Degree Requirements and Graduation

Commencement Ceremonies

The University awards degrees three times per year. The award dates are the last day of finals for each term; Summer, Fall, and Spring. LMU celebrates its Commencement Ceremonies only at the end of the Spring semester.

LMU honors at the Commencement Ceremonies its newest graduates with a celebration of achievement for family and friends. Participation is granted to those students who will be receiving their degrees in one of five terms: the previous Summer and Fall as well as Spring, Summer, and Fall of the Commencement year. Students who are ready to graduate must submit an application for degree in PROWL to identify the semester in which they expect to complete their degree and graduation requirements. Undergraduate students must have 85 completed credits to apply for degree conferral. Graduate Program completed credits needed to apply vary by program. Participation in the honorary ceremony does not mean that a degree has been awarded.

Classification of Undergraduate Students

The classification of undergraduate students is determined by the number of semester hours completed at LMU with passing grades and, if applicable, accepted transfer work.

Lower-division students are considered:

First-Year if they have satisfied entrance requirements and completed fewer than 30 semester hours
Sophomores when they have completed at least 30 but fewer than 59 semester hours

Upper-division students are considered:

Juniors when they have completed at least 60 but fewer than 89 semester hours
Seniors when they have completed at least 90 semester hours

Concurrent Enrollment

Concurrent Enrollment, defined as taking courses during regular sessions (fall and spring terms) for credit at LMU and, at the same time, at another institution is not permitted and no credit will be awarded. During LMU’s summer term(s), students may concurrently enroll at LMU and at another institution.

Core Curriculum

The University Core Curriculum's mission is to provide a shared intellectual foundation for every undergraduate student at LMU, and fosters a love of learning that students can carry into their future lives. Through the Core, students will:

Develop fundamental skills in writing, speaking, and quantitative and analytical reasoning;
Examine God, self, society, and the world using a variety of methods and perspectives;
Become creative and critical thinkers;
Become people for others.

Core Advising and Policies are as follows. More details and a full overview of the Core can be found on their website.

A student must receive a "C-" or higher to pass a Core course.
Foundations and Explorations requirements may be fulfilled with transfer courses valued at 3 semester hours or courses accepted as the equivalent from institutions on the quarter system (2.668 semester hour equivalent) or higher will be considered for Core requirements.
All students must complete all 13 Core attributes across the three areas: Foundations, Explorations, and Integrations (with the exception of Engineering students who are exempt from Interdisciplinary Connections). Transfer students may have some Core requirements waived. See "Info for Transfer Students."
- Integrations University Core Requirements are upper-division requirements and may only be taken at LMU or transferred in through an LMU approved Study Abroad program.
A single course may satisfy only one Core requirement (with the exception of the Engaged Learning and Experiential Learning for Mission flags which can be part a course with another Core attribute).
First-Year students should take Rhetorical Arts and First Year Seminar in different semesters of Year 1. First-Year students cannot transfer courses to fulfill Rhetorical Arts and First Year seminar.
Transfer Students may transfer courses to fulfill Rhetorical Arts and First Year Seminar at the point of admission. However, once a student has matriculated to LMU, Rhetorical Arts and First Year seminar must be completed at LMU.
For all students, AP credits do not count towards any waivers based on total semester hours.
Although the order in which Core courses are completed is flexible, students are strongly encouraged to take the remaining Foundations courses in Years 1 and 2, Explorations courses in Years 2 and 3, and Integrations courses in Years 3 and 4.
Students may satisfy major requirements with Core courses when the courses are approved for both the major and Core.

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List is an honorary academic acknowledgment for undergraduate students which is printed on the transcript at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. The list consists of full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students who must have in a term:

Completed all courses, with minimum of 14 semester hours at LMU
Received letter grades in at least 12 semester hours of which none is an “F”
Earned a cumulative term grade point average of 3.50 or higher

Degree Requirements

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Candidates for an undergraduate degree at Loyola Marymount University must complete all requirements for a bachelor’s degree as set forth by the University, their college or school, and academic departments or programs. Each baccalaureate degree comprises Core curriculum and upper and lower division major requirements. Failure to understand those requirements does not relieve a student of his or her responsibility.

All candidates for a baccalaureate degree at LMU must fulfill the following requirements:

For the primary academic major complete a minimum of 120 semester hours, including core curriculum, program requirements, and 45 semester hours of upper-division course work. Certain programs require more than 120 semester hours and are under the appropriate department listings.
All courses taken at LMU must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0). All courses taken in the major, minor, or area of concentration must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0). To satisfy a Core requirement (other than a flag requirement), a course must be completed with a grade of C- or better. To satisfy a flag requirement, a course must be completed with a grade of D or better.
Fulfill the requirements for any declared academic secondary major or primary or secondary minor, including those set forth by the department and/or College or School.
At least 30 of the last 36 semester hours for the bachelor’s degree must be taken in residence at LMU. At least two-thirds of the upper division semester hours of the major must be taken in residence at LMU, unless, for programmatic purposes, the Dean and the Chair of the major department deem an exception appropriate.
1. Up to 18 units earned as transfer work through LMU-approved study abroad can be applied towards LMU’s residency requirement but cannot exceed the transfer policy of 60 units of lower-division or 90 units of upper-division unit for a total maximum of 90 transfer units.
Fulfill the academic regulations printed in the University Bulletin in effect at the time of entrance or for those in effect in the senior year provided the student maintains continuous enrollment for the length of the degree program. A student who changes their program of study subsequent to admission to the University may be held responsible for the academic regulations in effect at the time of the declaration or change. A student who interrupts LMU enrollment for more than two years is subject to the academic regulations in effect in the University Bulletin at the time of readmission.
Fulfill the requirements specified in Baccalaureate Graduation Requirements and Degree Conferral.

