Attending Commencement Week Events

GW only has one Commencement each year in May and does not hold individual ceremonies for students who complete their degree in the summer term or fall semester. Depending on when you complete your degree requirements, you may be eligible to participate in one of the following events either in the year you complete your degree or the year following your degree completion:

Celebration: The ceremony for CCAS master's students where your name will be read out as you walk across the stage. Celebration is usually held on the Friday morning of Commencement Weekend, but may be subject to change.

Hooding: The ceremony for CCAS Ph.D. and Psy.D. students where you will be hooded on stage by your advocate. Hooding is usually held on the Thursday evening of Commencement Weekend, but may be subject to change.

Commencement: The ceremony held on the National Mall for GW students. Commencement is held on the Sunday of Commencement Weekend.

Students on an F1 or J1 visa may request permission for family members to visit the United States to attend Commencement Week events by requesting a Letter of Invitation from the Office of the Registrar's Certifications page.

PLEASE NOTE: Participation in Commencement Week activities does not confirm your degree completion. You must meet all degree requirements to be awarded your degree.

Master's Students

Please refer to the information on the Degree Completion - Master’s Students page for more details regarding completing your degree.

If you will be completing your degree requirements in Spring: You are eligible to participate in the Celebration and Commencement of the year in which you will be completing your degree requirements. Please be sure to apply to graduate by the spring application deadline. If you do not apply to graduate by the deadline, your name will not be included in the Celebration Program Booklet.
If you will be completing your degree requirements in Summer: You are eligible to participate in the Celebration and Commencement of the year in which you will be completing your degree requirements if you will have no more than 9 credits left to complete in the Summer term. In order to participate in Celebration and Commencement, you must apply to graduate for the summer term by the application deadline for those who wish to participate in Commencement events. If you do not apply to graduate by the deadline, your name will not be included in the Celebration Program Booklet.
If you will be completing your degree requirements in Fall: You are eligible to participate in the Celebration and Commencement of the year following your degree completion. Be sure to apply to graduate by the fall application deadline in order to participate.

Master's Degree Along the Way Students

Please refer to the information on the Degree Completion - Master's Degree Along the Way Students page for more details regarding completing your degree.

If you will be completing your degree requirements in Spring: You are eligible to participate in the Celebration and Commencement of the year in which you will be completing your degree requirements. Please be sure to apply to graduate by the spring application deadline. If you do not apply to graduate by the deadline, your name will not be included in the Celebration Program Booklet.
If you will be completing your degree requirements in Summer: You are eligible to participate in the Celebration and Commencement of the year in which you will be completing your degree requirements. In order to participate in Celebration and Commencement, you must apply to graduate for the summer term by the application deadline for those who wish to participate in Commencement events. If you do not apply to graduate by the deadline, your name will not be included in the Celebration Program Booklet.
If you will be completing your degree requirements in Fall: You are eligible to participate in the Celebration and Commencement of the year following your degree completion. Be sure to apply to graduate by the fall application deadline in order to participate.

Certificate Students

Unfortunately, certificate students are not eligible to participate in Celebration or Commencement. Please refer to the information on the Program Completion - Certificate Students for more details regarding completing your program.

Doctoral Students

Please refer to the information on the Degree Completion - Doctoral Students page for more details regarding completing your degree.

If you will be completing your degree requirements in Spring: You are eligible to participate in the Hooding and Commencement of the year in which you will be completing your degree requirements. Please be sure to apply to graduate by the spring application deadline. If you do not apply to graduate by the deadline, your name will not be included in the Hooding Program Booklet.
If you will be completing your degree requirements in Summer (Ph.D. Candidates): You are eligible to participate in the Hooding and Commencement of the year following your degree completion. Be sure to apply to graduate for the summer term by the application deadline in order to participate.
If you will be completing your degree requirements in Summer (Psy.D. Candidates): You are eligible to participate in the Hooding and Commencement of the year in which you will be completing your degree requirements if you will be completing your internship in the summer. In order to participate in Hooding and Commencement, you must apply to graduate for the summer term by the application deadline for those who wish to participate in Commencement events. If you do not apply to graduate by the deadline, your name will not be included in the Hooding Program Booklet.
If you will be completing your degree requirements in Fall: You are eligible to participate in the Hooding and Commencement of the year following your degree completion. Be sure to apply to graduate by the fall application deadline in order to participate.