About Commencement
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Commencement ceremony is a festive, colorful, joyous event on Healy Lawn at which all doctoral and master’s students from the Graduate School — including Biomedical Graduate Education (BGE) programs — walk across the stage and are awarded their degrees by the Graduate School Dean and President of Georgetown University. The ceremony takes place annually in mid-May. Participation in the Graduate School Commencement ceremony is for those who are receiving their degree in May 2025, or who have been awarded their degree in August or December of the prior year (i.e. August 2024 or December 2024).
Only in the case of severe weather (electrical storms, for example) would this ceremony be officially moved indoors. If moved indoors, tickets may be required, with limits on the number of tickets available per student. If an OFFICIAL severe weather call is made and the event is moved indoors, instructions will be sent to all graduating students via email and posted on this website.
Note: Some schools, departments and programs also have other ceremonies and receptions following this event. Other schools at Georgetown University have their own commencement ceremonies at different times and do not participate in this Graduate School Commencement ceremony (see ‘Other Graduate Ceremonies’ section below).
2024 Commencement Ceremonies
Multicultural Ceremony for Graduate Students
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
3:30 p.m. | Gaston Hall (Healy Hall, 3rd Floor)
5:00 p.m. | Reception: Dahlgren Courtyard
The Multicultural Ceremony is held the Wednesday prior to the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony. It is a ceremony for all master’s and doctoral students in all schools at Georgetown to celebrate their multicultural heritage, diversity and achievements.
Note: The Multicultural Graduation Committee has created a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the ceremony, stole pickup and logistics for the day of the event.
Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
Thursday, May 16, 2024
9:00 a.m. | Gaston Hall (Healy Hall, 3rd Floor)
10:30 a.m. | Reception: Dahlgren Courtyard
The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, held the Thursday prior to the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony, is a ceremony for doctoral students in all schools at Georgetown University to be recognized and have their doctoral hood put in place by their mentors, advisors, and other members of the Georgetown faculty, including the Dean of the Graduate School. All graduating doctoral students and their families are invited to this formal academic event held in Gaston Hall, located on the third floor of Healy Hall. Academic regalia (cap, gown, hood) is required to participate. The Graduate School Dean hosts a reception for the doctoral students, their families and mentors in the Dahlgren Courtyard of Healy Hall following the Hooding Ceremony. Tickets are not required for this ceremony.
Graduate School Commencement Ceremony
Friday, May 17, 2024
9:00 a.m. | Healy Lawn (rain or shine)
(Severe Weather Site: McDonough Arena)
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Commencement ceremony is an event at which all doctoral and master’s students from the Graduate School — including Biomedical Graduate Education (BGE) programs — walk across the stage and are awarded their degrees by the Graduate School Dean and President of Georgetown University. This formal academic ceremony takes place on Healy Lawn, rain or shine. Traditionally, tickets have not been required for outdoor ceremonies, and seating is available on a first-come basis beginning at 7:45 a.m. Academic regalia (cap, gown, hood) is required to participate. Only in the case of severe weather would this ceremony be officially moved indoors.
Detailed Schedule of Events
| Date | Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. | Gaston Hall (Healy Hall, 3rd floor) | Multicultural Ceremony Reception to follow in Dahlgren Courtyard, Healy Hall, 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, May 16, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. | Gaston Hall (Healy Hall, 3rd floor) | Doctoral Hooding Ceremony and Reception Reception to follow in Dahlgren Courtyard, Healy Hall, 10:30 a.m. |
| Friday, May 17, 2024 | (see below) | – | Commencement Ceremony: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences — Arts & Sciences graduate programs — Biomedical Graduate Education programs |
| “ | 7:30 a.m. | Report to Lineup Rooms (Severe Weather Site: Lineup Tent in front of McDonough Arena) | Graduating students report to lineup rooms no later than 7:30 a.m. (allow time for transportation, traffic jams, parking, and walking to your lineup room). Faculty should assemble, already dressed in regalia for lineup no later than 8:00 a.m. |
| “ | 8:30 a.m. | Transition from Lineup Rooms (Severe Weather Site: McDonough Arena) | Graduating students process in formation to Healy Lawn |
| “ | 9:00 a.m. | Healy Lawn (Severe Weather Site: McDonough Arena) | Commencement Ceremony: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences The ceremony concludes at approximately 11:00 a.m. |
Other Graduate Ceremonies
School of Continuing Studies Ceremony
Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 3 p.m. on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena)
McCourt School of Public Policy Ceremony
Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 6 p.m. on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena)
School of Nursing Ceremony
Friday, May 17, 2024 at Noon on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena)
McDonough School of Business Graduate Ceremony
Friday, May 17, 2024 at 3 p.m. on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena for Master’s degrees)
School of Health Ceremony
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Noon in Gaston Hall
Walsh School of Foreign Service Graduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena)
Baccalaureate Mass
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 9 a.m. on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena)
School of Medicine Ceremony
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at Noon on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena)
Law Center Ceremony
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 3 p.m. on Healy Lawn (rain site: McDonough Arena)
Academic Regalia
Academic regalia is required of all participants at both the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony and the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony. All participants are required to wear appropriate academic regalia (cap, gown and hood) and will not be allowed to participate in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony or Commencement Ceremony without regalia. Information on ordering academic regalia is available from the Graduate School early in the spring semester of each year.
The Georgetown University Bookstore in Leavey Center handles the advance ordering and distribution of academic regalia and may be contacted for further information. Additional information regarding academic regalia will be provided in the spring.
Live Streaming
Many Georgetown Commencement events will be livestreamed for remote viewing. Information on where to find these streamed events will be shared on Georgetown’s website and social media channels prior to these events.
A livestream of the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony (and other ceremonies) will be available on the Georgetown University Facebook page .
Details and Memos for Graduating Students
- Accessible shuttle bus route map for Commencement 2024
- Campus Map with locations of Graduate School Commencement 2024
- Interactive Georgetown Campus Map
- List of student lineup rooms for Commencement 2024
- Memo to doctoral students about the 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
- Memo to graduating students for 2024
For more general information, visit the Georgetown University Commencement website .
Additional Information
Additional graduation information can be found on the How to Graduate webpage, including step-by-step instructions to apply to graduate, checking your graduation application, the Latin translation of your diploma and more.