A Degree Planning Guide (also known as a Degree Audit) lists all degree requirements that a student must complete to earn their degree. A Degree Planning Guide is automatically sent to students during the last semester of their junior year as they prepare for their senior year and again after the first semester of their senior year. The Degree Planning Guide includes approved transfer credits, completed courses and courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

A student may request a copy of their Degree Planning Guide at any time to check their progress toward their degree. Requests can be made in person at the Office of Registration and Records, by fax at 310-665-6956 or by email at otisreg@otis.edu. Please provide your name, student id number, major and your signature on your request. Please indicate in your request if you would like to pick up your guide or have it mailed to you. Degree Planning Guides cannot be faxed.

Degree Planning Guides take 24 hours to process.

Discrepancies may occur due to the following reasons:

• Transfer credit - Official transcripts and a Request for Course Approval form must be on file in the Office of Registration and Records before transfer credit can be applied. Transfer courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better for undergraduate students and a grade of "B" or better for graduate students. When transfer credit has not been applied, the official transcript and/or the Request for Course Approval signed by the appropriate department chair are missing.
• Course Substitutions - If you took another course at Otis in place of a listed degree requirement, a Request for Course Approval form signed by the appropriate department chair and approved by the Registrar must be on file in the Office of Registration and Records before credit can be applied. When a course substitution has not been applied, the Request for Course Approval form is missing.
  

I am completing my final degree requirements this semester, how can I make sure my degree is awarded?

A: Students anticipating graduation must do the following:

• Complete a Petition for Graduation (available in the Registration and Records Office)
• Clear their account with the Student Accounts Office
• Schedule an exit interview with the Financial Aid Office

A final degree audit will be performed to determine that all degree requirements have been completed. The undergraduate student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 as well as a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the major. The student's degree will be posted once the final degree audit confirms that all course requirements have been successfully completed, the minimum grade point average requirements have been met and that all necessary student records are on file.

Q: What is graduation with honors?

A: Graduation with honors is earned when an undergraduate student's cumulative grade point average is 3.5 or above. This honor is designated in the commencement program, the academic transcript and on the diploma.

Make an appointment with your studio and/or liberal arts advisor to discuss any discrepancies and then report any changes to the Office of Registration and Records. Request for Course Approval forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records.

Diplomas are available approximately six months after the commencement ceremony. If you do not submit a Petition for Graduation, you will not receive a diploma, regardless of academic eligibility. Petitions for Graduation are available in the Office of Registration and Records. You will receive written notification when your diploma is available.

You will have the option of having your diploma mailed to you, or you may make arrangements to pick up your diploma at the Office of Registration and Records.

Any holds (Student Accounts, Library, Financial Aid etc.) on your records must be cleared before you can receive your diploma.

Students who never claimed their diploma should contact the Office of Registration and Records to initiate a search.  You will be notified when your diploma is ready.

Duplicate diplomas will only be issued to students who graduated on or after January 1, 1994. Diplomas will only be issued using the original, legal name of the student at the time of graduation. Diplomas will be signed by the current responsible officials and can only be printed at the time of the regular diploma print run which occurs three times a year at the end of each semester.

You will need to complete the Request for Duplicate Diploma form available in the Office of Registration and Records. The cost for a duplicate diploma is $50.00.