- At least once a semester, check your Degree Works audit.
- lists your program requirements and records your progress. Your goal is to get to 100% complete. If you find anything incorrect or have questions about your requirements, contact your Graduate Program Director (GPD). You should also consult the and your program handbook for more information about specific requirements.
- Before your final semester, apply for graduation and register for commencement.
- This is important so that you will receive essential information from the university and your GPD regarding graduation requirements. Links are available under the Graduation menu in .
- During your final semester鈥, if you are completing a comprehensive exam, thesis/dissertation defense, or other degree milestone, you must be registered for at least one (1) credit.
- During your final semester, complete student surveys.
- All graduate students must complete the 蜜桃传媒 Graduate Assessment. The link is available under the 鈥淕raduate Student Attributes and Activities鈥 in Degree Works.
- Students who will be graduating with a PhD or DEng degree must also complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). This is a nationwide survey that all research doctoral graduates are asked to complete. For more information see Survey of Earned Doctorates at 蜜桃传媒.
- Double-check your name and address.
- Check your name and permanent home address with the Registrar鈥檚 office to make sure your diploma will have the correct name and be mailed to the correct address. Your diploma will be mailed 6-8 weeks after graduation.
Thesis or Dissertation Students
Note your program, academic dean鈥檚 office, and university deadlines and requirements for completing and submitting your final document.
All dissertations and theses must be submitted to ProQuest before degree conferral. Before submission to ProQuest, the document formatting must be approved by your academic dean鈥檚 office. Each college/school has their own timeline for review, but you should allow at least 3 weeks for final formatting revisions. See the Graduate School鈥檚 Thesis & Dissertation Preparation & Submission page for details on the required formatting.
You can work backwards from the ProQuest deadlines in the table below to help plan your final semester. Here are some suggested milestone deadlines (subject to your program or college/school requirements):
- Submit final thesis/dissertation to your dean鈥檚 office: About three (3) weeks before ProQuest deadline.
- Thesis/dissertation defense: at least two (2) weeks before submission to dean鈥檚 office.
- Final draft to your committee: at least two (2) weeks before defense.
This means that you should plan to have the final draft of your thesis or dissertation ready at least two (2) months before the ProQuest deadline.
ProQuest Deadlines 2026-2027
Generally, the ProQuest deadline will be the day that grades are due, which is 2-3 days before the conferral date. This is to provide time in case there are technical issues. If a thesis/dissertation has not been accepted by ProQuest by the conferral date, the degree cannot be awarded that term.
| Semester | Term | ProQuest Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | First 8-week Session | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 | Second 8-week Session / Full-term | Dec. 15, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | First 8-week Session | March 9, 2027 |
| Spring 2027 | Second 8-week Session / Full-term | May 11, 2027 |
| Summer 2027 | First 8-week Session | July 6, 2027 |
| Summer 2027 | Second 8-week Session / Full-term | Aug. 24, 2027 |