University requirements for undergraduates and graduate students are published in the University Catalog. Students are responsible for monitoring their own progress toward degree completion, and for meeting all graduation requirements.
Prior to the beginning of their final semester, students are strongly encouraged to consult their major and minor advisors regarding their academic progress.
Correspondence regarding graduation applications, status, processing and clearance is being sent via e-mail to the ODU student e-mail address. Students are required by University policy to activate, maintain, and regularly check their ODU e-mail accounts so they will receive important administrative correspondence. Letters will be mailed to the permanent address for students whose e-mail is returned or who have no active University e-mail address. Land-based mail is slower than e-mail and may delay processes for students.
Graduation Hold
Students who are graduating at the end of the current term will have a hold that prevents further registration (only). If you need to take courses beyond your expected graduation date to complete your degree requirements, or wish to change your graduation date, you must e-mail graduation@odu.edu to notify the University Registrar that you are continuing in your present degree program (provide your NEW GRADUATION TERM), and to request that the hold be lifted.
Otherwise, this hold remains on the student's record until such time as the student is readmitted to a degree-seeking (2nd bachelor's or master's degree) or non-degree status.
If you have been admitted to a new degree program, this hold will be removed.
Transcripts
Final transcripts are not automatically provided to graduates, but must be requested in writing or using our new online transcript request. There is a fee for each official transcript requested. E-mail requests for transcripts are not accepted. See Transcripts (Requesting Transcripts) for more information.
It can take up to 4-6 weeks after the official degree conferral date for the Graduation staff to review and clear all pending graduation candidates.
Students who need the awarded degree to be reflected on the transcript should check the graduation status in LEO Online before requesting a transcript, and if necessary, indicate "hold for degree" on the transcript request to ensure that the transcript is not produced until the awarded degree has been posted to the academic record.
About Registering for Commencement Ceremony
Students must register to participate in the commencement ceremony. Please review the Commencement ceremony information here.
Students are reminded that participation in commencement ceremonies does not confirm that a degree has been conferred.
Important: Students whose degree status is "intended" must meet with their advisor to be declared into a degree program (i.e., BA or BS) before applying for graduation. Students can view their degree status in LEO Online (under Student Records-->View General Student Information).
ONLY STUDENTS ADMITTED AS DEGREE-SEEKING AND DECLARED INTO A MAJOR AND DEGREE PROGRAM MAY APPLY FOR GRADUATION. See Applying for Graduation for more information.
Graduate and undergraduate students must meet all academic and non-academic requirements before they can be certified as graduates of Old Dominion University.
Information on non-academic requirements and the University Writing Proficiency requirement are provided in the sidebar elements at right.
ONLY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY AS DEGREE-SEEKING MAY APPLY FOR GRADUATION. Non-degree students are not eligible to declare a major or apply for graduation.
Undergraduate students who have earned more than 102 academic credits should review the Degree Works evaluation and confirm with the academic advisor that they are on track for graduation.
Recommended Application Deadlines:
Students should apply at least 6 months prior to graduation (see Academic Calendar) so there is sufficient time to plan for your last semester and make sure all degree requirements are met.
- November 30 for candidates completing degree requirements during the Spring semester (May graduation date)
- February 28 for candidates completing degree requirements during the Summer session (August graduation date)
- June 30 for candidates completing degree requirements during the Fall semester (December graduation date)
Prior to applying for graduation, please review your Degree Works degree evaluation in LEO Online or myODU. Make an appointment with your on-campus or distance learning academic advisor, and your minor advisor, if applicable. (See Academic Advisors for more information.) Have your degree evaluation available for that meeting.
Apply to Graduate, Online!
In order to apply for graduation, undergraduate students must have a minimum of 90 earned hours (senior standing), 15 of which must be institutional (ODU) hours, and a minimum 2.0 GPA. The degree must be declared (not "intended").
Graduate students must have a minimum of 12 earned hours, all of which must be institutional (ODU) hours, and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
If your advisor or graduate program director confirms that you are eligible to apply for graduation and you meet the above criteria, apply online using the application for graduation that is provided in LEO Online or myODU. The Apply to Graduate link is found under the Graduation menu in LEO Online.
