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Apply for Graduation

It is important to note that upon graduation, all grades earned prior to the date that the degree is awarded cannot be appealed or changed for any reason. In addition, you will not be able to graduate with an incomplete (INC), pending (PEN), or missing grade (Z) on the transcript. 

Since we'll be using preferred email addresses to contact graduates once their degrees are officially awarded, please take a moment to check CUNYfirst to make sure you have your most current email address and contact information on file so that we can share the news with you!

Contact Information

Degree Audit

The Office of the Registrar

Building 2A, Room 107
2800 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10314
Email Degree Audit

Graduation Applications for a student's declared degree are accepted ONLINE via CUNYfirst.

Students are eligible to apply for graduation once they have earned 45 credits towards an associate's degree, 94 credits towards a bachelor's degree, and at any point at the graduate level. Students should apply for graduation before the deadline in the semester they will complete their final requirements: see Graduation Application Deadlines below.

Click here for instructions on how to apply and view your application status.

This is also a good time for you to check the spelling of your name in our student database. Spelling, capitalization, spaces and hyphens should all be checked.  The diplomas print in capital letters but names will print exactly as they are in CUNYfirst in all commencement publications and/or activities.  If you believe your name appears erroneously in CUNYfirst, please follow instructions here.

If you experience issues applying online via CUNYfirst please email degreeaudit@csi.cuny.edu.


Graduation Applications for a Reverse Transfer or En-route Associate’s Degree

An en-route associate’s degree application is for students currently in a bachelor's degree program who believe they have met the requirements for an associate’s degree offered at CSI. Students who are eligible to apply need to complete an application online using the link below. Please consult with an advisor prior to submitting the application to ensure that you are applying for the correct degree.

 

Fall Term

The application period for the fall term opens on July 2nd and closes on October 1st. Degrees for the fall term are conferred on January 15th. Please note:  Students must apply by the deadline in order to be included in commencement activities and/or publications.

Spring Term

The application period for the spring term opens on October 2nd and closes on March 1st. Degrees for the spring term are conferred June 15th. Please note:  Students must apply by the deadline in order to be included in commencement activities and/or publications.

Summer Term

The application period for the summer term opens on January 2nd and closes on July 1st. Please note: In order for summer candidates to be included in commencement activities and publications, their applications must be in by March 1st. Degrees for the summer term are conferred August 31st.

Status of Your Graduation Application

Applications are processed in the order in which they are received.  Students can apply for graduation and check their application status in CUNYfirst by clicking on the “Graduation” tile in their Student Center. 

The following are the Grad Statuses assigned in CUNYfirst:

  • Applied for Graduation:  You have applied to graduate from your declared major/minor.  
  • Approved: The Registrar has certified that all requirements are complete and your degree will be awarded at or after the conferral date for the applied term.
  • Awarded:  The Registrar has certified that all requirements are completed and your degree is now reflected on your student record.
  • Denied: The Registrar was unable to certify your degree as you are missing one or more requirements.  Contact your advisor(s) to discuss a resolution or for advice on reapplying for graduation in a future term.
  • Eligible: You are eligible to apply for graduation from your declared major/minor.  
  • In Review: Your en-route associate’s degree is approved.
  • Pending:  Based on the Registrar’s and the Academic Departments’ review of your coursework, successful completion of outstanding or current coursework may result in the conferral of your degree.  A communication will be sent to your address on file if additional information is required.
  • Withdrawn: Your application for graduation has been withdrawn.  In order to be considered for a future term you must reapply. 

Graduation Requirements

Credit Requirements

With some exceptions, baccalaureate degree programs require the successful completion of 120 credits and associate degree programs require the successful completion of 60 credits. The current exceptions are for the following programs: Biology (128), Computer Science (124), Engineering Science (133), Electrical Engineering (133), Medical Technology (128); Computer Technology (64), and Nursing (64).

Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirement

Courses are classified as liberal arts and sciences or as non-liberal arts and sciences.  For undergraduate degrees, the New York State Department of Education requires that a portion of the credit hours in the degree program must be in the liberal arts and sciences.  These requirements are as follows: Associate in Arts (AA), 45 credits; Associate in Science (AS), 30 credits; Associate in Applied Science (AAS), 20 credits; Bachelor of Arts (BA), 90 credits; Bachelor of Science (BS), 60 credits; Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), 30 credits.

Minimum Credits in Residence

To obtain a degree, associates or baccalaureate, from the College of Staten Island, students must earn a minimum of 30 credits through courses taken at the College. To qualify for a bachelor’s degree from the College, students must also earn at least half (50%) of the credits required for the major through courses taken at the College. To obtain a one-year certificate from the College of Staten Island, at least half (50%) of the required credits must be earned in courses taken at the College.

Cumulative or Overall GPA

All students are required to achieve at least a 2.0 grade point average in their core or major requirements in order to earn an undergraduate degree at the College. Currently, the following bachelor’s degree programs have a higher minimum GPA requirement: Accounting (2.5); Business (2.5 for all concentrations); early childhood, childhood, and adolescent education degrees (3.0); Geography (2.5); Information Systems and Informatics (2.5); Medical Laboratory Science (3.0); Psychology (2.5); Science, Letters, and Society (3.0); Social Work (2.5).

