Basic Graduation Requirements
- Complete all degree/certificate requirements in the specified curriculum.
- Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all coursework taken at BC.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better in the courses applied to the degree/certificate, including credits transferred from other colleges.
- Complete the minimum required residence credits at BC: one-third of the credits applicable toward an associate degree or certificate, or 45 credits applicable toward a bachelor’s degree.
- Submit official transcripts for credits transferred from other colleges.
Important Steps and Information for All Programs
- Use the Online Degree Audit tool to determine if you are on track to complete your degree. Note: Degree Audit is a tool only and does not provide you with official documentation regarding your progress or graduation status.
- Meet with a program or academic advisor to confirm you are on track for graduation.
- Fill out one application for each degree or certificate you wish to have posted to your transcript.
- If you plan to use courses taken at another school towards your graduation requirements, you must request an official evaluation of your credits.
- Pay a $21.50 non-refundable fee for each application for Associate degree and Certificate of Achievement/Accomplishment you submit.
- Pay a $33.00 non-refundable fee for Bachelor Degree graduation application.
- There is no charge for Certificates of Completion that are less than 20 credits.
- Review the application deadlines to make sure your degree is posted to the quarter you wish to graduate in.
- The earlier you apply, the sooner we can complete the review process and let you know if you are missing any requirements.
- If you need to make a change to your graduation application, please submit another application. Choose the option “I already applied. I need to change my application.” This will erase your previous application and replace it. However, we will honor your original application date. If you do not want to erase your old application (for example, you are getting multiple degrees), please choose “New Application”.
To access the application for your degree or certificate program visit bellevuecollege.edu/graduation/apply/
For graduation application deadlines, please visit bellevuecollege.edu/graduation/
If you do not have a high school diploma, you are eligible to receive one from Bellevue College if you are at least sixteen years of age and satisfactorily completed an Associate degree and you have submitted a graduation application for the associate degree. Please submit a graduation application a second time and select a high school diploma as an award you’re seeking.
Note: there is no additional charge to receive a high school diploma.
If you previously completed an Associate degree but did not request a high school diploma at the time you applied for graduation, please contact the Student Central. We can retroactively award you a high school diploma.
Graduation with Honors
Bellevue College encourages students to achieve the highest level of scholarship in pursuit of their educational goals. Students who have earned an associate degree or certificate of achievement and have achieved high cumulative grade-point averages in all coursework completed at BC will be recognized as follows:
- With Distinction – Cumulative grade point average of 3.50 – 3.74
- With High Distinction – Cumulative grade point average of 3.75 – 4.0
Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and have achieved high cumulative grade-point averages in coursework completed at BC will be recognized as follows:
- Cum Laude – cumulative grade-point average of 3.60 – 3.79
- Magna Cum Laude – cumulative grade-point average of 3.80 – 3.99
- Summa Cum Laude – cumulative grade-point average of 4.0
The distinction will be included on BC official transcripts, diplomas, and the commencement program. Credits transferred to BC from other colleges are not included in the calculation of the cumulative grade-point average for distinction recognition.
Commencement
Commencement is held once a year in June, usually on the last day of spring quarter. Students awarded a degree or certificate of achievement in fall or winter quarter during the current academic year, and those who submitted an application for a degree or certificate of achievement for spring or summer quarter are invited to participate in the June commencement ceremony.
Students who expect to meet graduation requirements during the current spring and summer quarter must meet degree/certificate application deadlines in order to participate in the commencement ceremony. Participation in the graduation ceremony does not imply that the student has met all requirements for a degree or certificate. Notification of graduation approval will be mailed to students by the Evaluations/Graduation Office during the quarter in which the degree or certificate is to be received.
During spring quarter, eligible students are mailed instructions regarding participation in the June commencement ceremony. Students participating in the graduation ceremony must wear commencement regalia approved by the Commencement Committee. The regalia will be provided to graduates at no additional cost, and are normally available at the BC Bookstore in mid-May. Exceptions to commencement
procedures must be approved in advance by the Commencement Committee.
Diplomas
Diplomas are not conferred to students at the commencement ceremony. They are mailed to each graduate at the address listed in the college Student Records approximately twelve weeks following the end of the quarter in which they earned their degree/certificate.
Diploma Name
Diplomas are issued with the student’s name as it appears on the BC’s Student Records and official transcript. It must include the student’s legal first and last name. To indicate hyphens, spaces, lower/upper case letters, accents, or other special characters on your diploma, print it clearly on the degree or certificate application. To change name on the Students Records, students contact the Registration Office with the appropriate legal documentation which may include: marriage license/certificate, court order, divorce decree, passport or permanent visa.
Additional or replacement diplomas may be issued upon a student’s request. A fee is required for a diploma replacement. Contact Evaluations/Graduation Office for instructions and request form.
Degree Verification
Degree or certificate completion is noted on BC official transcripts for qualified students who have applied for a degree or certificate. Notation will be posted to transcripts approximately 2-4 weeks following the end of the quarter in which the degree or certificate is to be received. Degrees and certificates are conferred for the quarter in which the degree/certificate applications are received, not the last quarter when the required coursework are completed.
To request an official BC transcript, or a letter verifying enrollment or degree/certificate completion, contact the Student Central or visit www.bellevuecollege.edu/services/ for procedures and detailed information.
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