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  3. Graduation Guide

Graduation Guide

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 Graduation Milestone 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 University Catalog, your graduate advisor, or any university policies. It is your responsibility to remain familiar with the University Catalog and your departmental expectations.” 

President Savoy and a new Ph.D. student posing at the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

Graduation Milestone Checklist 

  • Meet with your advisor or Graduate Coordinator each semester for advising
  • Check DegreeWorks audit to ensure you are on track for graduation
    • You can view your online degree audit through DegreeWorks in ULink to verify that your program/concentration is correct and that you are completing the required coursework for your degree.
    • The Academic Catalog can be viewed online. The Academic Catalog provides information on degree programs, courses and university policies and procedures.
  • Submit Application for Graduate Certificate
  • Clear any holds on your account
    • Holds can be viewed on ULink. You will also likely be contacted in the weeks prior to graduation via UL email of any outstanding holds.
       

  • Meet with your advisor or Graduate Coordinator each semester for advising
  • Submit Application for Candidacy 
    • Due after the completion of 12 hours of graduate credit with at least a 3.0 GPA; view the Academic Calendar for current semester deadline.
  • 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)
    • Transfer credit requests may be submitted after completion of 12 hours of graduate credit in a graduate program but before Application for Degree.
  • Check DegreeWorks audit to ensure you are on track for graduation
    • You can view your online degree audit through DegreeWorks in ULink to verify that your program/concentration is correct and that you are completing the required coursework for your degree.
    • The Academic Catalog can be viewed online. The Academic Catalog provides information on degree programs, courses and university policies and procedures.
  • Submit Application for Degree 
  • Order academic regalia from Grad Expo or University Bookstore 
  • Satisfactorily complete Foreign Language Requirements (if applicable)
  • Complete Comprehensive requirement 
    • Capstone class, oral examination and/or comprehensive exam (Please review Academic Catalog for department requirements.)
  • Review Guidelines for Graduate Theses (thesis students only)
  • Submit final copy of Thesis (thesis students only)
    • This deadline is for FINAL copies. You must submit a defended, committee-approved copy earlier for Graduate School review. Your defense should be scheduled early enough to allow for committee-required and Graduate School-required revisions to your thesis.
  • Clear any holds on your account
    • Holds can be viewed on ULink. You will also likely be contacted in the weeks prior to graduation via UL email of any outstanding holds.
  • Review Commencement Details
    • Commencement Details can be found on the Registrar’s website.
    • Monitor your UL email after the semester ends for any time-sensitive requests or questions that might arise during graduation processing. 
       

Doctor of Philosophy Students

  • Meet with your advisor or Graduate Coordinator each semester for advising
  • Complete Doctoral Progress Report every Spring semester
    • Due February 15th of each year enrolled.
  • Submit Dissertation Committee Appointment Form 
  • Submit Application for Transfer of Graduate Credit (if applicable)
    • Transfer credit requests may be submitted after completion of 12 hours of graduate credit in a graduate program but before Application for Degree.
  • Check DegreeWorks audit to ensure you are on track for graduation
    • You can view your online degree audit through DegreeWorks in ULink to verify that your program/concentration is correct and that you are completing the required coursework for your degree.
    • The Academic Catalog can be viewed online. The Academic Catalog provides information on degree programs, courses and university policies and procedures.
  • Satisfactorily complete Foreign Language Requirements (if applicable)
  • Satisfactorily complete General Comprehensive Examination 
  • Present Dissertation Prospectus to Dissertation Committee (if applicable)
  • Submit Doctoral Candidacy Form 
    • Completed after satisfactory completion of the general comprehensive examination. 
  • Review Guidelines for Dissertation 
  • Submit Application for Degree 
  • Order academic regalia from Grad Expo or University Bookstore 
  • Submit final copy of Dissertation. 
    • This deadline is for FINAL copies. You must submit a defended, committee-approved copy earlier for Graduate School review. Your defense should be scheduled early enough to allow for committee-required and Graduate School-required revisions to your dissertation.
  • Clear any holds on your account
    • Holds can be viewed on ULink. You will also likely be contacted in the weeks prior to graduation via UL email of any outstanding holds.
  • Review Commencement Details
    • Commencement Details can be found on the Registrar’s website.
    • Monitor your UL email after the semester ends for any time-sensitive requests or questions that might arise during graduation processing. 

