Graduation

The deadline to apply for graduation is the 10th day of class of the semester in which you intend to graduate.  

Please visit the Testudo Graduate Candidate Application for more information and to apply.

Before submitting your diploma application, be sure to check your Degree Audit to ensure that you have satisfied all of your degree requirements. If you have any questions about whether or not you have completed the requirements, visit GEOG advisor.

Only those students who will satisfy ALL of their degree requirements by the end of that semester should submit a diploma application. If you are completing your degree requirements during the summer or winter session and wish to participate in the commencement ceremony please see GEOG advisor

Late Diploma Applications: If students do not complete the online graduation application by the end of the schedule adjustment period of the semester in which they plan to graduate, please contact GEOG advisor for instructions on how to complete a late application.

Campuswide Commencement

The campuswide Spring 2025 Commencement will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21 at SECU Stadium. All graduates who completed their degrees in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or are on track to complete their degree in Spring of 2025 are eligible to attend.

Find more information on Campuswide Commencement.

BSOS Commencement

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 / Ceremony #1, 12 p.m. & Ceremony #2, 3:00 p.m. / Xfinity Center

In addition to the campus-wide ceremony, BSOS and the other colleges and schools will hold ceremonies. BSOS college ceremonies for August 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 graduates will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. There will be two ceremonies for BSOS units; the organization of the ceremonies is displayed below.

*May 2025 ceremonies will include August 2024, December 2024, and May 2025 graduates. We estimate approximately 700-800 graduates per ceremony, based on the number of graduates and pre-pandemic attendance rates.

Find more information on BSOS Commencement.

Regalia

Graduation regalia is required. All students can purchase regalia from the University Book Center or online from Oak Hall. Bachelor's degree candidate regalia are available for purchase only.

Faculty and staff should contact GEOG's commencement coordinator, Renata Johnson, at @email for assistance with bulk regalia orders or order online. Faculty and staff regalia will be available for pick-up in early May.

Join our University of Maryland Alumni Facebook page to keep in contact and stay up to date on jobs, fellowships and career opportunities!

Join our LinkedIn Geography Department page and our Geog Alumni Group and keep us updated on your recent achievements for a chance to be featured as our Alumni of the Month on our main webpage.  

We receive many job announcements target to recent graduates. If you are a recent graduate and would like to hear about these career opportunities, subscribe to our GEOG Recent Alumni Listserv.

Consider joining the UMD Alumni Association and check out the BSOS Alumni page.

The next generation of UMD alumni needs your advice.  Consider serving as a UMD Terrapin Connect Mentor to provide information to Geographical Sciences students on your career path, organization culture, as well as have the option to give resume/interviewing advice.  Visit the Terrapin Connect page and follow the directions on the screen to sign up.  UMD alumni can register to serve as Advisors in as little as 3 minutes, if they have a LinkedIn account. Click here to learn how it works!