Degree Completion - Master's Degree Along the Way Students

Doctoral students may be eligible for a master’s degree in their field prior to completion of their doctoral degree requirements. Degrees and requirements are determined by your field of study and your department. Please note that degrees along the way are not automatically conferred. Students must apply by completing the Degree Along the Way Application Form.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil): Upon recommendation of your department and approval of the CCAS Office of Graduate Studies, the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) may be awarded to you if you have successfully completed all requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree up to and including the General Examination. Effective Fall 2020, students must have completed at least 18 coursework credits towards their Ph.D. program at GW to be eligible for the Master of Philosophy degree.
Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS): Upon recommendation of your department and approval of the CCAS Graduate Studies Office, the Master of Arts or Master of Science may be awarded to students who have successfully completed all requirements for Master of Arts or Master of Science in their field, including non-course requirements.
Master of Psychology (MPsy): Upon recommendation of the department and approval of the CCAS Graduate Studies Office, the degree of Master of Psychology (MPsy) may be awarded to students who have successfully completed 53 credits in the Psy.D. program and all other requirements established by the Department.

How to Apply to Graduate

Complete the Degree Along the Way Application Form and submit it to [email protected] by the application deadline listed on the form.
Wait to receive the approval email from the CCAS Office of Graduate Studies.
Once your degree along the way application has been approved, apply to graduate in GWeb for the semester in which you will be completing your degree requirements by the application deadline. (If you will be completing your degree requirements in summer, be sure to apply to graduate for the summer term.)

Please note: A hold on your account might prevent you from applying to graduate in GWeb. If you will be unable to resolve the hold by the application deadline, contact the CCAS Office of Graduate Studies at [email protected] for assistance.

Process After Applying to Graduate

Review your Diploma Address in GWeb. If you need to make any changes to your Diploma Address or Diploma Name after you apply to graduate, please refer to the Office of the Registrar’s Diplomas and Certificates page.
Successfully complete your remaining program requirements for the degree along the way. Missing or Incomplete grades will make you ineligible for graduation.
Verify that there are no holds on your student account. If there is a hold on your account, the mailing of your diploma may be delayed or denied.
Your Department will notify the CCAS Dean’s Office that you have fulfilled all your program requirements for the degree.
CCAS will verify that you have satisfied all College requirements for the degree.
If you have successfully completed all program requirements, the Office of the Registrar will send you an email confirming that your application to graduate has been approved and that your degree will be awarded. (If your application to graduate cannot be approved because you will not be completing all program requirements in the semester you intended to graduate, the Office of the Registrar will notify you by email. You will need to reapply to graduate for the following semester or summer term.)
After the degree conferral date has passed, the Office of the Registrar will mail your diploma to the Diploma Address on file. Please refer to the Diplomas and Certificates page for the expected arrival time of diplomas.

Attending Celebration and Commencement

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.

Program Name on Diploma

Your diploma will only list the name of your degree (ex: Master of Science) and not your field of study (ex: Biological Sciences).

Proof of Degree Conferral

After your degree has been conferred, you can request the Office of the Registrar to issue a letter certifying that your degree has been conferred from their Certifications page. It is also possible to order an official transcript or purchase a Certified Electronic Credential through GWeb. Please wait until after your degree has been conferred before making a request or purchase.

If you did not Receive your Diploma in the Mail

Please refer to the Office of the Registrar’s Graduation FAQs page for more details.