Graduate
Everything besides your major or minor that stands between you and walking across that stage.
Other Degree Requirements7 items — required of every NEIU bachelor's degree student
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General Education Areas
- 2 Fine Arts — not both in the same department
- 3 Humanities — not all in the same department
- 3 Natural Sciences (1 with a lab) — not all in the same department
- 3 Social-Behavioral Sciences — the major auto-satisfies 2 of these 3
Engaged Learning Experience (ELE)
3 ELE courses: 1+ at the 300-level, 1+ Boundary-Crossing. Justice Studies Majors: JUST-350 already counts as your 300-level ELE, so you only need 2 more.
Qualifying JUST courses: 321 337 339 347 355 357 395 350
Math / Quantitative Reasoning
One 3-credit course with Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite. A placement exam usually comes first — some students qualify to skip it ↗.
English 101
Grade of "C" or better, ideally in your first 30 credit hours. Free writing tutoring ↗ is available.
Improving Human Relations Waived for you
Illinois law requires this coursework generally — but Justice Studies majors and minors are waived, since the major already covers this territory.
Writing Intensive Program (WIP) Already satisfied
JUST-202 satisfies this — required in the Major and both social-justice/criminology minors, so completing either already covers it.
300-Level & 120 Total Credits
120 credits minimum to graduate, including 40+ at the 300-level (don't need to be in your home department).
File for GraduationDeadlines and the step-by-step process
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Filing deadlines
| Graduation term | Filing deadline |
|---|---|
| May (Spring) | September 15 |
| August (Summer) | January 15 |
| December (Fall) | May 15 |
Missed the deadline? NEIU often accepts late applications, but filing on time is safest. Full details ↗
How to file, step by step
- Meet with your faculty advisor and have them complete an "Academic Course Record" (ACR) form for each major/minor you have.
- Complete the Undergraduate Graduation Application.
- Submit both to gradeval@neiu.edu.
- Email registrar@neiu.edu and studentpaymentservices@neiu.edu to request the filing fee (~$30) be added to your NEIUport account.
- Log into NEIUport and pay it.
- Do a victory dance — you're done!
Ceremony & What's NextCommencement and life after NEIU
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Graduation ceremony
NEIU holds two Commencement ceremonies ↗ per year: May and December. Info goes to everyone who applied by the deadline. Not required, but a great way to be recognized — August/December applicants attend the December ceremony; May applicants attend May.
Not sure what comes next?
- Meet with your faculty advisor to brainstorm career plans — even outside your department.
- Career Development ↗ helps with resumes, interviews, and Handshake ↗ job postings.
- Alumni Association ↗ for networking long after graduation.
- Keep in touch — email justice-studies@neiu.edu and tell us where you've landed.