  • Meet with your advisor or Graduate Coordinator each semester for advising
  • Complete Doctoral Progress Report every Spring semester
    • Due February 15th of each year enrolled.
  • Complete Qualifying Paper Committee Appointment Form 
  • Successfully pass Qualifying Paper defense.
  • Submit Dissertation Committee Appointment Form 
  • Submit Application for Transfer of Graduate Credit (if applicable)
    • Transfer credit requests may be submitted after completion of 12 hours of graduate credit in a graduate program but before Application for Degree.
  • Check DegreeWorks audit to ensure you are on track for graduation
    • You can view your online degree audit through DegreeWorks in ULink to verify that your program/concentration is correct and that you are completing the required coursework for your degree.
    • The Academic Catalog can be viewed online. The Academic Catalog provides information on degree programs, courses and university policies and procedures.
  • Submit Doctoral Candidacy Form 
    • Completed after satisfactory completion of the general comprehensive examination. 
  • Review Guidelines for Dissertation 
  • Submit Application for Degree 
  • Order academic regalia from Grad Expo or University Bookstore 
  • Submit final copy of Dissertation. 
    • This deadline is for FINAL copies. You must submit a defended, committee-approved copy earlier for Graduate School review. Your defense should be scheduled early enough to allow for committee-required and Graduate School-required revisions to your dissertation.
  • Clear any holds on your account
    • Holds can be viewed on ULink. You will also likely be contacted in the weeks prior to graduation via UL email of any outstanding holds.
  • Review Commencement Details
    • Commencement Details can be found on the Registrar’s website.
    • Monitor your UL email after the semester ends for any time-sensitive requests or questions that might arise during graduation processing. 

  • Meet with your advisor or Graduate Coordinator each semester for advising
  • Complete Doctoral Progress Report every Spring.
    • Due February 15th of each year enrolled.
  • Complete Synthesis Project Committee Appointment Form
  • Submit Application for Transfer of Graduate Credit (if applicable)
    • Transfer credit requests may be submitted after completion of 12 hours of graduate credit in a graduate program but before Application for Degree.
  • Check DegreeWorks audit to ensure you are on track for graduation
    • You can view your online degree audit through DegreeWorks in ULink to verify that your program/concentration is correct and that you are completing the required coursework for your degree.
    • The Academic Catalog can be viewed online. The Academic Catalog provides information on degree programs, courses and university policies and procedures.
  • Submit DNP Candidacy and Copyright form.
    • Completed after satisfactory completion of NURS 803
  • Submit IRB application.  
  • Attained a minimum of 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate supervised academic program practice hours.
  • Review Guidelines for Synthesis Project
  • Submit Application for Degree 
  • Order academic regalia from Grad Expo or University Bookstore 
  • Present Synthesis Project 
  • Submit final copy of Synthesis Project
    • This deadline is for FINAL copies. You must submit a defended, committee-approved copy earlier for Graduate School review. Your defense should be scheduled early enough to allow for committee-required and Graduate School-required revisions to your synthesis project.
  • Clear any holds on your account
    • Holds can be viewed on ULink. You will also likely be contacted in the weeks prior to graduation via UL email of any outstanding holds.
  • Review Commencement Details
    • Commencement Details can be found on the Registrar’s website.
    • Monitor your UL email after the semester ends for any time-sensitive requests or questions that might arise during graduation processing. 

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.  

All forms are located under "Graduate School Forms."

  • 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 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 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 
    • Due February 15th of each year enrolled
  • Submit Application for Degree 
  • Attending Commencement on: 
  • Order cap, gown, and hood from University Bookstore 
  • Review Guidelines for Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Synthesis Projects 
    • You are encouraged to review the guidelines the semester prior to finishing your thesis, dissertation, or synthesis project.
  • Submit final copies of Thesis, Dissertation, or Synthesis Projects.
    • (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.