Office of the Registrar
FAQs Graduation Information
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- Graduation requirements are determined by the individual college and major area of study. Most degrees require a minimum of 124 hours with a minimum USM grade point average of 2.0. Of the required hours, 50% must be earned at a senior institution, and 45 hours of the 50% applied to the degree must be upper division (300-400 level) courses. Students must earn at least 21 of last 30 semester hours from Southern Miss
- The Advisement Report (also called the DPR) includes all the degree requirements necessary to receive an undergraduate degree.
- The DPR (with option of PDF view) is available for students to print via their Academic Requirements link on their SOAR self service page.
- Graduate students print their “GRD11” which includes graduate degree requirements also via SOAR self service page.
- Questions concerning your degree requirements should be directed to your college dean’s office or the Graduate School for graduate students
- Some courses may or may not be substituted for other degree requirements depending on extenuating circumstances, availability, requirements, GPA, etc. Students must get ALL substitution requests approved and documented PRIOR to completion.
- Students begin the process to file for their degree by completing the degree application form for their major via the Graduation Application link on their SOAR self service page.
- After completing the form, students should follow the steps as provided by each individual college. The steps can be located at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/graduation-commencement
- All undergraduate students at the University will be eligible for Latin distinction
based solely on their Southern Miss GPA, with the following ranges:
- Summa cum laude – GPA of 3.85 or higher
- Magna cum laude – GPA of 3.70 to 3.84
- Cum laude – GPA of 3.50 to 3.69
- All undergraduate Honors College students at the University will be eligible for Latin
distinction based on their Southern Miss GPA and completion of various criteria, with
the following ranges:
- Summa cum laude – GPA of 3.80 or higher
- Magna cum laude – GPA of 3.50 to 3.79
- Cum laude – GPA of 3.25 to 3.49
- Students who have filed for degree must reserve a seat for Commencement. Details and deadlines can be found at http://www.usm.edu/registrar/graduation-commencement
- For additional assistance regarding the graduation ceremony, contact the Degree Auditors in the Registrar’s Office in Kennard-Washington Hall, room 110.
- Diplomas are typically mailed to graduates approximately 5 weeks after graduation barring any financial obligations to the University.
- Students who need a replacement or duplicate diploma may request one by completing the “Replacement Diploma Request” form from the Registrar’s website (www.usm.edu/registrar/forms)
- Replacement diplomas cost $30 per diploma
- The Academic Council has placed a capstone requirement for all undergraduates completing their baccalaureate degree. Students are required to complete capstone designated courses prior to graduation.
- Capstone courses are noted in the class notes and on the transcript as ‘Capstone’ courses.
- Capstone courses that are required for degrees vary depending on the student’s major. See the University Bulletin for specific degree requirements
- The Academic Council has placed a writing intensive requirement for all undergraduates completing their baccalaureate degree. Students are required to complete a minimum of 9 hours of writing intensive designated courses prior to graduation.
- Writing intensive courses are noted in the class notes and on the transcript as ‘Writing Intensive’ courses.
- Writing intensive courses that are required for degrees vary depending on the student’s major. See the University Bulletin for specific degree requirements.