Degree Requirements and Graduation

Upon admission to St. John Fisher University, the student is a candidate for the degree appropriate to the program into which he or she was accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to know and fulfill all the requirements for the program for which he or she is registered. To earn a graduate degree from St. John Fisher University, the student must:

• Earn a minimum of 30 credits and complete all program requirements.
• Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 for all courses taken in residence.*
• Complete the online Graduation Application.
• Complete the program within the appropriate time limit.

* See the Wegmans School of Pharmacy for requirements related to the pharmacy program.

Catalog

Students will be certified for graduation based on completion of the degree requirements in force in the catalog under which they were admitted to the University in matriculated status, unless otherwise noted. Requests to change to a subsequent catalog must emailed to registrar@sjf.edu. Graduate chairs have the discretion and authority to make course substitutions or modifications to ensure the integrity of their programs.

Degree Completion Time Limit

For programs requiring fewer than 60 credits, a student must finish the degree within six years of completion of the first Fisher graduate course. For programs requiring 60 or more credits, students must finish the degree within eight years of completion of the first Fisher graduate course. Only the chair and provost or his designee can grant exceptions. Students granted extensions may be required to repeat certain previously taken courses. The time limit is inclusive of any leaves of absence taken by a student. Individual programs may have more stringent requirements for completion; check the individual programs for further information. The first graduate course taken at St. John Fisher University starts this time clock.

Leave of Absence

Students whose progress is interrupted due to an approved leave of absence will continue to follow their original catalog upon their return to the University.. If the program has been substantially modified, chairs have the discretion and authority to make course substitutions or modifications to ensure the integrity of their programs and facilitate the transition of these students. Chairs may require that the students follow the program requirements in the catalog in force when the students return to the University.

Graduation

Students who qualify for graduation must complete the online Graduation application. Submission of this form initiates an administrative process in which the student’s record is reviewed with regard to program requirements for graduation and potential difficulties. Notification of the availability of the online application will be sent to students using their Fisher email accounts. Failure to apply on time may result in a delay in graduation. St. John Fisher University confers degrees three times per year, in May, August, and December.

The University–wide commencement takes place once a year, in May. To participate in the May commencement ceremony, graduate-level degree candidates must have completed their degree requirements prior to the actual day of commencement or be within nine credits of completion and have the approval of their chair. August and December graduates will be invited to attend the commencement ceremony the following May. Outstanding Incomplete (“I”) or In Progress (“IP”) grades and credit-by-examination results, as well as waivers and substitutions and the processing of transfer credit, should be completed by the last day of the final examination period. If Incomplete or In Progress grades remain and/or all documents are not received in the Registrar’s Office by the Incomplete extension date published in the academic calendar, your graduation will be delayed until the following semester.