Senior Year Check-in and Graduation

You're almost ready to graduate! Prepare for a successful final year by completing a History Senior Check-in, learn how and when to apply for graduation, and register to participate in your college’s commencement ceremony. You may also be interested in learning about honors in the history major and the History Department Graduation Celebration.

History Senior Check-in

In the first quarter of your senior year you are required to complete a History Senior Check-in. The History Senior Check-in is an opportunity for you to:

• consult with an advisor about your history major progress so far;
• select courses that will satisfy your remaining history major requirements;
• confirm you are on track to complete the history major by your planned graduation quarter.

Your senior check-in should be completed at least two quarters before you intend to graduate. You don't want to experience any last minute, unwelcome surprises!

History Senior Check-in Deadlines
Spring and Summer 2025 Graduation: Tuesday, October 15
Fall 2025 Graduation: Thursday, January 23
Winter 2026 Graduation: Thursday, April 17

Students who do not complete their senior check-in by the deadlines listed may have their graduation date delayed.

Instructions

1. Copy a History Senior Check-in form to your UCSC Google Drive. Look for the "Standard" and "Intensive" sheet tabs, located in lower left corner of your browser window. Fill out the History Senior Check-in form appropriate for your plan of study.
2. List your completed, in progress, and future history major courses on your History Senior Check-in form.
   • If you need help remembering what requirement(s) your completed history courses satisfy, consult the History Catalog of Course Requirements.
   • Use the Annual History Curriculum sheet to identify and plan for courses that will satisfy your remaining history major requirements, as needed.
3. Share your completed History Senior Check-in form with the History Undergraduate Program Coordinator. Be sure the "Notify people" box is checked.
4. Schedule an advising appointment with the History Undergraduate Program Coordinator using Navigate Slug Success. During your History Senior Check-in appointment you will receive feedback or suggestions on your final history plan, and you will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Honors in the History Major

Honors are awarded to the top 10-15 percent of graduating students per quarter; highest honors may be granted to approximately the top five percent. Honors are determined by the Undergraduate Education Committee in consultation with the History Department faculty. The department considers each student’s GPA in the history major, supplemented when appropriate by an assessment of work in the comprehensive requirement. The history major GPA is calculated based upon all history courses attempted at UCSC; grades from courses taken outside of the department will not be calculated into a student’s history major GPA, even in cases when the student is allowed to use said courses toward their history major degree requirements. Summer, fall, and winter graduates will be reviewed at the end of each of their respective quarters. Spring graduates will be reviewed using their earned history major GPAs as of the spring announcement of candidacy deadline.

Applying to Graduate/Announcing Candidacy

You may apply to graduate up to one quarter before you complete your bachelor's degree requirements. More information about applying to graduate may be found on the Office of the Registrar website.

Commencement

You may also wish to participate (or "walk") in your college's commencement ceremony. Commencement ceremonies are held each June. Visit UCSC's Commencement website to learn more.