Graduation Information

gradsGraduation represents the culmination of all of your hard work and effort as a Lawson State student! Use the information below to ensure that you have met all of the needed requirements to join the esteem group of Lawson State Alumni!

Lawson State Graduation Requirements

The below information provides details on Lawson State graduation requirements. Email records@lawsonstate.edu for questions.  

Currently enrolled students should apply for graduation through their MyLawson under graduation application.     
All other students should Click here to apply for graduation.

A student must: 

  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of college credit for AA or AS degrees and 60-76 semester hours of college credit for AOT and AAS degrees in an approved program of study, including prescribed general education courses.
  • Earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses attempted at the College.  All grades in repeated courses will be averaged into the grade point average; however, a course may be counted only once for the purposes of meeting graduation requirements unless specifically noted in the College Catalog that the course may be repeated for credit.
  • Complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for the degree at Lawson State Community College.

A Student must:

  • Satisfactorily complete an approved program of study.
  • Earn a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses attempted at the College.  All grades in repeated courses will be averaged into the grade point average; however, a course may be counted only once for the purposes of meeting graduation requirements unless specifically noted in the College Catalog that the course may be repeated for credit.
  • Complete at least 25% of the total semester credit hours required in the program at Lawson State Community College.

In order to receive a degree / certificate / short certificate from Lawson State Community College, a student must complete the following:

  • Submit a formal application for graduation in according with institutional policy and pay the graduation fee if applicable.
  • Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
  • Satisfy requirements as stated in the current College Catalog at the time of graduation or as stated in catalog at the time of entry into the College.


Commencement exercises to award degrees and certificates to students in respective divisions are at the conclusion of the fall and spring semester.  A graduation fee is charged to each graduating student.  The specific date of the commencement exercise is listed  in  the  College  calendar. Students must fulfill all financial obligations to Lawson State before any award is released.

Certificate

  • Graduation with Distinction (3.50 to 4.00)

Calculation of the GPA for graduation honors shall be identical to that method used to calculate the GPA to fulfill graduation requirements (degree, diploma, or certificate being earned).  In addition, to be eligible for a graduation honor, the student must have completed a minimum of 32 semester credit hours at the college conferring the degree.

(AA,AS,AAS,AOT)

  • Superior academic achievement by graduating students shall be recognized by the following designations on transcripts:
  • Graduation with Honors (Cum Laude3.50 to 3.69)
  • Graduation with High Honors (Magna Cum Laude3.70 to 3.89)
  • Graduation with Highest Honors (Summa Cum Laude 3.90 to 4.00)

 * Short Certificates are not eligible for honors

If a student repeats a course once, the second grade awarded (excluding grades of AU, W and WP) replaces the first grade in the computation of the cumulative grade point average.  The grade and grade point average during the term in which the course was first attempted will not be affected.

When a course is repeated more than once, all grades for the course, excluding the first grade, will be employed in computation of the cumulative grade point average.  Official records at the institution will list each course in which a student has enrolled.  A repeated course will count only once toward the requirements for graduation.

Repeating courses may or may not affect federal financial aid.  For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
A student may earn a second associate degree by completing (in residence with an average grade of "C" or better) at least 18 semester hours of work over and above work done for the first degree, including a new major.The first degree must be based on at least 64 semester hours of fully accredited work.  All requirements for the second degree major must be complete. Second-degree programs should be submitted to the Vice President for Instructional Services for approval in advance.  Statue of limitation is five (5) years.

All graduating students are required to complete the Graduating Student Survey.For career services and college transfer support, please contact Ms. Akilih Haley. 

Akilih M. Haley, Career & College Transfer Services Coordinator

Tel: (205) 929-3514 

ahaley@lawsonstate.edu

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