Graduation

The university confers degrees three times during the academic year: at the end of the fall semester, at the end of the spring semester and at the end of the summer semester.  Formal commencement ceremonies are held in May and December.  Students earning degrees in summer or fall semesters will belong to the class of the spring commencement next succeeding.

Graduation Requirements:

Progress

It is expected that a student will need no more than five years to complete the MLA degree. Permission of the Graduate Council is necessary in order to remain a candidate for the degree beyond this time limit. Students must complete at least one MLA course per year and maintain regular contact with their assigned graduate advisors in order to remain candidates for the degree.

Download the MLA Graduation Check Sheet here.

More information on MLA degree requirements can be found on the MLA Academics page.

Apply to Graduate

You must apply to graduate by the appropriate deadline!  Applications submitted after the deadline will require a $100 late application fee.

May graduation – Apply by Dec. 1 of the preceding year

Summer graduation – Apply by June 1

December graduation – Apply by Sept. 1

Submitting the application well in advance of the deadline allows time for notification of outstanding requirements, giving you the opportunity to correct a problem that may prevent you from graduating as planned.

Download the MLA Application for Graduation here.

Commencement Ceremony

The December Commencement Ceremony will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Downtown Asheville.  Please visit the Commencement Web page for full details.