Graduation

Application for Graduation

One quarter prior to graduation, each MBA candidate must file an online degree application. If for any reason a student must delay graduation to another quarter after the application has been submitted, the student must submit a new application and pay a fee assessed by the university. In order to graduate, students must have successfully completed all required courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.33, including a Pass for LEAD, have no outstanding Incompletes, and successfully retaken any failed courses and have fulfilled all financial obligations to the university. Students will not be allowed to graduate if any of these requirements are not met.

Graduation Ceremony (Convocation)

Every quarter, Chicago Booth confers degrees. Each Spring Quarter, the University of Chicago holds a ceremony for the graduates of all academic units officiated by the president of the university. Also in Spring Quarter, Chicago Booth hosts a ceremony for all graduates of the Full-Time MBA Program, Evening MBA Program, Weekend MBA Program, Sokolov Executive MBA Program, PhD Program, Master in Management Program and Master in Finance Program officiated by the dean of Chicago Booth.

Diploma Mailing

During the graduation application process, students supply a valid address to which diplomas will be mailed following receipt of final quarter grades and confirmation of GPA compliance. Students should expect diplomas to be mailed via US standard mail approximately six weeks after the end of the quarter.

Off-Cycle Graduation

Students whose graduation is delayed in order to complete required course work may not be permitted to graduate in the quarter in which the course work is completed. This is in order to allow time for final grades to be submitted. Once final grades are submitted, the MBA candidate must file the Booth Graduation Application form online via the intranet.

Students may delay graduation for only one quarter after completing all degree requirements. If a student fails to submit an application for graduation in the quarter the degree requirements are met, Chicago Booth will submit the application on the student’s behalf in the following quarter.

Honors Degrees

Chicago Booth offers two honors distinctions, Wallman Scholars and Honors. The Wallman Scholar distinction is assigned to the top five percent of the graduating class who are recognized in honor of the gift made in 2017 by Amy Wallman, ’75, and Richard F. Wallman, ’74. The Honors distinction is assigned to the next 15 percent. The calculation is based on GPA averages of all MBA graduates from the preceding academic year. Chicago Booth does not release the specific GPA cutoff information to students. The distinctions are based upon the following conditions:

  1. A student’s cumulative GPA in all courses completed through the second week of the quarter in which the student graduates. Grades earned in the quarter of graduation are not calculated into the GPA for Wallman Scholars and Honors determinations.
  2. Incomplete or blank grades on a graduating student’s record in any course at the time when Wallman Scholars and Honors are determined will be considered as a grade of F.

The distinction is noted on a student’s diploma and official transcript. Students receiving the distinction are notified by email in Week 6 of the graduating quarter.

Honors Distinction Post-Graduation

Chicago Booth grants Wallman Scholars and Honors distinctions post-graduation to alumni who qualify based on grades in their last quarter. Following the receipt of final grades, the Booth Registrar’s Office will compile graduates’ GPA information from all programs and all quarters for the previous academic year to determine who achieved distinction post-graduation. The University of Chicago official transcript and diploma will reflect this distinction.

Beta Gamma Sigma Society

Beta Gamma Sigma is a national honor society that encourages and recognizes scholarship and professional accomplishments in business. Students achieving honors and Wallman Scholars’ distinctions at graduation are nominated to Beta Gamma Sigma (nominations are completed once per year, in Spring Quarter). The local campus cohort program team will notify nominees of their status. Unlike postgraduation honors designations, there is no postgraduation GPA review for additional Beta Gamma Sigma nominations.

Taking Classes after Graduation

Alumni of the Sokolov Executive MBA Program have many opportunities to continue their lifelong learning at Chicago Booth, including:

  1. Alumni may register for open seats in the electives courses offered each August. Alumni will be expected to cover course registration, some meals, and activities. Schedules, registration instructions, and fee information will be sent via email in the spring prior to Electives Weeks. Alumni will be enrolled in the courses, which will appear on their transcripts with a grade of ‘R.’ Alumni are responsible for purchasing their own course materials.
  2. Alumni may take up to three courses in any Full-Time, Evening or Weekend Chicago Booth MBA programs. These courses are tuition free, but alumni must purchase their course materials. Alumni are eligible to register for open seats after all current students have registered for the class. Alumni will be registered for these courses as regular students. The courses will be graded (but may be taken pass/fail), and they will appear on the University of Chicago transcript. More information can be found at: chicagobooth.edu/offerings/taking-booth-classes. For alumni interested in taking courses in London or Hong Kong, requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, since all courses in those locations are cohorted.

Contact the local campus cohort program team for more information. For additional lifelong learning opportunities at Chicago Booth, please check out the website chicagobooth.edu/alumni/lifelong-learning. This page provides resources for Booth alumni to continue to engage with Booth’s esteemed faculty, research centers, and thought leadership through access to Chicago Booth Review content, Back to Booth courses, virtual and event programming, Executive Education, and more.

 

Global Career and Leadership Development (GCLD)

Chicago Booth offers lifetime access to a variety of career and leadership development resources, upon request. GCLD coaches students and alumni on better achieving career and leadership growth.