Apply to Graduate

Degree Petition Instructions

On-line Application for Graduation Instructions

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF VERSION OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1. Due Dates for the On-Line Application for Graduation

New (first-time) On-line Applications for Graduation are due the semester BEFORE you plan to graduate. (Ex. if you are graduating in Fall 2012, your on-line degree application is due in Summer 2012.)
A different on-line application for graduation is due for every semester that you attempt to graduate. If you do not graduate when planned, you must fill out another on-line application for graduation. Every application for graduation made after the initial request is called an On-line Reapplication for Graduation.
New On-line Application for Graduation due dates (for students requesting to graduate for the first time) are:
- Summer 2013 Graduation: January 17, 2013 - February 15, 2013
- Summer 2013 Graduation with $50 Late Fee: February 16, 2013 - February 28, 2013
- Fall 2013 Graduation: May 22, 2013 – June 15, 2013 (Tentative)
- Fall 2013 Graduation with $50 Late Fee: June 15, 2013 - June 30, 2013 (Tentative)
- Spring 2014 Graduation: September 17, 2013 - October 15, 2013 (Tentative)
- Spring 2014 Graduation with $50 Late Fee: October 16, 2013 - October 31, 2013 (Tentative)
On-line Reapplication for Graduation due dates:
- Summer 2013 Graduation Reapplication: May 1, 2013 - May 20, 2013
- Fall 2013 Graduation Reapplication: August 1, 2013 - September 15, 2013 (Tentative)
- Spring 2014 Graduation Reapplication: December 1, 2014 - Janaury 15, 2014 (Tentative)

Step 2. Request to Graduate by using the On-line Application for Graduation

Go to www.buzzport.gatech.edu.
Select Registration - OSCAR.
Select Student Services & Financial Aid, then Student Records and then Apply to Graduate.
If you are asked to Select the Current Term, then select the current semester in the drop down box. Do not select your gradution term here. Press Continue.
You will now be on the Curriculum Selection screen. If your curriculum or minor are not correct, STOP IMMEDIATELY. Your major and minor (if applicable) must be correctly declared before you can apply to graduate.
- Catalog Year: If you have decided to move to the new ME curriculum (2012-2013 catalog year), your catalog year must be changed accordingly. This can be done by filing out a change of major form. You can see which catalog year you are on by looking at your DegreeWorks audit.
- Major: If your primary or secondary majors are not correct, then you must fill out a change of major (minor declaration) form to correct it.
- Minor: If your minor is not declared, is not correct or if you are no longer pursuing a minor, you must fill out a change of minor form to correct it.
- Concentrations: If you are pursing a concentration, you must declare your concentration in OSCAR.
Select the radio button for the program that you are graduating from. Press Continue. NOTE: Students who have two majors can only select one major at a time; you will need to complete this entire process for both majors.
On the next screen, select the graduation term in the drop down box. Press Continue.
On the Diploma Name Selection screen, select if you will be using your current name or a different name to appear on your diploma. Press Continue. NOTE: The registrar's office will review all requests to change names on the diploma.
The next screen will ask you to confirm your name. Press Continue.
On the Diploma Mailing Address Selection screen, select the address where you want to send your diploma. Press Continue. NOTE: Diplomas are mailed approximately 8 weeks after graduation so plan accordingly.
On the Graduation Application Summary screen, review all of your information carefully. When you are okay with the information on the screen click Submit Request.
On the next screen, click on the link at the bottom of the page. This will redirect you to Georgia Tech's Exit Survey. Fill out the survey.
Other Important Information
- Changing your Graduation Term - If you need to change your graduation term, send Kristi Mehaffey an e-mail asking that your on-line application for degree be changed to inactive for the term. This must be done before drop day of the semester you petitioned to graduate, but the sooner the better. An on-line reapplication for graduation must be turned in by the reapplication deadline for the new semester which you plan to graduate.
- The 36 Hour Rule - A student's last 36 hours must be taken in residence at Georgia Tech. Students who plan to take a class at another university within the last 36 hours must Petition the Faculty to ask for a waiver to this rule PRIOR to taking the class.
- The 10 Year Rule - Course work over 10 years old will not be used toward a BS degree. Students with course work more than 10 years old must Petition the Faculty to use the old coursework.

