Countdown to Commencement
Welcome to MICA Commencement
Maryland Institute College of Art is thrilled to celebrate each year’s graduates at our annual Commencement each May. The ceremonies, one for the undergraduate BFA programs and one for the graduate MA, MFA, and MPS programs, are held off campus at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Commencement will take place on May 19, 2025 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Questions? Email us at: commencement@mica.edu
Plan Ahead
Applying to Graduate
Do I need to apply for graduation?
YES
BFA, MFA, MAT, MA
Due April 1. Instructions are emailed from Enrollment Services
NO
MPS, MFAST, and MA/MBA:
Degrees are conferred automatically for online/low-residency programs once the requirements have been met.
Diplomas and Transcripts
We’ve teamed with Parchment Inc. to provide two versions of your diploma: a traditional printed diploma and an digital version. The digital diploma is an official document that you can share online or send to employers, educational institutions and others for fast verification of your degree. There are a few key actions you need to take to ensure that your diploma is correct and delivered to you.
Printed diplomas will be shipped to your permanent address in approximately 4 weeks after submitting. You can track the shipment through your Parchment account.
What do I need to do to get my diploma?
See the How to Get Your Diploma page!
Will I get a digital version of my diploma?
As long as you designate a Degree Email in your Student Center, step 2 in your 3 Diploma to dos, yes. The digital diploma will be sent to your Degree Email shortly after your degree is conferred. Anyone who does not designate a Degree Email will not receive a digital diploma.
How do I access my transcript?
See the instructions on the Diplomas and Transcripts page!
Commencement Tickets
How How do I order tickets and how many do I get?
The link to order through Eventbrite as well as instructions will be sent to graduates in March.
Students for each ceremony can order up to 4 tickets for guests. The graduate does not need a ticket, only guests.
How much do tickets cost?
$0! There is no cost for either the initial 4 tickets OR any additional tickets requested.
Please email events@mica.edu if you have any issues or concerns with this process.
Regalia
What regalia do I need to buy and how do I buy it?
Regalia is recommended, but not required.
You can buy your regalia either through the official vendor Herff Jones, or through whatever retailer you choose.
Regalia consists of a Standard black graduation robe and a Black beret (traditionally velvet, wool is also ok). No tassel.
Berets handmade by an alum and gowns from the official vendor, Herff Jones, can be ordered through the MICA Store
Limited quantities of regalia will also be available on Commencement Day at the MICA Store starting at 8am.
Parking
Free parking will be available at Mosher Street and the Mt. Royal Station Building Lot. These lots may fill up quickly, however, there are paid parking garages in the area such as the Symphony Center Parking Garage.
Weather Policy
In the case of heavy rain or other weather event, students will be notified by email on the morning of Commencement if we are switching to the rain plan for check in, the class photo, and the processional.
Rain Plan: Check in at the Brown Center in the lower lobby outside of Falvey Hall. Then proceed into Falvey Hall for the class photo.
In the case of light rain, we encourage students to bring a small umbrella.
Traveling From out of Town
Students, family, and guests who are traveling to Baltimore from out of town may find the following resources helpful
Hotels and Restaurants
Lodging and Accommodations available at a discounted rate through MICA are here.
Restaurant recommendations from the MICA community are here.
Baltimore Museums and Attractions
Baltimore Museum of Art Free year round
website
Walters Art Museum Free year round
Website
American Visionary Arts Museum Ticket Prices Vary
Website
Maryland Center for History and Culture Tickets $19 for adults, $17 for students
Website
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture (Tickets $12) Website
Other Attractions
Camden Yards (Tickets $12) website
Fort McHenry (free— technically a military outpost from the war of 1812, but also just a really nice park for a picnic or walk)
Website
Rawlings Conservatory (free, but $5 donation encouraged)
The Avenue in Hampden the heart of Baltimore quirkiness
Historical Lexington Market opened in 1782 and still running as a market and site for public art
Commencement Weekend
Commencement Ceremony
Graduate Ceremony Timeline
8:00am EDT
MICA Store opens for Regalia pickup
9:00am EDT
Graduate students arrive at the Church parking lot next to the Main Building to check in and line up for the Graduate Class Photo.
9:20am EDT
Class Photo, Main Building front steps
9:35am EDT
Graduates follow staff down Mt Royal Ave to line up by program in front of Station Building for Graduate Commencement Procession
9:50am EDT
Graduate Commencement Procession begins.
10:00am EDT
Commencement Procession enters Symphony Hall
10:00am-12:30pm EDT
GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
12:30-2:00pm EDT
Graduate Commencement Reception at Cohen Plaza Commencement Celebration Tent
Graduate Ceremony Instructional Videos
Get a guided video walkthroughs of what to expect on the day of the big event. Both offstage and on!
What to expect the day of commencement
What to expect on stage
Undergraduate Ceremony Timeline
9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
MICA Store opens for Regalia pickup
1:30pm EDT
Undergraduate students arrive at the Church parking lot next to the Main Building to check in and line up for the Undergraduate Class Photo.
2:00pm EDT
Class Photo, Main Building front steps
2:15pm EDT
Graduates follow staff down Mt Royal Ave to line up by program in front of Station Building for Undergraduate Commencement Procession
2:48pm EDT
Undergraduate Commencement Procession begins.
3:00pm EDT
Commencement Procession enters Symphony Hall
3:00pm-5:30pm EDT
UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
5:30pm EDT
Graduate Commencement Reception at Cohen Plaza Commencement Celebration Tent
Undergraduate Ceremony Instructional Videos
Get a guided video walkthroughs of what to expect on the day of the big event. Both offstage and on!
