Graduation
M.S.W. Portland Campus Program
If you’re here you must be thinking of Graduation. Whether you'll be graduating in the Spring as the majority of our students do or during another part of the year you will find the answers to everything you need to know about the graduation process here.
The term "graduation" refers to actually receiving the degree—being certified by the Graduate Studies Office as having met all requirements for the degree, then having the degree awarded in the Student Information System so that it will show on your transcript and will cause a diploma to be produced.
Commencement is a ceremony. It is an opportunity for you, your family, friends, and the PSU community to celebrate your accomplishment. Except for doctoral students (who must actually be graduated to participate), the commencement ceremony is open to any student who has applied to graduate, notified the Commencement Office at http://www.commencement.pdx.edu/ that they intend to participate, rented the required regalia, and shown up at the designated time on the day of the ceremony. Participation in commencement does not mean that you have graduated and students do not receive a diploma on that day. For Master's students, the only concrete connection between graduation and commencement is the submission of an application for the degree.
Master's students who graduate in Fall or Winter, or who have submitted an application to graduate in Spring or Summer are eligible to participate in the Spring Commencement Ceremony. Only those doctoral students who have actually graduated are eligible to participate.
Traditionally, the School of Social Work Student Government has held a separate event for SSW students referred to as the Hooding Ceremony. This normally takes place on the same day, but at a later time, than the PSU Commencement. The Hooding Ceremony has been held in such diverse areas as the Park Blocks and the Peter Stott Center.
Each year PSU also holds a Summer Commencement Ceremony which is typically held in the Park Blocks. It is a smaller and less formal event than the Spring ceremony, with cap and gown optional. It is open to bachelors, masters, and graduate certificate students who have applied to graduate during Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer.
The awarding of the degree is visible on the official transcript (and on the student's unofficial transcript accessible on the web) once all your graduation processing is complete. Approximately one week after Degree Requirements closes their processing of each term's graduation (at all levels), diploma's will be ordered. Upon the receipt of the diplomas Degree Requirements will notify all degree recipients by mail of the procedure for receiving their diploma. Recipients are given a choice of picking up their degrees from the Degree Requirement Office or of having it mailed to them. Diplomas are usually available towards the end of the term following graduation, however, this may change depending on number of graduates, etc. Please call Degree Requirements at 503-725-3438 if you have questions about your degree or if your address has changed.
Application Forms and Instructions
In order to graduate with a Masters degree there are some important forms to fill out. The first thing you need to do is to apply to graduate. The forms listed below must be completed and turned in by the deadlines listed on the Office of Graduate Studies website at:
http://www.gsr.pdx.edu/ogs_general_deadlines.html.
If you do not get these papers in on time your graduation may be delayed until the following term. While this will not keep you from participating in the commencement or hooding ceremonies it will delay the receipt of your degree.
Graduation Forms & Documents:
- Graduation Paperwork (PDF)
- Form #1 Application for Awarding of Master's or Doctoral Degree
- Instructions for completing Form #1 Application for Awarding of Master's or Doctoral Degree
- Form #2 G0-12: Approved Graduate Degree Program
Graduation Paperwork is also available in the reception area. If you need help locating the information please ask at the front desk.
