DePaul CDM awards degrees at the end of each regular academic term (autumn, winter, spring) and at the end of each summer session. There is only one commencement ceremony for CDM, typically held in June on the Sunday immediately following the end of final exams for the spring quarter.
Q. Do I need to do anything if I want to graduate?
Yes! It is the students responsibility to initiate the degree conferral application process by submitting a degree conferral application. This application is required for every student, even if the student does not plan to attend the annual commencement ceremony.
Q. Where do I go to submit my degree conferral application?
Login to Campus Connection and look for the "apply for degree conferral" link.
Q. When should I submit my degree conferral application?
All CDM students must submit a degree conferral application according to the deadlines published on this page. Failure to submit a degree conferral application by the appropriate date prohibits the posting of the degree and the printing of the diploma.
Q. Do I have to pay a fee to confer my degree?
All students are assessed a $100 one-time, non-refundable degree processing fee.
Q. What does the fee cover?
The fee is intended to augment the cost of credentialing across the institution and is not associated with participation or lack there of in a commencement ceremony.
Q. Will I be reassessed the fee if I change my conferral date?
No. You will only be charged the fee once per degree.
Q. When should I submit my cap and gown order?
The Herff-Jones company manages cap and gown orders for DePaul University. Typically, the deadline to order a cap and gown is on or about April 14th. However, you should visit the Herff-Jones website for specific information.
Q. What happens after I submit my degree conferral application?
Submitting a degree conferral application means that you intend to finish your degree requirements by the end of the term that you select in the application. It initiates the degree conferral process and allows the School of CDM to audit the student's record after the final term of study. After submitting the application, registration access is prohibited for all terms following the term selected in the application.
Q. I am pursuing a combined bachelors/masters degree. Do I still need to submit a degree conferral application?
Yes. You must submit a degree conferral application so we can award the bachelor's degree. You will need to submit another degree conferral application at the end of the master's degree.
Q. What is the difference between degree conferral, graduation, and commencement ceremony?
Degree Conferral refers to the actual posting of a degree to transcript. This is the university's official seal of approval, indicating that all degree requirements are complete.
Graduation typically refers to the time when students complete their degrees. Some people also use this term to refer to the ceremony which takes place once each year in June. Students should remember that even though they have finished their degree requirements and technically "graduated", they can only have their degrees "conferred" if they submit a degree conferral application and satisfactorily complete all their degree requirements.
Commencement Ceremony is the public celebration of our graduates. There is only one commencement ceremony for CDM, typically held in June on the Sunday immediately following the end of final exams for the spring quarter.
Q. I want to continue taking courses after the term I select as my degree conferral term. Can I do that?
No. Submitting your degree conferral application means that you intend to finish your degree and that you want the university to post your degree and issue your diploma. This effectively "closes" the academic career that you just finished. However, you may submit a new application for either a degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking status. Doing so will activate your enrollment eligibility for the new status. ***International students should discuss their options with both the International Student Office and CDM Advising***
Q. How can I be sure that I am on track to finish my degree requirements?
Ultimately, it is students responsibility to ensure that all degree requirements are complete. We encourage students to manage their degree progress by using their degree planner, accessible via MyCDM. Additionally, students should maintain regular communication with their assigned faculty advisors and with CDM Advising staff, as needed, concerning the completion of degree requirements. Note that all degree requirements must be complete by the degree conferral date, including the resolution of all incomplete (IN), missing (M), and continuing research (R) grades.
Q. What are the requirements to earn a degree?
Undergraduate students must earn a minimum of 192 quarter hours of credit in accordance with the degree requirements for their declared program of study. Additionally, the cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be at least 2.000, the GPA within the major (and minor, if applicable) must be at least 2.000, and the final 60 quarter hours of credit must be completed at DePaul University in accordance with the senior residency requirement. Finally, all students must submit a degree conferral application.
Graduate students must earn a minimum of 52 quarter hours of graduate credit in accordance with the degree requirements for their declared program of study. Under no circumstances may any undergraduate course or any course required in the prerequisite phase of any graduate degree program be applied to the 52 credit hour requirement. Additionally, the cumulative grade point average must be at least 2.500 and grades in all graduate courses must be at least C-. Prerequisite phase courses are not used to compute the cumulative graduate GPA. Finally, all students must submit a degree conferral application.
Q. What are the requirements to graduate with honors?
Undergraduate students are eligible to graduate with honors based on the following minimum grade point averages:
3.500 = "cum laude"
3.700 = "magna cum laude"
3.850 = "summa cum laude"
Additional information concerning this policy is located in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.
Graduate students typically are eligible to graduate "with distinction" by obtaining a cumulative GPA of 3.900. However, some graduate programs may have additional criteria for graduating with distinction. Please refer to the specific program requirements on the CDM website.
Q. How is my degree information indicated on my diploma and transcripts?
The diploma only indicates the level of the degree (e.g. Bachelor of Science) and the honor's status (if applicable). The official transcript indicates all degree information, including all applicable major(s), minor(s), concentration(s), and honors status. Note that competency modules for the master's degrees in Information Systems and E-Commerce Technology are not indicated on the transcript.
Q. I am an undergraduate student and I am earning a second degree from another college at DePaul. Do I need to talk with an advisor in the other college about graduation?
Yes, it is important for any student pursuing a double major or a dual degree with another college at DePaul University to consult with an advisor in the other college. It is the student's responsibility to initiate correspondence and to notify CDM of the double major or dual degree.
Q. I am earning a dual degree. Will I get two diplomas?
Yes.
Q. I plan to attend the commencement ceremony. What do I need to do/know?
All students must submit an order for a cap and gown via the Herff-Jones website. Seating is open for guest and no tickets are required. Guests seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The CDM commencement ceremony is held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Q. I plan to finish my degree requirements in the summer. Can I still attend the commencement ceremony in June of the same year?
Yes. However, please note that you still must submit a degree conferral application and you must submit your cap and gown order by the appropriate deadlines.
Q. Who should I contact if I have more questions?
Please contact the CDM Advising Office via e-mail at advising@cdm.depaul.edu or by phone at (312) 362-8633.