Baccalaureate Service
Graduating seniors can now register for the 2024 Baccalaureate Service!
About the Service
The Baccalaureate Service is a multifaith celebration of undergraduate commencement. Service highlights include hymns, musical selections, readings, and reflections by students from diverse faith traditions. The ceremony features a procession that includes undergraduate degree candidates from Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of General Studies, and Barnard College.
All undergraduate degree candidates and their guests are invited to attend.
Ceremony Details
Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
St. Pauls Chapel, Morningside Campus, 117th and Amsterdam Avenue
Guest Seating opens at 9:15 a.m.
In addition to the in person service, the Baccalaureate Service will be livestreamed. The live webcast and program will be available on this page on May 12.
Registration
Graduating seniors are invited and encouraged to be a part of the Baccalaureate Service each year. Students are required to register if they wish to participate and are encouraged to invite friends and family to attend. Tickets are not guaranteed for guest admission; however, seating in the Chapel is only guaranteed for candidates.
Registration is open! Graduating seniors can register for Baccalaureate 2024 here.
Student Participants
- Student
- Juliet Monireh Bogan
- School
- Barnard College
- Faith Tradition
- Baha'i
- Student
- Miriam Kayla Broches
- School
- School of General Studies and Jewish Theological Seminary
- Faith Tradition
- Jewish
- Student
- Shloka V. Janapaty
- School
- School of Engineering and Applied Science
- Faith Tradition
- Hindu
- Student
- Joel Raju Kattady
- School
- Columbia College
- Faith Tradition
- Catholic
- Student
- Noreen Mayat
- School
- Barnard College
- Faith Tradition
- Muslim
- Student
- James Vaughn
- School
- Columbia College
- Faith Tradition
- Christian
- Student
- Gurnoor Singh Virdi
- School
- Columbia College
- Faith Tradition
- Sikh
- Student
- Hannah Sara Vorchheimer
- School
- Barnard College
- Faith Tradition
- Jewish
- Student
- Allegra Walker
- School
- Columbia College
- Faith Tradition
- Episcopalian
Student Musical Participants
Bach Society
Clefhangers
CU Sur
Pizmon
History
The Baccalaureate Service is believed to have originated at Oxford University in 1432 when each bachelor was required to deliver a sermon in Latin as part of his academic exercise. This historical British practice continued with the earliest universities in this country, which were founded primarily to educate ministers. Columbia University began this tradition in 1897 and the ceremony continues today as an interfaith, intercultural service celebrating each undergraduate's academic career.
Accessibility
Columbia University is committed to ensuring that all Commencement activities are accessible to all graduates and guests. If you need any accommodations, please contact Disability Services.
The service is coordinated jointly by the Earl Hall Center for Religious Life and the Commencement Office/University Programs and Events. For more information about this event, please visit the University Commencement Website and the Commencement Baccalaureate page.