Graduation

Check here for information about DU and GSSW graduation policies and procedures. Visit our Events page for information about DU Commencement ceremonies.

Commencement: Commencement is the symbolic ceremony held by the University to mark the beginning of your new professional life. DU holds Commencement ceremonies in June and August each year. Participation in Commencement ceremonies does not mean you have completed/earned your degree. Learn More.

Graduation or to graduate: Graduation marks the completion and formal conferral of an academic degree. This is when DU officially confers your degree. It means your degree is reflected on your transcript and is a part of your record. This happens only after final grades are posted and successful completion of all degree requirements is verified. Grades are posted after Commencement.

2024 GSSW Graduation Celebration

Graduation Process & Application Deadlines

Graduation occurs at the conclusion of each academic quarter. Students are required to apply for graduation consideration. Pending verification of successful completion, degrees are officially conferred on the last day of each quarter. View academic calendars.

Application Deadlines:

Apply for graduation via MyDU by the deadlines listed below:
- Spring Quarter 2024: January 16, 2024*
- Summer Quarter 2024: April 8, 2024*
- Fall Quarter 2024: June 24, 2024
- Winter Quarter 2025: September 16, 2024
- Spring Quarter 2025: January 13, 2025
- Summer Quarter 2025: April 7, 2025

*If it is past the deadline, please apply via the Late Graduation Application.

Students in the Denver Campus Program: If you have a certificate, you must fill out two separate graduation applications: one for your MSW and one for your certificate.

Graduation Process:

Graduation evaluations begin after registration. The GSSW Registrar team manually reviews the records and degree requirements of each candidate. All students are notified of their status by the first week of their last quarter.
During the final week of their last quarter students are sent a reminder of the graduation process.
After grades post, the GSSW Registrar’s Office begins the degree certification process.
Degrees are awarded 4–6 weeks after grades post.
Students can order transcripts when they see their degree is awarded (via their student profile).
Diplomas are mailed out 8 weeks after grades post.
- If you do not receive your diploma 8 weeks after grades post, please email registrar@du.edu with your name, your program, and your DU ID.
Please help us enhance career support for current and future GSSW students, by reporting your post-graduate employment information to our Career Services team via this link.

Information regarding DU commencement can be found here.

How do I verify my degree posted?

You can verify your graduation application on your MyDU Student Profile. You will see a section entitled “Graduation Information,” which will list your active graduation applications. After conferral, your degree will also populate in this section.

You can verify your grades or whether your degree has posted via your unofficial transcripts (accessible on your Student Profile). If you do not see a grade posted, reach out to your instructor right away.

When you see the awarded degree, term, and degree date, your degree will be posted and you can order official transcripts.

By Quarter Graduation Updates:

Winter Quarter 2024 Graduation Candidates (March)
General Process:
- Graduation evaluations begin after Winter Quarter 2024 registration. The GSSW Registrar team will manually review records and degree requirements of each candidate. All students will be notified of their status by Friday, 01/05/2024.
- During the final week of Winter Quarter 2024, students will be sent a reminder of the graduation process.
- After grades post, the GSSW Registrar team begins the degree certification process to award degrees (more details below).
  - Grades post Friday, 03/29/2024.
- Winter Quarter candidates participate in Spring 2024 Commencement.
  - Information regarding DU commencement can be found here.
Degree Certification Process
- Winter Quarter 2024 grades are due Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 10pm. The next day, the GSSW Registrar team will begin the degree certification process. Your degree will post 4-6 weeks after grades post with the conferral day of March 22, 2024.
- You can order transcripts as soon as you see your degree awarded, via your student profile. You will NOT be notified when your degree posts. You will need to monitor your student profile. (Directions above)
  - ***Be careful when you order transcripts. If you order before your degree is awarded, no degree will be listed and you will have to order again.
- Diplomas are mailed out 8 weeks after grades post.
  - If you do not receive your diploma 8 weeks after grades post, please email registrar@du.edu with your name, your program, and your DU ID.
- Please help us enhance career support for current and future GSSW students, by reporting your post-graduate employment information to our Career Services team via this link.
Spring Quarter 2024 Graduation Candidates (June)
General Process:
- Graduation evaluations begin after Spring Quarter 2024 registration. The GSSW Registrar team will manually review records and degree requirements of each candidate. All students will be notified of their status by Friday, 03/29/2024.
- During the final week of Spring Quarter 2024, students will be sent a reminder of the graduation process.
- After grades post, the GSSW Registrar team begins the degree certification process to award degrees (more details below).
  - Grades post Friday, 06/21/2024.
- Spring Quarter candidates participate in Spring 2024 Commencement, Friday, 06/14/2024.
  - Information regarding DU commencement can be found here.
Degree Certification Process
- Spring Quarter 2024 grades are due Thursday, 06/20/24 at 10pm. The next day, the GSSW Registrar team will begin the degree certification process. Your degree will post 4-6 weeks after grades post with the conferral day of June 16, 2024.
- You can order transcripts as soon as you see your degree awarded, via your student profile. You will NOT be notified when your degree posts. You will need to monitor your student profile. (Directions above)
  - ***Be careful when you order transcripts. If you order before your degree is awarded, no degree will be listed and you will have to order again.
- Diplomas are mailed out 8 weeks after grades post.
  - If you do not receive your diploma 8 weeks after grades post, please email registrar@du.edu with your name, your program, and your DU ID.
- Please help us enhance career support for current and future GSSW students, by reporting your post-graduate employment information to our Career Services team via this link.
Summer Quarter 2024 Graduation Candidates (August)
General Process:
- Graduation evaluations begin during the month of May and June. The GSSW Registrar team will manually review records and degree requirements of each candidate. All students will be notified of their status by Friday, 06/07/2024.
- During the final week of Summer Quarter 2024, students will be sent a reminder of the graduation process.
- After grades post, the GSSW Registrar team begins the degree certification process to award degrees (more details below).
  - Grades post Friday, 08/30/2024.
- Summer Quarter candidates participate in Summer 2024 Commencement, Saturday, 08/24/2024.
  - Information regarding DU commencement can be found here.
Degree Certification Process
- Summer Quarter 2024 grades are due Thursday, 08/29/2024 at 10pm. The next day, the GSSW Registrar team will begin the degree certification process. Your degree will post 4-6 weeks after grades post with the conferral day of August 24, 2024..
- You can order transcripts as soon as you see your degree awarded, via your student profile. You will NOT be notified when your degree posts. You will need to monitor your student profile. (Directions above)
  - ***Be careful when you order transcripts. If you order before your degree is awarded, no degree will be listed and you will have to order again.
- Diplomas are mailed out 8 weeks after grades post.
  - If you do not receive your diploma 8 weeks after grades post, please email registrar@du.edu with your name, your program, and your DU ID.
- Please help us enhance career support for current and future GSSW students, by reporting your post-graduate employment information to our Career Services team via this link.

Learn more about DU Commencement ceremonies and GSSW Commencement activities.

Learn More

Stay Connected After Graduation

From Career Services to Alumni Engagement, our GSSW teams are here to support you as the next chapter of your journey begins!

Your Contact Information: Even though you may plan to continue to use your DU email following graduation, we strongly recommend that you update your contact info and add an alternate email address to your PCO and MyDU profiles, so we can keep in touch with you following graduation. If you need assistance, you are welcome to contact the DU IT helpdesk.

Visit our GSSW alumni page often to stay connected.

GSSW Alumni Webpage