Graduation

Requirements and Descriptions

Hours Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 120 hours to receive a degree from the University of Houston. Some degrees will require more than the 120 minimum in order to satisfy all the requirements for the major. Students should consult their degree plan in order to determine how many hours are required for their degree.

Students transferring to University of Houston from a community college should be aware that a maximum of 66 hours can be applied toward their degree. It is possible that some students will have more than 66 hours of credit from a community college. In these instances the advisor and students may select which 66 hours of coursework from the community college will apply to the degree when the degree plan is filed.

For students who are pursuing a minor, it is possible for some courses that are completed as part of the general university requirements, college requirements or major requirements to also apply to the minor. In cases where one course satisfies a requirement in two areas of the degree plan, students should be aware that the course only counts once in calculating the total number of hours completed for the degree. In some instances, it is possible for students to complete all of the stated course requirements on their degree plan but fall short of the total hours required for the degree. In these instances, students will need to complete additional coursework (free electives) to bring their total hours to 120.

Graduation Preparation and Process

Graduating seniors should make an appointment with an advisor at least a year before graduation in order to identify unexpected problems or answer any concerns in time to remedy them. The advisor will go over the degree plan to identify any remaining classes the student has to complete.

After the advising consultation, the student may fill out a graduation application then or wait until the semester of student's graduation to fill out the form. The forms may be picked up outside our office or from Room 108 E. Cullen.

Midway through the semester for which the student has applied for graduation, a "graduation analyst certification form" will be mailed to the student. The certification form will indicate that the student has been conditionally approved for graduation. The form will list the conditions that must be satisfied in order for the student to complete the requirements for their degree by the end of the current semester. The conditions listed on the analyst certification form typically include: satisfactory completion of the current semesters course work, submitting official transcripts for any outstanding transfer work, submit petitions for course substitutions and filing minor degree plans.

Students should read the conditions carefully and take the necessary steps to satisfy all of the conditions by the end of the semester. If the student believes that any of the conditions listed have previously been met or are otherwise in error, the student should contact their advisor as soon as possible. If the conditions listed on the analyst certification form are not satisfied by the end of the semester, the student will be disapproved for graduation and must reapply for graduation in a subsequent semester.

Graduation Ceremonies

The College of Technology conducts graduation ceremonies in the fall and spring semesters. Students who apply for graduation will be sent a letter about the graduation ceremony for the current semester. The letter will include the website location (URL) for information about the College of Technology ceremony. The website will outline information about ordering caps and gowns, times and dates for the ceremony and reception, parking information for guests, and will include online RSVP forms.

Graduation with Honors

Undergraduate students who complete their degree requirements will graduate with the stated academic honors if they achieve the following grade point averages earned in the last 66 hours completed at the University of Houston. The University of Houston Provost Office is responsible for identifying those students who are eligible to graduate with honors. Some students may be designated as "potential honors candidates" on their graduation analyst certification form. However, the Provost's Office does not generate the final and official list of honors graduates until all grades have been submitted for the semester.