Action or Element
Completion Tasks and Time Lines for All Graduate Degrees
Master’s Plan A (Thesis)
Master’s Plan B
Master’s Plan C
(Paper/Project)
(Coursework Only)
1. Supervisory
Committee
Supervisory committee form
submitted to SGS by end of
first semester (changes cannot
be made to committee
membership within 6 weeks
of defense).
Supervisory committee form
submitted to SGS by end of
first semester (changes cannot
be made to committee
membership within 6 weeks of
defense).
Supervisory Committee form
submitted to SGS by end of first
semester (Some departments and
programs require a committee
form while some do not. Check
with your department to
determine whether or not one is
required.)
2. Program of Study
Program of Study submitted
by end of second semester*
following matriculation and at
least 2 months prior to the
final defense (need to submit
signed copy of proposal with
Program of Study)
Program of Study submitted by
end of second semester*
following matriculation and at
least 2 months prior to the final
defense (no proposal)
Program of Study submitted by
end of second semester*
3. Comprehensive
Exam
4. Proposal Defense
5. Appointment for
Examination
6. Plan C Completion
Notification
Department schedules
proposal defense as required
by departmental guidelines
Department schedules proposal
defense as required by
departmental guideline
Appointment for Examination
form submitted to SGS at
least 10 working days prior to
desired defense date
Appointment for Examination
form submitted to SGS at least
10 working days prior to
desired defense date
Doctoral
Supervisory Committee form
submitted by end of second
semester (CEHS
interdepartmental may turn in
only 3 members and need 5;
they have until they turn in
candidacy form to add two
more members to committee.
changes cannot be made to
committee membership within
6 weeks of defense).
Program of Study submitted by
end of third semester* (CEHS
signed by same number as on
committee form)
Comprehensive exams
(scheduled by departments)
Department schedules proposal
defense, Candidacy form &
signed copy of proposal turned
in to SGS at least 3 months
before final defense of
dissertation
Appointment for Examination
form submitted to SGS at least
10 working days prior to
desired defense date
Plan C completion form sent by
dept to SGS first two weeks of
final semester
7. Thesis &
Dissertation
Defense/Delivery
of Graduation
Paperwork
8. Record of
Examination
9. Graduation Forms
and Fees
10. Thesis, Plan B,
and Dissertation
Completion
11. Thesis/
Dissertation
Review Process
12. Completion Memo
13. Binding
Verification
14. Grace Semester
and Late Fees
15. Posting the
Degree
Hold defense; give student
graduation forms (graduation
forms** are in defense
packet)
Hold defense; give student
graduation forms (graduation
forms** are in defense packet)
Return signed Record of
Examination form (purple) to
SGS indicating exam results
Student pays diploma fee and
submits graduation forms* to
SGS
***Thesis is signed by all
committee members and
turned into SGS for review
Return signed Record of
Examination form (orange) to
SGS indicating exam results
Student pays diploma fee and
submits graduation forms* to
SGS
The project is signed by all
committee members, but the
document does not come to the
SGS
SGS checks student's Program of
Study and mails graduation
forms** to student (no defense
held)
Student pays diploma fee and
submits graduation forms* to
SGS
Allow 7 wks from defense to
binding (allows time for
revisions, reading, approvals,
signatures, copying, binding)
Hold defense; give student
graduation forms (graduation
forms** are in defense packet)
Return signed Record of
Examination form (purple) to
SGS indicating exam results
Student pays diploma fee and
submits graduation forms* to
SGS
***Dissertation is signed by all
committee members and turned
into SGS for review
Allow 7 wks from defense to
binding (allows time for
revisions, reading, approvals,
signatures, copying, binding)
Memo of completion sent to
SGS from department
Memo of completion sent to SGS
from department near end of
semester
Binding receipt brought by
Binding receipt is brought to
Binding receipt brought by
student to SGS after thesis is
the SGS after project is
student to SGS after
taken to Merrill-Cazier
completed and filed with the
dissertation is taken to MerrillLibrary for binding
Merrill-Cazier Library
Cazier Library for binding
All graduate students (excepting international students because of visa restrictions) have a “grace semester” the semester after their
defense (or semester after completion of coursework for Plan C students) to complete the process.
A $100 Late Completion fee is assessed for each semester thereafter until the degree is posted.
Once all grades are entered and all paperwork is submitted the "degree conferred" date on the student's transcript will typically be
the day the binding receipt was signed for Plan A, B, and doctoral students, and the last day of the semester in which all of the
above requirements are completed for Plan C students. The date on the diploma will be the last day of the semester for all students.
* There will be a hold placed on your registration the next semester if your Program of Study has not been submitted.
** These forms include: Graduation Fee Payment form; Commencement Data card; Alumni File card; Graduate Survey.
*** This is a lengthy process. Anticipate several days and sometimes weeks for this process depending upon faculty availability and workload.
02/13/07