New Student Orientation Requirement

Students who enter the College with fewer than six credits are required to complete the orientation requirement. Students are expected to complete this requirement during their first semester or prior to the completion of 12 equated credits.

Double Majors

To major in more than one field of study, students must complete all of the core or major requirements for each of the fields. To have the second core or major recorded on the final transcript the student must apply for both fields when filing for graduation. Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements, both fields of study will be recorded on the final transcript.

Double Degrees

To receive a second degree of the same type, for example History (BA) and Spanish (BA), it is necessary to complete the requirements of the second field of study and to complete at least 30 credits more in residence than the number of credits required to complete the first degree. If a student chooses to major in two disciplines offering different types of degree, for example History (BA) and Biology (BS), the student must earn two degrees by earning a minimum of 30 credits in residence above the credits required for the first degree.

Second Degree

To receive a second associate or baccalaureate degree from the College of Staten Island, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in addition to the number of credits required for the first degree.

Previous Degree

Students who have completed an associate’s degree from an accredited post-secondary institution must complete a maximum of 6 College Option credits.  Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited post-secondary institution are considered to have completed general education requirements.

Minor Requirements

In addition to completing the requirements of a major for a bachelor’s degree, students may choose to declare a minor. Students shall not declare minors in the same discipline as their majors. In order for a minor to be recorded on the student’s final transcript, the student must already be declared in the minor prior to applying for graduation. It is important to be aware that if a minor is on the student’s record and is incomplete at the time of final audit, graduation will be denied.

Departmental Honors

Students may graduate with honors in their field of study in most bachelor’s degree majors. To receive honors, the student must have at least a 3.5 grade point average in courses taken in the major and/or pass a comprehensive examination in the subject. The student must also complete an honors thesis or project. This last requirement is the heart of the honors program, for each student must work closely with a faculty member to define the project, carry out the research and investigation, and write the final report or prepare the final project. Students may receive credit through independent study for their work on an honors project. The projects must be accepted by the department. Students who successfully complete these requirements will receive the notation on their transcript that they have graduated with honors in their field of study. For specific requirements, see the section on Honors Requirements under the bachelor’s degree program description.

Graduation with Latin Honors

Undergraduates who meet the qualifications will receive the associate’s or bachelor’s degree summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude as follows:

  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.90: summa cum laude
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.75: magna cum laude
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.50: cum laude.

Diploma Distribution

Digital and physical diplomas are now being issued via Parchment
7-10 weeks after degrees are awarded and posted in CUNYfirst, graduates will receive an email notification with instructions for electronically claiming their diploma through the Parchment website. Please be advised that any holds that would prevent the issuance of a transcript (such as those for parking tickets, Auxiliary Services, or the Financial Aid Exit Interview) will also prevent the diploma from being sent out. Please email degreeaudit@csi.cuny.edu once the hold is lifted, and the team will be able to send the diploma to you via Parchment within 3 business days.

To claim your Parchment account please follow these 3 simple steps:

  1. Check your email for the award notification from Parchment.
  2. Follow the link provided by Parchment to set up your digital credentials account.
  3. Share your digital diploma on Facebook and LinkedIn or download a secure .pdf version.

Benefits of a Digital Diploma
Your digital diploma will always be accessible through your Parchment account. You can login and download or share it again and again -- at no cost to you. Once you claim your account and log in, you can share your achievements!

  • Easily share your digital diploma with employers with a secure and verified link
  • Share with family and friends on social media like Facebook and LinkedIn
  • View your digital diploma online at any time with permanent access through Parchment.com
  • Download your digital diploma and save it as a PDF Digital diplomas can serve as an Alternative to the Apostille
  • Many countries recognize digital diplomas. Parchment Award diplomas are supporting the needs of international credentials.

Paper Diplomas
Once you are able to access and view your digital diploma on the Parchment website, your paper diploma will not be far behind. Diplomas are shipped via the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to the mailing address we have on file for you, and you can check the status of your order through the Parchment website.

  1. Once you log in to your Parchment Account, click on Orders at the top of the page.
  2. On the next page you will be able to see the status of any diplomas you have requested, and their status. Digital diplomas will show Delivery Type: Electronic, while paper diplomas will show the Delivery Type: Mail.

If you have difficulty accessing your Parchment account or issues with your login, please contact Parchment directly for assistance on their website.

Replacement Diplomas
**To order your replacement diploma directly through Parchment, please click here.** - There is a $30 fee for each copy of a replacement diploma, paid directly to Parchment via their online storefront.  CSI is no longer responsible for collecting replacement diploma fees. 
While our office cannot guarantee retention of paper diplomas for longer than one year after the conferral date, if you graduated as of January 2020 or earlier and need assistance, please email degreeaudit@csi.cuny.edu.