Honors 

• Honors apply only to undergraduate degrees.
  
  

• Students who have achieved a grade point average overall in one of the following categories may be eligible for honors. This gpa must be maintained in Murray State coursework as well. In addition, honors recipients must have earned a minimum of 45 semester hours at MSU with 32 of these hours being upper division credit. If one of these categories is deficient, the student will not receive honors.

• It is important to note that if the overall gpa falls in one category and the gpa at MSU falls in another category, the grade point average in the lowest category will be the deciding factor (assuming that all other criteria have been met).
  
  
• Honors for second degree recipients are based on the above criteria and the following.
  
  
• If both degrees are earned at Murray State honors will be calculated based on grades received cumulatively.  If the second degree only is earned at Murray State, honors will be calculated based on grades received at Murray.
  
  

Diplomas 

Diploma Format

• The size of all diplomas is 11 x 14 inches. The degree title will appear in the center of the diploma beneath the name. Majors and minors are not listed on the diploma. Degree honors, if appropriate, are printed below the degree title.
  
  
• Names will be printed on the diploma as they are listed on the degree application. The general format is first name, middle name, last name. Nicknames will not be printed.
  
  
• Diplomas will be mailed to the permanent address listed on the student’s degree application approximately 6-8 weeks after graduation. The Registrar’s Office should be notified immediately if there is a change to this address.
  
  

Commencement 

• Murray State University degrees are conferred at the end of the Spring, Summer, and Fall terms.  Commencement ceremonies are held twice a year; in the Spring and in the Fall.  They are usually held on the second Saturday in May and the final week of classes in December, exact dates to be determined by the Provost's Office.
  
  
• Names of May graduates will be printed in the Spring Commencement program and names of August and December graduates will be printed in the Fall Commencement program. All graduates are encouraged to attend the exercises.

        Click here to view a list of Commencement participants for the current semester.

• A meeting of all degree candidates is held at 12:30 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium the Wednesday immediately preceding the ceremony. Instructions are provided at that time. Caps, gowns, hoods, stoles, and honor cords are available for purchase at the University Store. Invitations may also be ordered. For additional information regarding prices, availability dates, etc., contact Jack Vaughn at the University Store.

For additional commencement information, contact Mary Ann Hargrove in the Office of Academic Affairs or the Graduation Office.