General Graduation Requirements
Students planning on graduating should meet with an advisor the semester before they plan to graduate to make sure they have met all graduation requirements. The following requirements should be considered when applying for graduation:
- Complete all requirements for your degree or certificate.
- Maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average for all courses (unless the major/program requires a higher cumulative grade point average or requires minimum grades in individual courses).
- Complete a minimum of 25 percent of a degree's required courses at Del Mar College.
- Students may transfer hours from another accredited institution to Del Mar College in order to graduate from Del Mar College as long as all graduation requirements have been met as evaluated by the program department.
- All subsequent degrees must differ from the first degree by 20% of the required semester hours. This policy applies to degree and certificate programs. However, a student may pursue a degree or certificate that does not meet the 20% requirement if the certificate or degree is a stackable credential with a previously issued certificate.
- Complete and submit Graduation Application form along with a system-generated degree audit signed by your advisor to the Registrar's Office on or before the graduation application deadline.
- Meet all degree and/or certificate requirements as specified under your designated catalog.
- Clear your student records of any holds (academic or financial obligations).
- Return all property of the College including library books.
- Pay or make satisfactory arrangements to pay all financial obligations to the College.
If you do not initially meet the requirements for graduation, you must reapply for any subsequent graduations.
Graduation through Reverse Transfer
Reverse transfer provides an avenue for obtaining an associate degree after transferring to a university. Reverse transfer establishes policies and procedures for credits earned at universities to be transferred to Del Mar College and applied toward an associate degree. Students who have already graduated with an associate degree are not eligible for Reverse Transfer.
Students who have earned at least 30 SCH at a community college and completed a total of 66 SCH may be eligible for reverse transfer.
Reverse transfer students must apply for graduation by submitting a completed Graduation Application form to the Registrar's Office. The Graduation Application form (PDF) (https://www.delmar.edu/offices/registrar/_resources/graduation-application.pdf) is available for download or alternatively can be obtained by visiting the Registrar’s Office. Students must provide official copies of transcripts prior to the end of their graduation term. Standard catalog designation policy applies for reverse transfer students.
Catalog Designation for Graduation
The Catalog that is in effect upon your entry or reentry into Del Mar College determines the degree and/or certificate requirements that you must meet for graduation. It is your responsibility to know and satisfy all of the requirements in your designated catalog. Catalog designations are made according to the following guidelines:
- If you are entering Del Mar College for the first time, you are assigned to the Catalog that is in effect at the semester of entry. You must follow the degree requirements as specified in that Catalog, as long as the length of time of your attendance does not exceed five years.
- If your attendance at Del Mar College exceeds five years, you forfeit the initial Catalog designation. You must then meet the degree and/or certificate requirements specified in the Catalog in effect in the sixth or subsequent year of enrollment.
- If you are absent for two or more regular (fall or spring) semesters, you must meet the degree and/or certificate requirements of the Catalog in effect at the time of re-entry.
- If you are a Reverse Transfer student, you must meet the catalog requirements at the time of your departure from Del Mar College. If you have been absent for longer than five years, then you must satisfy the requirements for the catalog year at the time your graduation application has been received.
Application for Graduation
You are required to apply for graduation at the Registrar’s Office on the Heritage, Oso Creek, Windward Campus by the deadline for the semester in which you intend to graduate. For specific graduation application deadlines, please see the 2024–2025 Academic Calendar section of the Catalog.
Regalia
Graduates must wear the designated Del Mar College academic regalia. You need to purchase regalia for graduation. Information on how to purchase regalia will be provided to you at the time of application for graduation.
Diplomas
Diplomas are mailed to you approximately eight weeks after the semester ends. The honors available that can be posted on diplomas are as follows:
- Cum Laude
- Magna Cum Laude
- Summa Cum Laude
- Phi Theta Kappa
- Sigma Alpha Pi
- Alpha Beta Gamma
Commencement
Graduation is held twice a year: May and December. If you are currently enrolled in your last semester of classes, you may apply for graduation and participate in the commencement ceremonies. Participation in the ceremonies and/or inclusion in the commencement program does not constitute evidence of completion of program or honors requirements. Only after verification of completion of all graduation requirements will a student be awarded a certificate or degree.