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  3. Graduation Milestone Checklist

Graduation Milestone 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 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 

  • It is the responsibility of each graduate student to ascertain and meet the graduate certificate requirements of the Graduate School.
  • Each student must be officially accepted as a graduate certificate student, as specified in the Graduate Catalog.
  • Each graduate certificate student must meet minimum grade requirements, complete all prescribed courses, and fulfill all graduate certificate program requirements.
  • Each graduate certificate student must complete the Application for Graduate Certificate and return it to the Graduate School by the end of the first week of the last semester of graduate work.
  • Each graduate certificate student must pay the certificate fee by the end of the first week of the last semester of graduate study.
  • Prepared outline of curriculum with department head or advisor.
  • (If applicable) Removed conditional status with at least a 3.0 average after the first 12 hours (MS Form).
  • Had advisory committee appointed prior to applying for admission to candidacy.
  • Admitted to candidacy after 12 hours (MS Form).
  • (If applicable) Filed subject of thesis at the time of admission to candidacy.
  • (If applicable) Completed foreign language requirements.
  • Submitted Application for Degree and paid diploma fee.
  • Completed residence requirements.
  • Took the written and/or oral comprehensive examination as required and within the prescribed time limits.
  • Maintained at least a 3.0 average over-all and in major field, with no more than two grades of C and no more than 6 credit hours with a grade of C in courses to be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements, and with at least one-half of the total number of course credits required having been earned in courses limited to graduate students.
  • Completed courses listed on outline of curriculum.
  • (If applicable) Turned in, or made arrangements for turning in, to the Graduate School office by the date approved by the Dean one copy of the thesis in perfect, finished form, and paid the thesis binding charge.
  • Attended graduation exercises, unless excused in advance.
  • Prepared outline of curriculum with department head or advisor.
  • Passed departmental preliminary examination.
  • Had a dissertation committee approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
  • Completed courses listed in outline of curriculum.
  • Completed foreign language requirements.
  • Satisfactorily completed the general comprehensive examination.
  • If applicable, presented acceptable dissertation prospectus to dissertation committee.
  • Admitted to candidacy immediately after satisfactory completion of the general comprehensive examination.
  • Submitted Application for Degree and paid diploma fee by the end of the first week of the last semester of study.
  • Completed residence requirements.
  • Presented dissertation in a form and according to a schedule acceptable to the dissertation committee before taking the final examination.
  • Satisfactorily completed the final examination.
  • Maintained a 3.0 average overall and in major field, with no more than one C in a course to be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements, and with the prescribed number of semester hours earned in courses at the 500 and 600 levels.
  • Turned in, or made arrangements for turning in, to the Graduate School office the approved one copy of the dissertation in perfect, finished form, and paid the dissertation binding charge.
  • Paid appropriate fees for the services provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. See the Graduate School Office for the current fee amounts.
  • Attended graduation exercises, unless excused in advance.
  • Prepared outline of curriculum with program coordinator or advisor.
  • Passed qualifying paper defense.
  • Had a dissertation committee approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
  • Completed courses listed in outline of curriculum.
  • Presented acceptable dissertation prospectus to dissertation committee.
  • Admitted to candidacy immediately after satisfactory completion of qualifying paper.
  • Submitted Application for Degree and paid diploma fee by the end of the first week of the last semester of study.
  • Completed residence requirements.
  • Presented dissertation in a form and according to a schedule acceptable to the dissertation committee before taking the final examination.
  • Satisfactorily completed the final dissertation defense/examination.
  • Maintained a 3.0 average overall and in major field, with no more than one C in a course to be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements, and with the prescribed number of semester hours earned in courses at the 500 and 800 levels.
  • Turned in, or made arrangements for turning in, to the Graduate School office the approved one copy of the dissertation in perfect, finished form, and paid the dissertation binding charge.
  • Paid appropriate fees for the services provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. See the Graduate School Office for current fee amounts.
  • Attended graduation exercises, unless excused in advance.
  • Prepared curriculum plan with program coordinator.
  • Formed a synthesis project committee and secured approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
  • Admitted to candidacy immediately after satisfactory completion of NURS 803.
  • Submitted IRB application and gained necessary IRB approvals for completion of synthesis project.
  • Completed all courses as required in the program curriculum.
  • Attained a minimum of 1,000 hours of post-baccalaureate supervised academic program practice hours.
  • Submitted Application for Degree and paid diploma fee by the end of the first week of the last semester of study.
  • Presented synthesis project as required by program.
  • Maintained a 3.0 average overall.
  • Turned in, or made arrangements for turning in, to the Graduate School office the approved one copy of the synthesis project in perfect, finished form, and paid the dissertation binding charge.
  • Paid appropriate fees for the services provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. See the Graduate School Office for current fee amounts.
  • Attended graduation exercises, unless excused in advance.

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.