Baccalaureate Graduation Requirements and Degree Conferral

The date of degree posted on a student’s diploma is the one by which all graduation requirements are completed or documents are submitted. The degree dates are the last day of finals for each term; Summer, Fall, and Spring. Requirements include:

Submitting an Application for Degree form to the Office of the Registrar by the stated deadline in the term in which all academic and graduation requirements will have been met. If a student is canceled for graduation in a given term, the student must submit a new Application for Degree form for a subsequent graduation term.
The completion of all incomplete work prior to the degree date of that term. A grade of Incomplete or IP at the time of degree posting renders the student ineligible for that degree date.
Students who have taken coursework at other institutions must submit an official transcript showing the graded course(s) and transfer course approval form (if not previously submitted) to the Office of the Registrar no later than 30 working days after the end of the LMU semester. The transfer course(s) must be completed in a term which ends prior to the degree date.

Second Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

The pursuit of a second baccalaureate degree is not allowed unless a student already possesses an earned bachelor’s degree prior to commencing the second bachelor’s program. LMU students who would like to pursue a second bachelor's degree must complete their bachelor's degree first and then apply via Admissions to begin a new program.
An LMU student may not be enrolled in a primary degree program and concurrently begin a second bachelor’s program.
The major program of the second bachelor’s degree must be different from the first major.

All candidates for a second baccalaureate degree at LMU must fulfill the following requirements:

Already possess an awarded bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Complete a minimum of 30 semester hours at LMU beyond those required for the first degree; these must include at least 24 semester hours of upper division work and at least 20 semester hours of upper division work in the major field of study.
Fulfill the core requirements of the College or School in which the major is offered.
Satisfy all the requirements for the major.
Fulfill the requirements specified in the Baccalaureate Graduation Requirements and Degree Conferral.

Graduate Degree Requirements

Candidates for a graduate degree at Loyola Marymount University must complete all requirements for a master’s or doctoral degree as set forth by the University, their college or school, and academic departments or programs. Failure to understand these requirements does not relieve a student of his or her responsibility. All candidates for a graduate degree at LMU must fulfill the following requirements:

For a master’s degree, complete a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours (500, 600, 5000, and 6000 level) beyond an earned baccalaureate degree. A minimum B (3.0) cumulative grade point average is necessary to qualify for completion of a program. See individual program descriptions for specific and additional graduation requirements.
For a doctoral degree in Education, complete a minimum of 52 graduate semester hours (7000-level courses) beyond an earned master’s degree. A minimum B (3.0) cumulative grade point average is necessary to qualify for completion of a program. See individual program descriptions for specific and additional graduation requirements.
The normal time allowed for the completion of graduate degree programs is five years. A student who has not completed the degree within five years must request an extension of time. If the extension is granted by the Dean of the student’s college or school, the student may be required to undertake additional coursework. Some departments have a shorter limit for the completion of the program; see individual program descriptions for further information.
Fulfill the requirements specified in Graduate Graduation Requirements and Degree Conferral.

Graduate Graduation Requirements and Degree Conferral

Submitting a completed Application for Degree to the Office of the Registrar by the stated deadline in the term in which all graduation requirements will have been met. If a student is canceled for graduation in a given term, the student must submit a new Application for Degree for the appropriate graduation term.
The completion of all incomplete work prior to the degree date of that term. A grade of Incomplete or IP at the time of graduation renders the student ineligible for that degree date.
Students who have taken coursework at other institutions must submit an official transcript showing the graded course(s) and transfer course approval form (if not previously submitted) to the Office of the Registrar no later than 30 working days after the end of the LMU semester. The transfer course(s) must be completed in a term which ends prior to the degree date.

Diplomas

Diplomas are granted and mailed to students who have completed all academic degree requirements and who have no outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Double Credit

Undergraduate

A minor consists of at least 15 units. A course may fulfill a requirement for both a major and a minor. However, a student must complete a minimum of 6 units in a minor that are not counting towards any other program in which the student is enrolled. A course may count for more than one major program when the programs require the specific course.

Graduate

A student who wishes to enroll for a second Master’s degree in the School of Education may apply up to three core courses towards a second Master’s degree. For other graduate programs, no more than two courses may be counted toward a second degree upon prior approval from the respective Deans’ offices.

Transcripts

Transcripts show all Loyola Marymount University work completed as of the transcript print date. Work in progress is noted on the transcript. Transcripts will not be issued when a student has outstanding financial obligations to the University. Official transcripts of courses taken at the University are issued only with the permission of the student concerned. Unofficial or partial transcripts are not issued.

Transcripts from other institutions, which have been presented for admission or evaluation, become a part of the student’s permanent academic file and are not returned to the student. Students desiring transcripts covering work attempted elsewhere should request them from the appropriate institutions.