Graduate Information

Fall 2025 Commencement

Friday, December 19 | Lumberjack Arena

Graduation is a major milestone, and Commencement is just around the corner! Before you take your next steps, here’s what you need to know to prepare for the celebration.

Ceremony Schedule

Graduates will participate in the ceremony associated with their major and college affiliation. The ceremony times have yet to be determined for Fall 2025 and times will be based on graduate registration and participation in each major. After registration closes on November 12, graduate and anticipated guest participation will be reviewed and the times will be determined and announced. Please plan for afternoon ceremonies. 

Guest tickets to attend a commencement ceremony are not required for entry at this time. For planning purposes, graduates will be asked to RSVP the number of guests attending as part of the commencement registration process. Registered guest counts will be considered in the planning process as capacity at the venue is limited.

TBD p.m. - College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Show College Majors

Bachelor's Degrees

  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History & Museum Studies
  • Cannabis Studies
  • Communication
  • Criminology & Justice Studies
  • Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies
  • Dance Studies (Interdisciplinary Studies)
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • Fine Art
  • French & Francophone Studies
  • Geography
  • Geospatial Science & Technology
  • History
  • International Studies
  • Journalism
  • Media Arts
  • Music
  • Native American Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Religious Studies
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Arts

Master's Degrees

  • Applied Anthropology
  • Applied English
  • Public Sociology
  • Social Science, Environment & Community

TBD p.m. - College of Professional Studies

Show College Majors

Bachelor's Degrees

  • Business Administration
  • Child Development & Family Relationships
  • Child Development Elementary Education (Liberal Studies)
  • Community Health
  • Economics
  • Elementary Education (Liberal Studies)
  • Individualized Degree Plan (Interdisciplinary Studies)
  • Kinesiology
  • Leadership Studies
  • Nursing
  • Psychology
  • Recreation Administration
  • Social Work

Master's Degrees

  • Business Administration
  • Counseling Psychology
  • Education
  • Kinesiology
  • Psychology
  • School Psychology
  • Social Work

Credentials

  • Administrative Services Credential (Educational Leadership)
  • Education Specialist Credential (Special Education)
  • Multiple Subject Credential (Elementary Education)
  • Pupil Personnel Services Credential (School Social Work)
  • Single Subject Credential (Secondary Education)

TBD p.m. - College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Show College Majors

Bachelor's Degrees

  • Applied Fire Science & Management
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Data Science
  • Energy Systems Engineering
  • Environmental Resources Engineering
  • Environmental Science & Management
  • Fisheries Biology
  • Forestry
  • Geology
  • Marine Biology
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Oceanography
  • Physics
  • Rangeland Resource Science
  • Software Engineering
  • Wildlife
  • Zoology

Master's Degrees

  • Biology
  • Engineering & Community Practice
  • Environmental Systems
  • Natural Resources

Commencement Registration

Graduate registration to participate in Fall 2025 Commencement will open around Wednesday, October 1. The deadline to register is Wednesday, November 12. During the registration period, all eligible graduates will receive emails at their Cal Poly Humboldt email address with instructions on how to register and other commencement related details.

Graduation vs. Commencement - Two different processes!

Graduation, which is the awarding of a degree, should not be confused with participation in commencement. Commencement is a ceremony that celebrates your accomplishment and completion of a degree. Participating in a ceremony does not mean you have earned your degree. Some students are still in process while others have already completed their requirements. 

To participate in a Fall or Spring Commencement ceremony, you must have applied for graduation in addition to registering for your specific commencement ceremony. 

If you have questions whether you are on track to graduate and receive your degree, please contact the Office of the Registrar at records@humboldt.edu.

If you have questions whether you have registered for commencement, please contact the Commencement Coordinator at grad@humboldt.edu.

Regalia & Memorabilia

A black cap and a black gown are required to participate in a commencement ceremony. Caps, gowns, tassels, hoods, and more will be available to order online through Herff Jones from September 1 through October 24 until 8:59 p.m. PST. Online orders can be shipped to a home address or picked up around December 1 at The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus Store located on the second floor of the Gutswurrak Student Activities Center building.

