Graduate Program Deadlines

The following deadlines apply to students who anticipate receiving their advanced degrees at the time indicated. Departments/divisions may impose additional requirements and more stringent deadlines. All graduate students must be registered for 2 credits both during the semester in which requirements are completed and during the preceding semester.

Graduation schedules: January 2012 May 2012 September 2012
Official graduation date: January 25, 2012 May 20, 2012 September 25, 2012
Master’s students
Diploma application due in the College Graduate Office:† November 1, 2011 February 1, 2012 July 1, 2012
Thesis proposal submission: August 26, 2011 December 21, 2011 May 11, 2012
Thesis defense:* December 30, 2011 April 20, 2012 August 24, 2012
Approved and signed thesis to be turned in: January 6, 2012 April 27, 2012 August 31, 2012
Doctoral students
Dissertation prospectus due to student’s research committee: Two weeks before the defense date.
Diploma application due in the department/division office:† November 1, 2011 February 1, 2012
Dissertation abstract (350 words) due in the department/division office: At least three weeks before the Final Oral Examination date.
Schedule of Final Oral Examination due in the department/division office:‡ Two weeks before the Final Oral Examination date.
Last date to hold Final Oral Examination: December 30, 2011 April 13, 2012
Approved and signed dissertations due in the department/division office: § January 6, 2012 April 20, 2012

* Thesis defense must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance of defense date. A Master’s Thesis Announcement Document must be submitted to the department/division.

† The diploma application is valid only for the graduation date specified; a new application must be filed if the student does not graduate as planned.

‡ All committee members must sign that they have read the dissertation.

§ All PhD degree requirements are complete only when both copies of the dissertation have been approved by the department/division and accepted by the library.