What to expect the day of commencement
What to expect on stage
Artwalk and
Exhibitions
Artwalk Events
Gallery Schedule
ArtWalk Show
Friday - 10am-9pm
Saturday - 10am-5pm
Sunday - 10am-5pm
Monday - 10am-5pm
Family Day on Sunday
ArtWalk Family Day
Sunday Before Commencement
10am-5pm
Open to graduating students, families, guests, faculty, and friends
Departmental receptions take place campus-wide - locations vary year to year
Cafe Doris open
Tours
MICA's urban campus encompasses more than one million square feet of academic, residential, and creative spaces supported by high-end tech, green sanctuaries, galleries and cafés, multi-use performance spaces, a highly active career center, every kind of maker space you can image, and over 40,000 square feet of independent studio spaces. And you can explore it now from the comfort of your home!
Artwalk
Artwalk Opening
Friday before Commencement - 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
- Gateway
- Bunting
- Fox
- Brown
- Main
- Dolphin
- Mount Royal Station
- Outdoor installations
Other Information
- Open to the general public
- It's Free!
- MICA Store Open
- Bar in Cohen Plaza tent
- Food trucks in Bunting East lot
- Cafe Doris open
- Students stand by artwork 5:30pm-7:30pm
- Bar closed and trucks leave at 9pm
Event Parking In
- Mt. Royal Station Parking Lot
- Mosher Parking Lot
- Bunting West Lot
- Additional paid parking at Fitzgerald Garage
COHORT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Undergraduate
Undergraduate students should have received an invitation to an undergraduate-specific canvas site that contains more information on undergraduate commencement and exhibitions. If you did not receive this email, please email commencement@mica.edu.
Open Studies
The Open Studies office hosts an online exhibition that showcases each graduate’s hard work. The goal of such an exhibition is to display students’ achievements for friends, family, prospective employers. MICA students, staff, and the broader community.
In order to add your Capstone to the exhibition, we need to gather some information. Please review the specific program requirements.
Gradshow 2025
MICA Grad Show 2025 will host on-campus and community engagements and virtually showcase the culminating work of MFA and MA graduate students from 14 of the College’s internationally renowned programs. Campus galleries are open to the public daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.* On weekends, outside visitors will need to be accompanied by a MICA community member with a MICA ID in order to swipe and gain access into respective buildings.
Regalia & Traditions
Regalia and Traditions
Master's Hoods
MA, MFA, MPS only: Master’s hoods will be gifted and presented on stage.
Hoods are only purchased for—and gifted to—in-person participants. However, students who value the hood as a symbol but will not be attending are welcome to purchase their own– many retailers have them available, and at a variety of price points. The velvet, lining, and chevron colors all convey different meanings– here’s what to choose.
Velvet: color signifies your field of study
MFA: Brown
MA or MPS: white
MAT: light blue
Lining: gold with a black chevron signifies that you have graduated from MICA
Master's Honor Cords
MA, MFA, MPS: Graduate degrees do not use Latin honors (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude) and the regalia thus does not include honor cords corresponding to the GPA. However:
1) student leaders (graduate program assistants, etc),
2) students who go through the on-campus International Student program, and
3) students who are military veterans
will receive cords honoring those achievements.
These cords do not need to be purchased and will be available to pick up on Commencement day at check-in.
Bachelor's Honor Cords
BA and BFA Academic Honor Cords are worn by students who earn top GPAs:
Cum Laude, 3.70+ (green)
Magna Cum Laude, 3.80+ (red)
Summa Cum Laude, 3.90+ (gold).
The Art Education Honor Cord (light blue) is worn by undergraduate students accepted into the five-year BFA/MAT program. Leadership Honor Cords (bright blue) are worn by students recognized for outstanding leadership and contributions to the MICA community. Military Service Honor Cords (dark blue and gold) are worn by current members and veterans of the United States military.
The Chain of Office and Medallion
The Chain of Office and Medallion is worn by MICA’s president during Commencement. The Medallion, designed by Karen Klinedinst ’85, includes symbols that represent MICA’s endurance since its founding in 1826. It is paired with the Chain, designed by Betty Cooke ’46, where each link features the name of the College’s official and acting presidents, symbolically connecting MICA’s founder to its current leader.
Leadership in Diversity Stoles and Cords
Leadership in Diversity Stoles and Cords are worn by students recognized for leadership, academic achievement, and involvement in advancing the Center for Identity and Inclusion’s mission and vision. The stoles are red which represents power, energy, creation, passion, and love. The Adinkra Ghanaian symbol shows two conjoined crocodiles, which symbolizes democracy and cooperation and means Unity in Diversity. Other stoles include Asian Silk Stoles (silk bamboo print), Faith-based Stoles (Jewish stoles are blue and white, Christian stoles are teal), Heritage Stoles (red, green, and yellow), Hispanic Stoles (white, red, and blue), Kente Stoles from Africa (green, gold, and maroon), and LGBTQIA Stoles (rainbow colors with an inverted pink triangle).
Our Velvet Beret
A graduation cap is a sign of the freedom of scholarship which endows the wearer with responsibility and dignity. Rather than mortarboards, a black velvet beret has been traditionally worn as the cap by graduating students at MICA since the 1960s.
Student to Alumni Transition
Alumni Services & Benefits
As a former student, you are automatically a member of the Alumni Association - an international network of more than 16,000 graduates and students of the College living in every state and 64 countries throughout the world.
The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations administers the MICA Alumni Association. The office works all areas of the College to develop programs, services, and communication which benefit our alumni.
Student to Alumni Transition
Accessiblity and Accomodations
If you require an accommodation for visitors or guests to MICA's commencement ceremonies, please submit a request via the form linked below. Students who need commencement related accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility & Disability Services at ads@mica.edu.