GRADUATION VS. COMMENCEMENT – 2023
In less than two weeks, I will be a proud father again as another of my daughters will graduate from university; she will be the second of the three daughters. Based on the daughter that graduated last spring, I can imagine the main ceremony will be extra-long and hot, but I will not complain as there is no prouder moment that seeing your child graduate. (p.s. My third daughter graduates in December.)
May 2022 – Univ. of Illinois Commencement
Will you graduate this spring? If so, congratulations. Congratulations on the well-deserved accomplishment of completing your degree. And congratulations on the start of your “life” after graduation.
But wait – what is the difference between graduation and commencement? In some respect, they are the same – see definitions below.
Graduation – the receiving or conferring of an academic degree or diploma.
Commencement – a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred on graduating students.
However, the term commencement also has the additional definition: a beginning or start.
So, while, both celebrate your degree, the latter – commencement highlights the beginning of your life after your degree.
…commencement highlights the beginning of your life after your degree.
What are your plans as you begin your life?
For many graduating with a preprofessional undergraduate degree is architecture, the next step is an additional degree. Many graduates with the B.S. degree will continue directly to the Master of Architecture. Others will take time away from education to pursue their professional career and return later for their graduate degree. But the vast majority will be graduating with the NAAB Professional degree (see below) and enter the workforce.
According to the 2021 NAAB Annual Report, the following accredited degree (6,275) were awarded in AY 2020-21: 3,522 (56%) MArch, 2,718 (43%) BArch, and 35 (0.6) DArch. In addition, 3,159 preprofessional degrees were awarded.
https://www.naab.org/accreditation/publications/
Regardless of what you do next, know that individuals in your life (family and friends) are very proud of your accomplishment and will always be on your side.
From your friends at ARCHCareersGuide.com, we wish you the best; do contact us if you need assistance.
Below is from a store marquee from my graduation in 1984.
1984 Univ. of Michigan Graduation – Walter Cronkite