Missed the online deadline? Regalia packages and individual items will be available for purchase directly at The Campus Store's on campus location on the second floor of the Gutswurrak Student Activities Center building after November 3. They are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m weekdays. 

The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) is offering cap and gown rentals. Please contact them for more details at ccat@humboldt.edu.

At Commencement, you can wear sashes, stoles, and cords over your black gown, if desired. These items serve as a keepsake to acknowledge your accomplishments and to remember your time at Cal Poly Humboldt, but are not required for participation. Check out the regalia page for more details.

Caps and gowns can be recycled for future grad use. Donations can be made after your ceremony to CCAT or The Campus Store.

If you have any questions regarding regalia, please contact The Campus Store at (707) 826-3741.

Guest Tickets

Guest tickets to attend a commencement ceremony are not required for entry at this time. For planning purposes, you will be asked to RSVP the number of guests attending as part of the graduate registration process. Registered guest counts are considered in the planning process as capacity at the venue is limited. Accommodations for additional guests after registration closes may not be possible, so please be as accurate as you can. All seating is first come, first served.

Watch Online

Have guests that can’t attend in person? Each ceremony will be livestreamed, allowing families, friends, and the campus community to celebrate alongside graduates from anywhere.

Live captioning will be provided in English and Spanish on the livestream. Links will be available on the day of the event on the commencement website and at humboldt.edu. No registration is required—just click and watch.

Recordings of each ceremony will be posted on the commencement website in the weeks following the event.

Accommodations

Graduates in need of disability-related accommodations to participate in commencement will have the opportunity to share their needs during the commencement registration process. The Commencement Coordinator will collaborate with the Campus Disability Resource Center (CRDC) to arrange reasonable accommodations. Please note that some accommodations require several weeks to coordinate.

If you requested accommodations when registering for commencement, the Campus Disability Resource Center (CRDC) will follow up with you directly. If you would like to contact the Campus Disability Resource Center, they can be reached at (707) 826-4678 or sdrc@humboldt.edu.

If your guests require disability-related accommodations, you can include those details when registering for commencement. Those that request accommodations for their guests through the commencement registration process will receive further information to share with their guests about available accommodations closer to the event. 

Please contact grad@humboldt.edu if you have general questions about accommodations.

 Parking & Venue Accessibility

Parking is available in all general lots on campus, but G11, G12, G13, G14, and G15 are recommended. Parking permits are not required on campus the day of Commencement. 

The green lots shown on the Commencement event map are open to graduates, guests, and general parking. The blue lots are recommended for guests needing ADA parking or shuttle access. Please note that no general vehicle traffic, parking, or drop-offs will be allowed beyond the barricades at 17th and Union Streets due to pedestrian safety. On Commencement day, 17th Street will be restricted to a single westbound lane to accommodate shuttle service. 

Accessible (ADA) parking is available in Lot FS9, located at the end of Rossow Street between Gist Hall and the Student Business Services building. Shuttles for guests with mobility-related access needs will run continuously between FS9 and the south entrance of the Kinesiology & Athletics Building. Please be aware that shuttle capacity is limited and may result in wait times. We encourage early arrival for those planning to use this service. Accessible pedestrian routes are also available; please refer to the campus ADA map for details.

To prioritize access for individuals with limited mobility, shuttle service will be provided only between FS9 and Lumberjack Arena for graduates and guests. Shuttles will not be available for receptions or other campus celebrations. We kindly ask that only the guest with mobility-related needs and one accompanying guest use the shuttle service to help ensure availability for those who need it most.

Ceremony Overview & Directions for Graduates

There are no rehearsals for graduates who participate in commencement. Please read the information below carefully to know what to do before, during, and after your ceremony.

