Graduation
In addition to the regulations outlined under the sections dealing with degree requirements in this catalog, a degree candidate must have earned at least 27 semester hours of credit from Golden Gate Seminary. All assigned work for the final semester for a prospective graduate must be completed and in the hands of the professors involved by the end of the week preceding graduation, unless the professor requires it earlier. An overall grade point average of at least 1.70 is required for graduation.
Application
To allow adequate time for the Registrar’s Office to complete a graduation check prior to a student’s last semester, graduation applications are due on the last day of the semester preceding the student’s final semester (last day of the fall semester for spring graduation; last day of the spring semester for fall graduation). Late graduation applications and changes to processed applications are subject to a late fee.
Ceremony
Students are expected to be present for graduation. Graduation in absentia will be permitted only by submission and approval of the REQUEST FOR EXCEPTION TO GRADUATION POLICY form.
Policy on Granting Degree Posthumously
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary occasionally experiences the tragedy of a death in its student body. In such instances the awarding of a posthumous degree may be an appropriate way to acknowledge the deceased and bring closure to a tragic situation for the family as well as for the Seminary community. If at the time of his/her death a student was a current student in good academic standing, within one year of graduation (e.g., has completed all but 24 hours needed for graduation) and the student's cause of death was not due to any unlawful activity, either the family of the deceased student or a Seminary faculty member may initiate a request for the posthumous granting of a degree by exception (i.e., waiving the uncompleted degree requirements).
A request for the granting of a degree by exception posthumously should be sent to the office of the Registrar who will confirm the student's status and forward the request to the Faculty. If a majority of the faculty votes to grant the degree the student's name will be included with those of other graduates at the next scheduled graduation ceremony, details of the degree conferral inserted into the deceased student's permanent file and the diploma delivered to the next of kin.