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 2016 | May 2016 | September 2016 |
| Official graduation date: | January 25, 2016 | May 15, 2016 | September 25, 2016 |
| Master’s students | |||
| Diploma application due in the College Graduate Office:† | November 1, 2015 | February 1, 2016 | July 1, 2016 |
| Thesis proposal submission: | August 31, 2015 | December 18, 2015 | May 6, 2016 |
| Thesis defense:* | December 24, 2015 | April 15, 2016 | August 19, 2016 |
| Approved and signed thesis to be turned in: | January 4, 2016 | April 22, 2016 | August 26, 2016 |
| 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, 2015 | February 1, 2016 | July 1, 2016 |
| 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 24, 2015 | April 8, 2016 | August 19, 2016 |
| Approved and signed dissertations due in the department/division office: § | January 4, 2016 | April 15, 2016 | August 26, 2016 |
* 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.
