Graduation Information

Master of Science Students

The Semester Before You Plan to Graduate

  • Schedule a meeting with your major professor to discuss your plans.
  • Let the Academic Program Specialist know that you are planning on graduating the following semester through email
  • Check in oasis to make sure that you have a minimum total of 30 credit hours. 20 of those credit hours must be formally graded courses with passing grades of A, B or C. All graduate students must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B).
  • Verify that you have completed your catalog requirements

Students must complete ETD Workshop

The Semester in Which You Plan to Graduate

Once you and your major professor have determined that you have a thesis that is ready to be defended be sure that your committee has been notified of your plans. It is important to provide everyone on your committee a final draft of your thesis at least 3-4 weeks before your defense date to allow your committee time to review the document and to avoid any delays in your graduation.

During the semester you plan on graduating, you must register for 2 credit hours of thesis. If you are on federal financial aid, please check with the Office of Financial Aid to determine how many credits you'll need to register for to stay in deferment status. If you are an international student, please check with International Student Services to determine how many credits you'll need to register for to maintain your visa.


Confirm with the Academic Program Specialist that you indeed will be defending your thesis and graduating during this semester through email.

Apply for Graduation through Oasis
RSVP for Commencement

Thesis Defense Information

Prior to Defending

Please review the Forms  page for information and submit required forms due at least two weeks before your defense.

After you defend your Thesis

Please review the Forms page for information on required forms due after your defense.

  • Once the committee has deliberated and voted, please return the signed Successful Defense form to the Academic Program Specialist in CHE 205. 
  • Turn in a signed Thesis/Dissertation Certificate of Approval form to the Office of Graduate Studies in ALN 226
  • Upload your thesis to canvas so your major professor can complete the plagiarism check requirement.
    • Note if you are graduating in Summer, the Chair of the Department will be responsible for completing the plagiarism check
  • Most importantly, be sure to upload your final/approved thesis through ProQuest. Send the Academic Program Specialist a copy of the email from Graduate Studies confirming submission of your thesis.

Please be sure to not miss any deadlines because you will not be allowed to graduate and will need to wait until the following semester. Further, you must receive a final approval by the clearance deadline on the ETD site.