Applying to Graduate
Once you have completed at least 10 credits in your master's degree program (or 30 credits of your doctoral degree program) with a minimum GPA of 3.0, you may apply to graduate. If you are planning to complete your degree this coming year, please apply to graduate when prompted to ensure timely communication on end of the year activities.
Students who are completing their degree in Winter 2026, Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Autumn 2026are eligible to participate in commencement June 2026.
An application to graduate is required to have your degree conferred. Applying to graduate is a separate process from signing up for commencement activities, and those who have applied to graduate will receive follow up communications from the Office of the Registrar around commencement activities. While participation in commencement activities (Hooding and Commencement) is optional, applying to graduate is required for the School of Education to award your degree.
Applying to Graduate
To apply to graduate, follow these directions.
Log into Banner Student
Click on the Four Square Icon at the Top Left of the Page
Select Banner
Select the Student Menu, select Apply to Graduate
The Term will be your most current quarter of attendance, if given more than one option. You will be asked your graduation term on the next page. Select your Current Program. If you are enrolled in more than one program, select the program you wish to apply for. You can complete the application again for subsequent programs.
On the Graduate Date Selection page, be sure to select the Graduation Date as your last anticipated quarter of attendance, NOT the quarter of the commencement ceremony. Then “continue.”
From there, follow the directions on the application to input the name you would like on your diploma.
Review the information in the Graduation Application Summary, and click “Submit Request.” If you have any questions about your application, or need to make updates, please contact the Associate Director for Graduate Programs, Sarah Kirschner, at soe-grad@spu.edu.
To view your application at anytime, select the Student Menu, then select View Application to Graduate. This will take you to the information you submitted.
Reviewing Your Degree Check
As a student, you are responsible for ensuring you are on track to graduate and have completed all course and non-credit requirements. Banner Degree Check will allow you to track your program and ensure you are completing all of the courses required. In the year that you plan to graduate, it is important that you review your Banner degree check to make sure you are on track and are not missing anything. During winter quarter, the Associate Director of Graduate Programs will send out a reminder about this to all students who have applied to graduate for that calendar year.
Teacher Education Students
Students who are enrolled in a Master of Art in Teaching (via accelerated or traditional 2 year) or a Master of Teaching Math and Science program cannot earn their degrees until the certification office has verified your program completion to OSPI. This does include non-course related items such as background endorsement courses, draft professional growth plans, fingerprints, tests, etc. While uncommon, a student could have all of their coursework done but be ineligible for the degree due to the status of their certificate.
Per WAC 181-82A-204: (5) Only course work in which an individual received a grade of C (2.0) or higher or a grade of pass on a pass-fail system of grading shall be counted toward the course work required for the approved endorsement program. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=181-82A-204
In the event a student finds themselves in a situation where they will not earn their residency teaching certificate at all, please be in communication with the Director of Graduate Teacher Education. We do our best to work with all students to come up with a plan.