Transcript, Diploma, & Certificate Wording and Conferral Dates
Transcript Wording for Degrees
When degrees are posted, the wording on the transcript includes the degree, major, minor, and emphasis, as applicable. When a student has completed an individualized study emphasis within the program, the specialty of the emphasis is named. Academic honors are also listed.
Diploma Wording for Degrees
A diploma is the official document issued after a student has completed a degree program. The wording on diplomas includes the name of the degree, the major, and either the minor or the emphasis, in that order. If a student has earned both a minor and an emphasis, only the minor is listed. Individualized study emphases are named. The terms major, minor, and emphasis are not used.
Academic honors are signified by the addition of a special label designating the specific Latin honor (summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude) for an undergraduate program, and indicating Honors for a graduate program.
Examples of diploma wording:
- Associate of Science / General Studies (degree/ major)
- Bachelor of Science/ Marketing/Management (degree/major/minor)
- Bachelor of Arts/ Applied Psychology/ Criminal Behavior (degree/ major/ emphasis)
- Bachelor of Science/ Business Administration/Individualized Study-General Management and Marketing (degree/ major/ emphasis with individualized study specialty)
- Master of Business Administration (degree)
- Master of Education/ Guidance and Counseling (degree/emphasis)
- Doctor of Education/in Leadership/Higher Education (degree/major/concentration)
Wording for Certificates
An official certificate is issued by the University when a student completes a certificate program. For completed undergraduate and graduate certificate programs, the wording on both transcripts and certificates includes the academic level and the major. On the certificate itself the term major is not used. For example:
- Undergraduate Certificate/ Marketing
- Graduate Certificate/ Project Management
Conferral Dates for Degrees and Certificates
Whenever a degree or certificate is posted to the student’s academic record, a conferral date is also posted. The conferral date is the date on which the University deems that the student has officially completed the program of study. CityU confers degrees and certificates four times per year, on the last day of each academic term: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. In most cases, a student’s degree or certificate conferral date is based on the term in which the student was registered for the final course(s) required for the program of study. Students who complete a degree before the end of the term may have degrees conferred on the date of completion within the term instead of the final day of the term, in compliance with government reporting requirements. Exceptions apply if the final course extends beyond the term of enrollment and the student has been given a temporary grade of Y, or if the student has been given a Z for a course (military leave of absence). In these cases, the conferral date is based on the term in which the course was actually completed rather than the term in which the student registered for the course.
Students whose final program requirement is completed via transfer credit from another institution are given a conferral date based on the latest term of enrollment, whether that enrollment was at City University of Seattle or the other institution.
(Policy #3500.22)