Information Included on a Student’s Diploma

This document provides a summary of the information that can be found on a student's diploma.

Students often wonder what information is included on their diploma. All diplomas have standard verbiage, except for the following customizable fields:

  • Name - The student’s full name will appear and not the preferred name. 

  • Degree Title - there are four undergraduate degree titles in CALS. Unless the student is in one of the specialized degree programs listed here, their degree title will be Bachelor of Science.
    • Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Business Management
    • Bachelor of Science - Biological Systems Engineering
    • Bachelor of Science - Nutrition and Dietetics

      View the complete list of degree titles available at UW-Madison.

  • Honors - The student's diploma will only indicate one type of Honors regardless of whether the student completed Honors in the Major or Honors in Research.

  • Degree Conferral Date - There is a degree conferral date for each term set by the Faculty Senate.

The school or college, majors, additional majors, certificates, and named options are indicated on the student’s official transcript and not the diploma. Distinctions including Graduation with Distinction, Graduation with Highest Distinction, and Dean’s List are also indicated on the student’s official transcript and not the diploma.

If a student completes two programs with different degrees they will receive two separate diplomas.

Sample diploma image: 

Image of a sample diploma



Keywords:
Diplomas, honors, degrees, majors 
Doc ID:
64622
Owned by:
David W. in CALS Academic Affairs
Created:
2016-06-30
Updated:
2025-09-03
Sites:
CALS Academic Affairs