Thesis and Dissertation Deadlines

Plan ahead to graduate this term. Applying to graduate early saves you money and stress. Do you have your committee on file? Is your study plan approved? Are you registered? Have you looked at the thesis handbook and quick guides?

Dissertation defenses must be requested two weeks prior. Thesis defenses should be requested a minimum of 48 hours prior.

All defenses must be completed by this date to graduate this term.

This is the date to have the COGS administrator approve your document, and NOT a submission date. Successful graduates submit their final version at least 48 hours prior to this date.

Your document must be approved by your committee and department chair in ETD ProQuest by 5 p.m. on this day to graduate this term.

Submit your Request to Proceed with Final Defense Form two weeks prior to your final defense.

Doctoral students must turn in their request to proceed form 10 business days before the defense.

Thesis students may turn in their request to proceed form as late as one working day before the defense, although it is recommended to submit the form two weeks prior to allow sufficient time to prepare for the defense and to give COGS the chance to double check that graduation requirements are in order.

Final day to complete a successful final defense.

Please note the availability of faculty members and staff when considering a Summer graduation. Some departments do not have faculty members available during this term. Communicate with committee members early and be sure that everyone can be present to support a defense, review your drafts, and authorize the submission of your Thesis or Dissertation during this time.

Deadline to submit the final version of your document to ETD (this is the fully revised — both content and format — version that will be published online).

Note: If you do not meet this deadline, there is no guarantee that the ETD administrator can authorize your final submission before the end of semester deadline.

Deadline to complete the ETD Checklist and receive final approvals of your document in ETD including Department Administrator and the COGS ETD Administrator. Not providing adequate time for approvals could delay your graduation term.

Deadline for major professors to submit the Non-Thesis Project Report to the Registrar.