The M.S.W. degree is conferred by the university upon recommendation of the faculty of the School of Social Work. Degrees are conferred and diplomas issued only at the annual commencement each May. For this reason, a student who completes degree requirements before October 1 may request a suitable certificate for use until commencement. The request should be sent to the university registrar accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope and will be honored shortly after November 1 provided the student has a Graduate Diploma Application (Application for an Advanced Degree) on file and has, in fact, completed all other requirements for the degree by that time. A similar certificate will be available, upon request, to the student who completes all requirements by the end of the fall term. Students issued these certificates will receive diplomas dated October or January, respectively.

Any candidate who does not wish to attend commencement is asked to indicate that fact on the diploma application. If this was not indicated on the application, the candidate is asked to write to the university registrar requesting that the degree be conferred in absentia at the annual commencement exercises. Since arrangements for commencement are complex and well advanced by April 1, such requests should be placed before that date, although they will be accepted any time before commencement. Candidates whose attendance is prevented by some last-minute emergency are asked to communicate with the university registrar within 24 hours of commencement. In all cases, the candidate should indicate the address to which the diploma may be sent when it is mailed in June or July.