Update as of 12/18/2020: All Final Oral Examinations will be held remotely in the spring semester. The Office of Graduate Education has put in place procedures to ensure that students are able to defend their dissertations. Please see the FAQs for information about how to request a Final Oral Examination and the procedure for holding it. We will post on our page and reach out to our graduate students with any additional updates.

Please note that the submission website will be closed for new submissions during the Winter Break and will reopen for activity on Jan. 4, 2021.

 

Black out dates are dates when PhD defenses cannot be held. Black out dates between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021: Dec. 12 - Jan. 10, with the earliest defense date on Jan. 11. All submissions for defenses held Jan. 11-15 must be submitted no later than Dec. 11, 2020.

No defenses can be held Monday, January 18, 2021 as the University is closed to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

 

PhD PRIORITY Deadlines - Spring 2021 (see FAQs)

February 11, 2021	Graduation Application Deadline for Spring 2021
February 9, 2021	Last day to request a final oral exam **
February 23, 2021	Last day to hold a final oral exam *
March 2, 2021	Last day to upload dissertation for final review
March 9, 2021 - 12pm NOON	Last day to have your dissertation approved by the Office of Graduate Education

 

Master's PRIORITY Deadlines - Spring 2021 (see FAQs)

February 11, 2021	Graduation Application Deadline for Spring 2021
February 23, 2021	Last day to upload thesis for review by Graduate Education Office
March 9, 2021 - 12pm NOON	Last day to have your thesis approved by the Office of Graduate Education

 

PhD REGULAR Deadlines - Spring 2021

February 11, 2021	Graduation Application Deadline for Spring 2021
March 30, 2021	Last day to request a final oral exam **
April 13, 2021	Last day to hold a final oral exam*
April 20, 2021	Last day to upload dissertation for final review
May 4, 2021 - 12pm NOON	Last day to have your dissertation approved by the Office of Graduate Education

 

Master's REGULAR Deadlines - Spring 2021

February 11, 2021	Graduation Application Deadline for Spring 2021
April 22, 2021	Last day to upload thesis for review by Graduate Education Office
May 6, 2021 - 12pm NOON	Last day to have your thesis approved by the Office of Graduate Education

 

For University deadline dates, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

*May NOT conduct Final Oral Exam when the University is closed for business. It also may not start after 4:00pm.

**All requests for Final Oral Exam must be submitted two weeks prior to the scheduled defense date.

 

Priority Deadlines Frequently Asked Questions

What does graduating following the Priority Deadlines mean?

Starting Fall 2020, a Priority Deadline schedule will replace the In Absentia option for doctoral and master’s candidates. Priority Deadlines allow more time for candidates to complete all dissertation or thesis requirements without enrolling in courses.

Students who apply to graduate before the graduation application deadline may elect not to enroll in any semester credit hours. Ordinarily, students must be registered for the semester in which they graduate. The Priority Deadlines allow candidates to apply to graduate without formally enrolling in courses.

Why graduate following the Priority Deadlines?

Doctoral and master’s candidates who do not make the semester deadlines for finalizing their dissertation or thesis and need additional time to complete requirements may benefit from the Priority Deadlines. Also, students who wish to graduate early in their intended graduation semester have the option to graduate following the Priority Deadlines.

PhD Candidates who follow the Priority Deadlines can request an immediate Certification Letter from the Office of Graduate Education after meeting all dissertation requirements. Both master’s students and PhD candidates can also receive a guaranteed one-on-one formatting session with a Graduate Reader prior to the Initial Submission Deadline, upon request.

Who is eligible to graduate following the Priority Deadline schedule?

This is an option available to both doctoral and master’s candidates. Students following the Priority Deadlines must meet the following criteria:

• Must have completed all graduation requirements with the exception of completing their dissertation or thesis
• Must submit and defend no later than the required Priority Deadlines submission and defense dates
• All International Students should check with ISSO regarding enrollment requirements to graduate using the Priority Deadline option

What happens if I don’t meet the Priority Deadlines?

• If you do not or will not meet the Priority Deadlines, you must enroll in credit hours for the second 8 weeks session to maintain continuous enrollment and be eligible to graduate
• There are no extensions for Priority Deadlines

When will I receive my diploma?

• If you meet the October Priority Deadlines, you will graduate and your degree will be awarded in the Fall semester (December). PhDs will receive their diplomas in December and master’s students will receive diplomas in early spring.
• If you meet the March Priority Deadlines, you will graduate and your degree will be awarded in the Spring semester (May). PhDs will receive their diplomas in May and master’s students will receive diplomas in early summer.
• There is no Priority Deadline schedule in the Summer semester.

What is the procedure to graduate following the Priority Deadlines?

• Finish all requirements to graduate by the Priority Deadlines posted on the Office of Graduate Education website.
• Contact your Program Office if you need to be made “eligible to graduate.”
• Submit an Application for Graduation online through Galaxy for the semester you will graduate before the graduation application deadline.
• Pay the $100 fee which will be applied to your account after Census Day. For questions regarding this fee, please contact the Registrar.

For more information on Priority Deadline Graduation for international students, please visit the International Student Services Office.