Graduation
Special Requirements of the School
All students must fulfill the general requirements for graduation. Students in the Jackson School must also fulfill the following requirements:
- The University requires that the student complete in residence at least sixty semester hours of the coursework counted toward the degree. For the Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences, these sixty hours must include at least eighteen hours in geological sciences.
- The University requires that at least six semester hours of advanced coursework in the major be completed in residence. Options I, II, and III of the Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences require at least eighteen hours of upper-division coursework in geological sciences to be completed in residence; option V requires at least twelve hours. (Option IV: Environmental Science and Sustainability is no longer offered.)
- An Air Force, Army, or Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) student who elects the basic and/or advanced program in air force science, military science, or naval science will not be approved for graduation until the student’s government contract is completed or the student is released from the ROTC.
Non-residence Coursework
A student in his or her final semester may not enroll concurrently at another institution in any course, including a distance education course, to be counted toward the degree. In the final semester, the student may also not enroll by extension or correspondence in coursework to be counted toward the degree. All transfer, extension, and correspondence coursework must be added to the student’s official record before his or her last semester.
Degree Audit
Each student should view their personal electronic degree audit available each semester through IDA, the University’s Interactive Degree Audit system. The degree audit tells the student the courses he or she must take and the requirements he or she must fulfill to receive the degree. Although the degree audit normally provides an accurate statement of requirements, the student is responsible for knowing and meeting the requirements of the degree as stated in the undergraduate catalog under which he or she is eligible to graduate (see rules on graduation under a particular catalog ). If in doubt about any requirement, the student should seek an official ruling in the Jackson School of Geosciences (JSG) Student Services Office before registering.
Ninety-hour Degree Audit
Upon earning ninety semester hours of credit toward the degree, each JSG student is expected to review their degree audit and schedule a ninety-hour degree audit meeting with a JSG academic adviser before the next semester’s registration period begins. Failure to do so may delay the student’s graduation.
Final Degree Audit
Prior to registering for the last semester of their Jackson School of Geosciences (JSG) degree program each JSG student must review their final degree audit and meet with a JSG academic adviser. Students must complete all procedures associated with the final degree audit.
Any student who does not graduate when eligible must promptly contact the JSG Student Services Office. An academic adviser will advise the student what steps are needed for future registration and graduation.
Applying for Graduation
Students must be registered at the University and must file a graduation application form in the JSG Student Services Office the first semester they are eligible to graduate. A student is considered eligible to graduate if he or she can complete all degree requirements by registering for twelve semester hours or fewer. Graduation applications should be submitted during the first week of classes. No graduation applications will be accepted after the University's published deadline and no degree will be conferred unless the graduation application form is filed on time. Failure to adhere to these procedures and deadlines will jeopardize the student’s future registration in the Jackson School.
Commencement
In addition to the University commencement ceremony held each spring, the Jackson School holds graduation ceremonies in December and May. Students graduating with School Honors and Jackson Scholars are recognized at this ceremony.
Summer Graduates
Students completing their degree requirements in the summer session have the option of "walking" in the spring Jackson School of Geosciences Commencement ceremony preceding their official graduate date. To be eligible, students must complete a final degree audit and submit an application to walk in the ceremony by the published deadlines. Neither the application to walk nor participation in any commencement events constitute applying to graduate or official completion of a degree program.