Step 3. Verify that Your On-line Application for Graduation was Correctly Submitted

Go to www.buzzport.gatech.edu.
Select Registration - OSCAR.
Select Student Services & Financial Aid, then Student Records and then View Application to Graduate.
If it asks you to select a semester, please select the semester that you planning to graduate.
If you correctly submitted the On-line Application to Graduate you will see it on that screen. If it says that No active graduation application exists then your application to graduate was not submitted.

Step 4. Minors, Certificates, Co-op and the International Plan Forms Must be Submitted (if applicable)

Minors - Students who are earning a minor must submit a signed minor program of study form to the registrar's office to recieve their minor. Minors are noted on your transcript, but they are not on your diploma. The minor program of study form requires a signature by the department offering the minor and your academic advisor's signature BEFORE you turn it into the registrar's office. This form is different than the minor declaration form.
Certificates - Certificate forms are not turned in with the degree petitions. They are turned in directly to the department offering the certificate. You must ask the department offering the certificate for their form.
International Plan - All IP students who plan to complete the program must submit the International Plan Advising Form to the registrar's office separately. This IP form requires an IP signature and your academic advisor's signature BEFORE you turn it into the registrar's office.
Concentrations - No form must be filled out, you just need to make sure that your concentration is declared in OSCAR.

Step 5. Review Your DegreeWorks Audit

All students must review their DegreeWorks audit. DegreeWorks is the system that is used to verify you are eligible to graduate. It is completely your responsibility to verify your DegreeWorks audit is correct and all of the requirements are met.
Log into DegreeWorks. The login is in the yellow bar on the right side of the screen under Buzz.
After you log on, you will see your degree audit.
If you have any questions about your DegreeWorks audit, then contact your academic advisor.
All free electives must be approved by your academic advisor even if they fill in on DegreeWorks. Free electives cannot duplicate any of your other classes required for the BSME degree.

Step 6. Tracking Your Graduation Status on OSCAR

Degree Certification will conduct three audits on your application. Below is a breakdown of the timing of the three audits:
- First Audit – to be completed by the end of Phase II registration (new applications only; reapplications will not have a first audit done)
- Second Audit – began after Phase II closes, and completed mid-semester (NOTE: if after Second Audit, there are deficiencies on your status that cannot be resolved with final grades (such as LOW GPA, PENDING TRANSFER CREDIT and REGISTRAR ADMINISTRATIVE DEFICIENCY), then you will be inactivated as a degree candidate, and required to reapply for the next semester)
- Inactivation Date – approximately one month before Commencement
- Final Audit – Tuesday following Commencement
To view your degree status, login to DegreeWorks. Near the top of your audit, under a section titled Student View, you will see a field Graduation Status. The text that appears in that field is your current degree status.

Step 7. GPA Requirements to Graduate

Overall GPA: Your truncated overall GPA must be 2.00 or greater (no rounding up) to graduate.
Major GPA: Your truncated major GPA must be 2.00 or greater (no rounding up). If you repeat any classes used in your major GPA, only the latest grade will be used in the calculation. A Major GPA calculator can be found here.
- The ME GPA includes all ME and COE classes which you have taken.
- The NRE GPA only includes any NRE classes you have taken.
When GPAs are Evaluated: Your Major and Overall GPAs will be verified AFTER final grades are posted during your last semester. If you do not have the required 2.0, you will not be able to graduate until both your overall GPA and your major GPA is a 2.00 or above.

Step 8. Graduation Honors

Honors on your diploma will be based on your final grades, but honors at graduation will be based on your grades as of the semester prior to graduation.
In order to eligible for honors, you must earn 60 credit hours at Georgia Tech. If you do not have 60 credit hours you will not be eligible for any honors, regardless of your GPA.
Click here for the honors levels and GPA requirements for each level.

Step 9. Graduation Information

Click here for degree candidate frequently asked questions.
Tickets are required. Click here for more information about tickets.
Click here for information about commencement.
Click here for information about caps and gowns.
Click here for information about announcements and class rings.