Graduate Check-In

Arrive at the lineup area—West Gym (Recreation & Wellness Center 202)—with your cap and gown in hand, no later than 45 minutes before your scheduled ceremony start time.  Upon entry, a no-touch visual search will be conducted for any prohibited or illegal items. You may put on your cap and gown after the screening.

Once inside, proceed to pick up your name card and assemble in the processional line by major. Name card pick-up lines can be long, so arriving early is strongly encouraged.

Be sure to keep your name card with you—you will hand it to the Stage Manager as you enter the stage so your name can be read during the ceremony.

Processional

The Mace Bearer and Student Marshals will lead graduates into the Commencement venue, followed by the Faculty Marshals, the general faculty and staff, and the Platform Party. Graduates will process in one single file line from the line-up area—please remain in line with your major and follow the person directly in front of you.

For the smooth flow of the ceremony, do not stop for photos or to greet family and friends along the route. Marshals and ushers will be stationed along the processional path to guide you to your assigned seating.

During The Ceremony

  • At the appropriate cue, you will be directed to exit your seat and line up near the stage, one row at a time.
  • You will pause at two designated locations for posed photos before proceeding to the stage entrance.
  • When it is your turn, hand your name card to the Stage Manager, and cross the stage as your name is read.
  • Move to the floor marker on the stage in front of the podium to receive your diploma cover. Pause briefly to face the photographer for an official photo. 
  • After the photo, marshals and ushers will direct you to exit the stage and return to your seat.
  • For master’s candidates, you’ll receive additional instructions on how to hold your hood. You will be hooded on stage prior to receiving your diploma cover.
  • Once all graduates have been recognized, degrees will be conferred. You will be prompted to move your tassel from the right side of your cap to the left—a symbolic gesture of your achievement. Please encourage your guests to stay for this celebratory moment.

Recessional

Following closing remarks, a musical cue will signal the start of the recessional. The Mace Bearer will lead the Platform Party, followed by the faculty, staff, and graduates out of the venue. Marshals and ushers will assist in guiding rows out in an orderly manner, one at a time. Once all graduates have exited, guests will be directed to exit their seats and venue.

Receiving Your Diploma

At the Commencement ceremony, you will receive a diploma cover when you cross the stage. Your official diploma will be mailed after your degree has been verified and awarded. It will be sent to the mailing address listed in your Student Center, so please ensure your information is up to date. For details on when to expect your diploma and how your name will appear on diplomas and transcripts, visit diplomas & transcripts. If you have any questions about your diploma, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 707-826-4101 or records@humboldt.edu.

Congratulations! Remember to sign-up and stay connected through Forever Humboldt.

Event Map

Fall 2025 Guest Map

Things to Note

  • In the event of an emergency, remain calm and listen for instructions from the stage.
  • Please stay for the entire ceremony out of respect for all graduates and their families. 
  • Humboldt is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on University grounds.
  • Only service animals are allowed inside campus buildings—pets, including dogs, are not permitted.
  • Confetti poppers and cannons are not allowed in the audience or graduate seating area as part of Humboldt's commitment to environmental sustainability and venue agreement. Anything that could cause a distraction (toys, balloons, beach balls, etc.) is prohibited and can be confiscated.
  • Bring your own reusable water bottle and encourage your guests to do the same as there are hydration stations available. Concessions will not be sold at the event.

Graduate Photos

GradImages photographers will be on hand to capture official graduation portraits. After each ceremony, you’ll be sent a link to preview your images. There is no obligation to purchase photos. Graduates can pre-register for commencement photos and get 20% off.

Pre-Order Grad Photos

Graduates consent to having portraits and candid photos taken by commencement photographers. Candid photos may be used in Humboldt publications, website, and social media. If you do not want to be photographed, notify the photographer and email grad@humboldt.edu.

Commencement Flowers

Leis and other commencement flowers from Haggerty Designs will be available for purchase. They offer local delivery or pick up options. Pre-sales are available and are recommended to ensure availability. The last day to pre-order is December 1. Limited supplies will also be available for purchase day of Commencement. 

Pre-Order Leis & Flowers