To qualify for Latin Honors, an undergraduate degree recipient must complete 62 credits and achieve a grade-point average within the GPA categories listed below. The Latin Honors policy was ratified by the faculty and grade point averages are not rounded up as a matter of policy. Prior semester GPA and completed credits will be used for the purpose of the Commencement program and honor cords, as this program must be prepared prior to the end of the student’s final semester.

If the student meets the GPA requirement for one of the three Latin Honor designations but does not have the 62 earned SVSU credits at the time of the request, Latin Honors will still be granted for the Commencement program/booklet and honors cords if the student can reasonably be expected to have earned 62 credits by the intended graduation based on the credit hours for which the student is already registered at the time of the request.

*Please note: the actual honors designation on the official transcript and diploma will solely reflect the cumulative GPA at the time of graduation (not Commencement) and only if the student has earned 62 SVSU credits pursuant to the University Catalog.

** Latin Honors is only conferred to undergraduate students.

Graduation requirements for baccalaureate degrees are based on the regulations and requirements printed in the catalog in effect at the time of a student’s initial registration at Saginaw Valley State University. A catalog published after initial registration may be chosen by the student when it is to his or her advantage, but the entire set of graduation requirements listed in any one catalog must be used. The time limitation on this provision is that no student may graduate under the requirement of a catalog published more than six calendar years prior to the date of graduation. Readmitted students are subject to all regulations and requirements of the catalog current at the time of re-enrollment. 

Summary of Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

1. Satisfy University Basic Skills requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics.
2. Satisfy University General Education requirements.
3. Satisfy departmental requirements for a major and a minor or an interdisciplinary major (no minor required) or two majors.
4. Complete at least 6 upper division (300-400 level) credits in the major from SVSU; complete at least 3 credits at the 200 level or higher in the minor from SVSU.
5. Complete 40 credits of course work at the upper division (300-400) level.
6. Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours (at least 30 credits must be taken at SVSU).
7. Earn a 2.00 cumulative GPA with a grade of “C” or better in all Basic Skills, major and minor courses.

Credit Hours Needed

Saginaw Valley State University operates on a trimester system of three 15-week semesters: fall, winter and summer (divided into a seven-week spring session and a seven-week summer session). Each degree requires the fulfillment of the academic residency requirement (see below) and the completion of a minimum of 120 credits of academic work and must include 40 credits of upper division work (300 and 400 level courses).

Students pursuing a second SVSU undergraduate degree must complete a minimum of 30 additional credits beyond the first degree and also fulfill all requirements listed for a different major than from the first degree.

Academic Residency Requirement for All Bachelor’s Degree Programs

All candidates for baccalaureate degrees are required to take at least 30 credits from Saginaw Valley State University and the last semester must be SVSU earned credits (taken online, hybrid or face-to-face).

At least six upper division credits in the major field and at least three credits at the Sophomore or higher level in the minor field must be completed at SVSU.

Grade Point Requirement

Each candidate for a degree must have a grade point average of not less than 2.00 (“C” average).

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Qualifications for a baccalaureate degree prior to Fall 2024

1. A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of a 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale to be in good standing.
2. Complete a minimum of 31 new SVSU credits.
3. Follow the Graduate program-specific rules noted in the catalog. 
4. Students who fail to maintain minimum academic standards set by the graduate program in which they are enrolled, are subject to dismissal from that program.

Commencement is the ceremony signifying graduation, in which participants will walk across the stage to receive their diploma cover and a letter of congratulations. 

Graduation is when the degree audits have been reviewed (multiple times) and have been approved. The final review takes place after all grades have been received in the student's last semester. Final approval of the degree audit is issued by the Registrar's Office.

There are three graduation dates throughout the year, at the end of the Fall semester (December), at the end of the Winter semester (May), and at the end of the Summer semester (August).

There are two commencement ceremonies, one at the end of Fall semester (December) and one at the end of Winter semester (May).