Graduate Programs Deadlines
Registering for Fewer Than 3 Credits of Thesis or Dissertation
ONLY in the semester of graduation may students register for fewer than the minimum three hours of thesis or dissertation. To register for zero (0) hours, students must have been registered for at least 3 hours the preceding semester and MUST HAVE ALREADY SUCCESSFULY DEFENDED.
To graduate in the designated semester, students must successfully defend (or pass FPE) by the 2nd Monday before the last day of the semester and submit the document (meaning that the Office of Graduate Programs has accepted the committee-approved document) by the Monday before the last day of the semester.
Responsibility for determining how many credits are needed to fulfill degree requirements rests with the student and his/her advisor. Registration may be for 0, 1, 2, or 3 hours, based on the following schedule.
Main/ESD Campus Graduate Students Graduation Deadlines for Final Program Examination and Submitting Your Thesis - MS Design Project - Dissertation - DRP
| FALL 2024 | Hrs | Successfully Defend by | Submit Document to OGP by | Diploma Dated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass defense before Fall 2024 starts on August 19 | 0 | Friday, August 16 | Friday, September 13 | December 2024 |
| 1 | Friday, October 11 | December 2024 | ||
| 2 | Friday, November 8 | December 2024 | ||
| Successfully defend (or pass FPE) by December 2 for FA24 diploma | 3 | Monday, December 2 | Monday, December 9 | December 2024 |
*If ANY defense, pass, or submission deadline is missed, student graduates in SP25.
| SPRING 2025 | Hrs | Successfully Defend by | Submit Document to OGP by | Diploma Dated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass defense before Spring 2025 starts on January 13 | 0 | Friday, January 10 | Friday, February 7 | May 2025 |
| 1 | Friday, March 7 | May 2025 | ||
| 2 | Friday, April 4 | May 2025 | ||
| Successfully defend (or pass FPE) by April 28 for SP25 diploma | 3 | Monday, April 28 | Monday, May 5 | May 2025 |
*If ANY defense, pass, or submission deadline is missed, student graduates in SU25.
| SUMMER 2025 | Hrs | Successfully Defend by | Submit Document to OGP by | Diploma Dated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass defense before Summer 2025 starts on May 19 | 0 | Friday, May 16 | Friday, May 30 | August 2025 |
| 1 | Friday, Jun 20 | August 2025 | ||
| 2 | Friday, July 11 | August 2025 | ||
| Successfully defend (or pass FPE) by July 21 for SU25 diploma | 3 | Monday, July 21 | Monday, July 28 | August 2025 |
*If ANY defense, pass, or submission deadline is missed, student graduates in FA25.
Oral Exam Announcement Submission Deadline
The original, signed, Oral Examination/Defense Announcement form must be received in the Office of Graduate Programs at least 14 days before the examination or defense date. You must include Date, Time and Place of your examination or defense. In addition, thesis and dissertation students must include the title of your thesis, dissertation, DRP or Master’s Design Project.
Thesis/Dissertation Registration
Students must have been registered for at least 3 hours the preceding semester and MUST HAVE ALREADY SUCESSFULLY DEFENDED in order to register for zero (0) hours.
| Hrs | Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 hr | September 13, 2024 | February 7, 2025 | May 30, 2025 |
| 1 hr | October 11, 2024 | March 7, 2025 | June 20, 2025 |
| 2 hr | November 8, 2024 | April 4, 2025 | July 11, 2025 |
| 3 hr | December 9, 2024 | May 5, 2025 | July 28, 2025 |
Graduation Deadlines
*Date the completed ‘Petition for Graduation’ must be submitted to the Registrar’s Graduation Office to avoid a late fee of $30.00. A late fee of $60 is assessed if a student petitions to graduate (for the first time) during the semester of graduation.
Fall 2024 Graduation
- Last day to petition to graduate without a late fee:* March 15. 2024
- Last day to re-petition for students who had petitioned for Spring/Summer 2024:* August 28, 2024
- Last day for completed graduate-level defense and exam: December 2, 2024
- Last day to submit approved copies of thesis or dissertation to the Office of Graduate Programs: December 9, 2024
- Graduation date (Saturday ceremonies): December 14, 2024
Spring 2025 Graduation
- Last day to petition to graduate without a late fee:* September 6, 2024
- Last day to re-petition for students who had petitioned for Fall 2024:* January 24, 2025
- Last day for completed graduate-level defense and exam: April 28, 2025
- Last day to submit approved copies of thesis or dissertation to the Office of Graduate Programs: May 5, 2025
- Graduation date (Saturday ceremonies): May 10, 2025
Summer 2025 Graduation
- Last day to re-petition for students who had petitioned for Spring 2025:* May 30, 2025
- Last day for completed graduate-level defense and exam: July 21, 2025
- Last day to submit approved copies of thesis or dissertation to the Office of Graduate Programs: July 28, 2025
- Graduation date (no ceremony): August 2, 2025