Candidacy for Degree Status
Undergraduate:
Students are recommended to the Board of Trustees as degree candidates. All students who anticipate receiving degrees must apply for candidacy status. Diplomas are issued three times a year, in August, December and May.
The due date for filing the Graduation Application is September 30. Applications should be submitted directly to the Registrar's Office.
Late submissions will not be accepted and can hinder progress towards graduation.
The Undergraduate Application for Graduation is reviewed by the Registrar's Office. After an audit of the student's academic record is completed, the student will be advised of outstanding credits needed for degree completion.
Application for an Exception to Walk in May 2026 Commencement
Graduate:
The deadline for applying for graduation is September 30 of each year. Students for whom a December, May, or August graduation date is possible will be notified by @steu.edu email and will be required to complete and submit an Application for Graduation to the Registrar's Office.
Final approvals will be secured through review of the student's record by the director of the student's graduate program. The student will be billed the graduation fee, along with appropriate tuition and fees for the last semester.
Application for an Exception to Walk in May 2026 Commencement
Petitioning to Walk in Commencement
Purpose of Policy
This policy is designed to make the University community aware of the circumstances in which students may petition to walk in Commencement before they have completed the required credit hours for their course of study.
The Policy
An undergraduate or graduate student may petition for an exception that allows them to walk in Commencement before completing their coursework if:
- They are in good academic standing.
- They have eight (8) or fewer credit hours remaining for degree completion.
- They have registered for the credit hours necessary for degree completion during the summer session.
- They have secured the written permission of their Academic Advisor, Program/Department Chair, and Dean.
Additional criteria and conditions appear below.
Undergraduate:
The University Commencement is held once a year, in May. Undergraduate students who have completed their degree requirements are invited to participate in this ceremony. Students must complete an Application for Undergraduate Degree by the due dates. Students with outstanding financial obligations can participate in the graduation ceremony but will not receive a diploma.
Students who have completed a degree the preceding August or December can participate in the May ceremony. All records for students completing degrees in August and December will carry the actual date of the degree completion
Graduate:
Degrees are conferred in May at a formal commencement ceremony which is conducted only once each year for those who have completed all degree requirements the previous summer or fall, or who complete requirements at the conclusion of that spring semester. However, the University provides the opportunity for students who have completed degree requirements and who do not wish to participate in the May Commencement to receive their diplomas at the conclusion of each academic term: fall, spring, or summer.
Master’s degree students who have uncompleted academic requirements may participate in the graduation ceremony if they have no more than two classes (a maximum of 8 credits) outstanding and if they are registered for the remaining credits for the summer sessions. In that case, they will be considered an August graduate.
Doctoral students who have completed their coursework and attained the required grade point average and who have applied to defend their doctoral dissertations by February 15th annually and who have defended their doctoral dissertations successfully by April 15th annually may participate in Commencement.
Students who complete degree requirements in the fall will have their diplomas dated January of the following year. Students who complete degree requirements at the end of spring will have their diplomas dated that May. Students who complete degree requirements in the summer will have their diplomas dated September of that year.
Grades are available through Self-Service, but a hard copy can be requested from the Registrar's Office at (973) 290-4441.
The Petition for Permission to Walk in Commencement requires the petitioning student to acknowledge in writing that they have not yet fulfilled the degree requirements necessary for graduation and that they understand that participating in the Commencement ceremony does not indicate or imply that the student has graduated from Saint Elizabeth University.
Combined Degree Programs
- B.S. Business Administration/M.S. Management
- B.S./B.A. with a minor in Business Administration/M.S. Management
- B.S. Foods and Nutrition/M.S. Nutrition
- B.A. Justice Studies/M.A. Justice Administration and Public Service
- B.A. Psychology/M.A. Counseling Psychology
- B.A. Education/M.A. Education
- B.A. Religious Studies/M.A. Theology
Combined degree programs at SEU allow highly motivated, eligible undergraduate SEU students to begin earning a master's degree while completing their undergraduate degree. Eligible students can take graduate level courses (see specific program description for number of graduate courses that can be taken as an undergraduate) which will be double-counted. The graduate courses can be applied as free electives toward completion of the undergraduate program. When the undergraduate program is completed, those credits will be transferred onto the graduate record.
