Academic Progress and Graduation
University Policy
School of Education Policy
Time Limits on Completion of a Degree/Certificate
Undergraduate Students
Bachelor’s degree candidates are allowed seven years from the date of acceptance to complete degree requirements. Courses taken more than seven years before the date of graduation are not counted toward the bachelor’s degree.
Leaves of absence do not extend the seven-year limit.
Graduate Students
Master of Education (EdM), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Mathematics for Teaching (MMT), and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) candidates are allowed six years from the date of admittance to complete degree or certificate requirements. Courses taken more than six years before the date of graduation are not counted toward the degree or certificate.
Doctoral (EdD) candidates are allowed seven years from the date of admittance to complete all degree requirements. Courses taken more than seven years before graduation do not count toward the degree.
Consideration of extensions beyond the six-year limit for EdM, MAT, and CAGS students and the seven-year limit for EdD students occurs only through a formal petition procedure. Leaves of absence do not extend the six- or seven-year limit.
Residency Requirement
Doctoral Students
The residency requirement may be met by being enrolled full time in coursework (12 credits or more) for two consecutive semesters or by holding a research or teaching assistant position or being employed at Boston University 35 hours or more per week and registering for a minimum of 8 credit hours for two consecutive semesters. For additional information, contact your academic advisor.
Applying for Graduation
Graduation applications are online. Please see the SED Graduation Website. Students must apply for graduation according to the following deadlines:
- February 1 for May
- June 1 for September
- November 1 for January
Tentative September graduates who wish to have their names listed in the May Commencement program prior to their graduation or to march in Commencement prior to receiving their degrees must submit petitions and graduation applications for September by February 1. Students may pick up a Waiver Rules and Regulations form at the SED Student Records office, Room 127.
Undergraduate Students
A Declaration of Intent to Graduate form, as well as a Senior Plan form, must be submitted to the SED Student Records Office, Room 127, one calendar year in advance of the intended date of graduation. You can download these forms from our website.
