"Staying on Track" Checklist

Once you are admitted and enroll as a graduate student, it is important to be aware of required forms, upcoming deadlines, and pertinent information that will help you stay on track to graduate. The "Staying on Track" Checklist and deadline information below is designed to assist you with timely completion of required paperwork. It is not intended to replace or stand in lieu of the Graduate Catalog, your graduate advisor, or any university policies. It is your responsibility to remain familiar with the Graduate Catalog and your departmental expectations.

"Staying on Track" Checklist

Taken in part from Graduate Catalog 2019-2020

• Graduate Certificate Checklist
• Master's Degree Checklist
• Doctor of Philosophy Degree Checklist
• Doctor of Education Degree Checklist
• Doctor of Nursing Practice Checklist

Deadline Information

These deadlines are University and Graduate School deadlines; your department may have additional deadlines you must meet to satisfy program requirements. Check with your department to make sure you know what these departmental deadlines are. These deadlines represent a genuine effort to provide accurate information in effect at the time of posting; the University and the Graduate School reserve the right to make changes in the deadlines without notice.

Submit forms below to the Graduate School office, Martin Hall, room 332, unless noted otherwise. All forms below are available under Forms unless noted otherwise.

Attending Commencement on:

For current deadline information, visit the Registrar's Commencement page

Submit Petition for Regular Status (for conditionally admitted students only)

Due after completion of 12 hours of graduate credit with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Submit Application for Transfer of Graduate Credit (if applicable)

May be submitted after completion of 12 hours of graduate credit in a graduate program but before Application for Degree

Submit Application for Admission to Candidacy form (Master's candidate)

Due after completion of 12 hours of graduate credit with at least a 3.0 GPA; view the Academic Calendar for current semester deadline.

Submit Application for Admission to Candidacy form (Ph.D. and Ed.D. candidates)

Due early in the semester after successful completion of the general comprehensive exam or the qualifying paper; view the Academic Calendar for current semester deadline.

Submit Doctoral Advisory Committee Appointment form

During your first semester of enrollment

Submit Doctoral Dissertation Committee Approval form

Once your committee has been finalized

Submit Doctoral Student Progress Report form

3rd Monday of April each year enrolled

Submit Application for Degree

View the Academic Calendar for current semester deadline.

Order cap, gown, and hood from University Bookstore

View the current deadline information on the Commencement page.

Review Guidelines for Graduate Theses and Dissertations

You are encouraged to review the guidelines the semester prior to finishing your thesis or dissertation.

Submit final copies of Thesis or Dissertation

(This deadline is for FINAL copies. You must submit a defended, committee approved copy earlier for Editor review. Your defense should be scheduled early enough to allow for committee-required and editor-required revisions to your thesis or dissertation.)

View the Academic Calendar for current semester deadline.

Submit Separation Clearance Form to your home department/program

Complete two weeks prior to departing the University when withdrawing or graduating.