Applications are left open past the recommended deadlines to accommodate students who apply late. To be sure your name is included in the Commencement Exercise Program distributed at the ceremony, however, you must apply at least 2 months prior to graduation.
| Applications for graduation are available according to the schedule below: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Term | Graduation Date | Application Opens | Application Closes |
| Spring 2023 | May 2023 | Open now | 06-MAY-2023 |
| Summer 2023 | August 2023 | Open now | 25-AUG-2023 |
| Fall 2023 | December 2023 | Open now | 16-DEC-2023 |
| Spring 2024 | May 2024 | Open now | 04-MAY-2024 |
| Summer 2024 | August 2024 | 01-JUN-2023 | 23-AUG-2024 |
| Fall 2024 | December 2024 | 01-SEP-2023 | 14-DEC-2024 |
| Spring 2025 | May 2025 | 01-JAN-2024 | 10-MAY-2025 |
You may apply for graduation and commencement at the same time. If you do not wish to attend commencement, you will still be able to complete the application for graduation only. Once your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation email to your ODU e-mail address.
On the Graduation menu, you can view your graduation application and your graduation status.
Once the degree is certified, but not before the official degree conferral date, the degree status will be changed to "Awarded," usually within 4 weeks after the official degree conferral date.
About Registering for Commencement Ceremonies
Students must register to participate in the commencement ceremony. Please review the Commencement ceremony information here.
Questions about the application for graduation should be addressed to graduation@odu.edu with your full name and University ID number.
Students are reminded that participation in commencement ceremonies does not confirm that a degree has been conferred.
Click for full Directory of Advisors.
There are three graduation dates each year: May, August, and December.
Specific graduation dates for a term can be found in the University Catalog and the Academic Calendar published for each semester at the Registrar's web site.
Students should plan to participate in ceremonies as follows:
- Students who plan to complete degree requirements by the end of the Spring semester participate in May commencement ceremonies.
- Students who plan to complete degree requirements by the end of the Summer session participate in May commencement ceremonies. There is no summer commencement ceremony.
- Students who plan to complete degree requirements in the Fall semester participate in December graduation ceremonies.
Submission of Theses and Dissertations
- Instructions for submission of theses and dissertations are provided at the Graduate School website.
- Graduate students who have applied for graduation must electronically submit their thesis or dissertation to ProQuest according to the schedule published in the academic calendar, for the term (or part of term) in which they are graduating. Missing the deadline may delay graduation. The schedule below provides a general guideline of due dates.
| TERM | THESIS DEADLINE | DISSERTATION DEADLINE |
| Fall | Friday before commencement date | Last day of classes for the term |
| Spring | Friday before commencement date | Last day of classes for the term |
| Summer | Friday before conferral date | Friday before conferral date |
About Commencement
Commencement ceremonies may take place the day before the end of semester degree conferral date; however the official degree conferral date is the same for all graduates and may be different from the date of your commencement ceremony.
Participation in the commencement ceremony does not certify that a student has graduated. The degree is awarded and posted to the student's transcript after all grades are reported to the Office of the University Registrar and posted to the student's record, and all degree requirements have been met. The official graduation date is the end of the semester in which all requirements are completed.
Graduate Students
Before you apply for graduation, review your Degree Works degree evaluation and consult with the Graduate Program Director for your academic program to ensure that all program/degree requirements have been met.
Undergraduate Students
Before you apply for graduation, review your Degree Works degree evaluation in LEO Online and then make sure you have completed the following:
- Check General Education requirements: Check the University Catalog to be aware of the General Education requirements and any additional requirements that may apply to your major (some majors may differ or have specific General Education course requirements).
- Check Foreign Language requirements: Refer to the University Catalog to be sure you have met the foreign language requirement for the University and for your major/college.
- Evaluation of all transfer work: All transfer work must be evaluated by Admissions and posted to the academic record. Courses taken at another school during your last semester may delay your graduation.
- Departmental advising: Be sure you have been advised by your major (and minor) chief departmental advisor or distance learning advisor. Be sure your major is declared and your degree does not show as "intended."
- Senior Assessment: All graduating seniors must complete the required senior assessment survey during their final semester before graduation. A separate assessment is provided for distance learning students.
- Writing Proficiency: All undergraduate students, including those students who are seeking a second baccalaureate degree, must satisfy the University's Writing Proficiency requirement prior to the date of graduation. For information on meeting this requirement, please see the University Requirements section of this website.
- If you received an e-mail from the Registrar's Office with instructions about applying for graduation, please respond accordingly.
About Registering for Commencement
You may apply for graduation and commencement at the same time, all through LEO Online. If you do not wish to attend commencement, you will still be able to complete the application for graduation only. Once your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation email.
Students must register to participate in the commencement ceremony. Please review the graduate information here.