CAS Rules and Requirements
- Martin Walls
- Allison DeVoe
Time to Degree Completion
You must meet all requirements for the CAS degree within seven years. If you do not meet this requirement, you may petition your program faculty for reinstatement of credits that were completed outside the seven-year time frame.
Continuous Registration Requirement
You must be continuously registered at Syracuse University during each fall and spring semester. If you are not registering for course work, you must register for GRD 998: Degree in Progress for 0 credit hours.
For the first four semesters, there is no fee to register for GRD 998 other than a student activity fee. You will be charged a $500 fee plus the student activity fee when you register for the fifth semester of GRD 998 and beyond.
This $500 fee indicates continuing engagement in a graduate program; it recognizes the continuing use of faculty, staff, and institutional resources, even during periods when courses are not being taken. It is designed to encourage you to enroll in courses on a continuous basis so that you complete your degree program expeditiously. Finally, it maintains your active status in the program
Leave of Absence (LOA)
If circumstances are such that you have to register for GRD 998 for an extended period of time, you may take a one-year Leave of Absence. If you feel you need more than one year, you must take a permanent Leave of Absence.
If you decide that you want to resume your studies in the School of Education, you can contact your faculty advisor to be readmitted. A Leave of Absence cannot be taken retroactively.
CAS Procedures
Program of Study
Some programs may require a CAS Program of Study form:
The Program of Study form may not be required for programs in which all students have the same requirements; your Degree Works audit page will be used.
However, any exceptions or substitutions to the courses listed on your audit page must be approved, using a Petition to Faculty form.
Culminating Experience
If your CAS program requires a culminating experience, find out from your program:
The nature of the requirement, and what you have to do to meet it.
If you have to complete a form to register for this requirement.
When you should begin the requirement, and how much time is typically required.
Whether you need to collect artifacts for a portfolio throughout your program.
Whether you must have completed most or all coursework to start preparing for an exam.
Awarding of Certificate
Completion of your coursework and other requirements determines the appropriate degree award date.
Syracuse University awards degrees and certificates four times a year (May, June, August, and December) but has only one graduation ceremony, in May.
If you complete all requirements by May, June, or August deadlines and wish to participate in the ceremony in May, you must file your diploma request no later than the end of January of that year.
If you complete all requirements by the deadlines for the December graduation date, you are eligible to participate in the following May’s ceremony. In this case, you should file your diploma request no later than the end of September before your graduation date.
Submit a diploma request before your last semester via MySlice.
The diploma request is used for four purposes: to enter your name for an anticipated degree date; to initiate an audit of your academic program requirements; to allow you to indicate special instructions for mailing and imprinting your diploma; and to insure your receipt of commencement information.
Diplomas are mailed approximately eight weeks after your degree is certified. Be certain to provide an address that will be valid at that time.
Official degree-bearing transcripts may be ordered once the degree is posted by the University Registrar. The degree is never posted until the degree date, and often takes longer while we wait for grades, missing paperwork, etc.