Graduation requirements
If you prepare, earning your undergraduate degree from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media is as easy as 1, 2, 3 …
The Tar Heel Tracker is your OFFICIAL record of graduation requirements.
The Usage and Grammar Test is a graduation requirement for all UNC Hussman majors and second majors. Students are required to score 70 percent or better on the test before graduation.
In addition to the program requirements, the University requires undergraduate students to:
- successfully complete at least 120 semester hours of coursework.
- earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000.
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses.
- take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill.
- earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements.
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the UNC catalog.
Apply to graduate through the University Registrar using ConnectCarolina. Please refer to the registrar’s academic calendar to find out when ConnectCarolina applications will open.
If you do not see your expected semester and graduation year, do not apply yet.
Students are strongly encouraged to consult with a UNC Hussman adviser at least once a semester to ensure that they are on track to fulfill all graduation requirements.
Key Dates for Spring 2027
- Feb. 19: Graduation application priority deadline for Commencement Program for all students.
- March 12: Commencement program name changes – deadline for all names and/or name changes to appear in the Spring Commencement Program.
- April 14: Online application deadline for all students for degrees to be awarded in May.
- May 8: Spring 2027 commencement
See a full list of important graduation deadlines and dates.
**Please note that UNC Hussman students’ status will remain as “applied for graduation” until all final spring 2027 grades have been recorded.
Commencement FAQs
The University holds Winter Commencement and Spring Commencement ceremonies in December and May, respectively. Future University commencement dates, times, locations, speakers and more can be found on the UNC Commencement website.
The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media typically holds its departmental spring commencement ceremony in Carmichael Arena. Upcoming Hussman commencement dates, times, locations, speakers and more are added to the school website and calendar. For more information, please contact HussmanHub@unc.edu.
Tickets are not required and graduates can invite as many family and friends as they wish. Graduates are asked to arrive early to allow time to check in and line up alphabetically. Additional details — including information about parking, wheelchair and disability seating and more — will be posted on the school commencement ceremony page.
The ceremony generally lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Concession stands will not be open in Carmichael Arena, so water bottles are highly recommended for both guests and graduates.
Parking information: Guest parking, disability parking and staff parking information for departmental commencement ceremonies and the University’s ceremony is available on the UNC Transportation and Parking site.
General seating: No tickets are required for the ceremony, and guests will select their seats on first come, first served basis.
Wheelchair and disability entrance: Guests in wheelchairs and those with limited mobility should try to arrive at Carmichael Arena before the ceremony and look for signage marking the wheelchair and disability entrance. UNC Hussman staff will be present to direct you into the arena.
Disability seating: Carmichael Arena has accessible seating along the walkway between the lower and upper seating areas of the arena. UNC Hussman staff will be present to direct guests to disability seating. We ask that companions defer to guests in wheelchairs for space in the disability seating areas until the start of the ceremony. Space permitting, only one companion may join in that area. Seating for additional family members and friends will be reserved on the seating rows immediately below the accessible seating areas.
For more information, please contact HussmanHub@unc.edu.
For More information
For other questions or concerns, please contact the staff at the Undergraduate Hub at 919.962.6657 or hussmanhub@unc.edu.