Students in the combined degree program will be classified as undergraduate students until completion of the bachelor's degree.
Eligible students will:
- Have earned Junior status (63 or more credits)
- Have the required cumulative GPA for the program to which they are applying
- Complete and submit a Combined Degree Application to the appropriate graduate program director
- Be provisionally accepted into the graduate program after they are approved by the program director
- Be matriculated into the graduate program after graduating with a SEU bachelor's degree and being accepted by the program director. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 when they complete the bachelor's program to continue with graduate studies.
Degree Requirements
Undergraduate:
- Demonstrate competency in the basic academic skills of writing, reading, and mathematics
- Fulfill the requirements of their major(s)
- Pass the Capstone Experience Requirement in their major(s)
- Complete the University's General Education curriculum
- Successfully complete 120 credits of academic work applied to the degree
- Attain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average
Graduate:
- Saint Elizabeth University confers graduate degrees upon students who successfully complete all course work with a grade point average of 3.00, fulfill the credit requirements of the specific program, and, where required, successfully complete and present a culminating/capstone project.
Culminating/capstone projects may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the development of a professional portfolio, the completion of a thesis or action research project, a professional work sample, and/or an internship experience.
- Additional information and specific guidelines are available from the director of the graduate program.
Graduation
Undergraduate:
The University Commencement is held once a year, in May. Undergraduate students who have completed their degree requirements and attained the required grade point average are invited to participate in this ceremony. Students must complete an Application for Undergraduate Degree by the due dates.
Students who have completed a degree the preceding August or December may participate in the May ceremony. All records for students completing degrees in August and December will carry the actual date of the degree completion.
Students who have uncompleted academic requirements may participate in the graduation ceremony if they have no more than two classes (a maximum of 8 credits) outstanding and if they are registered for the remaining credits for the summer sessions. In that case, they will be considered an August graduate.
Students with outstanding financial obligations can participate in the graduation ceremony but will not receive a diploma.
Graduate:
Degrees are conferred in May at a formal commencement ceremony for those who have completed all degree requirements the previous August or December, or who completed requirements at the conclusion of that spring semester.
Master’s degree students who have uncompleted academic requirements may participate in the graduation ceremony if they have no more than two classes (a maximum of 8 credits) outstanding and if they are registered for the remaining credits for the summer sessions. In that case, they will be considered an August graduate.
Doctoral students who have completed their coursework and attained the required grade point average and who have applied to defend their doctoral dissertations by April 15th (Ed.D.) or May 1st (PsyD) may participate in Commencement.
Diplomas:
Students who complete degree requirements in the fall will have their diplomas dated January of the following year. Students who complete degree requirements at the end of spring will have their diplomas dated that May. Students who complete degree requirements in the summer will have their diplomas dated September of that year.
The University provides the opportunity for students who have completed degree requirements and who do not wish to participate in the May Commencement to receive their diplomas at the conclusion of each academic term: fall, spring, or summer.
Grades are available through Self-Service, but a hard copy can be requested from the Registrar's Office at (973) 290-4441.
Second Baccalaureate Degree
To earn a second baccalaureate degree, a student must fulfill the following requirements:
- Students must be accepted by Saint Elizabeth University in accordance with the current admission policies and procedures. Applicants will be considered transfer students.
- Students must complete a minimum of 32 credits at Saint Elizabeth University beyond the first degree, with a minimum of 24 credits in the new major.
- Students must complete Element III of the SEU Essentials Program. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average for the additional work, unless the major requires a higher average
Undergraduate Degrees Conferred
Saint Elizabeth University confers four undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Social Work.