Doctoral Degree Requirements
Graduation comes fast. Get prepared with our degree requirement checklists.
Program of Study – curriculum outline of courses completed and to be completed for the Ph.D.
Certification of Foreign Language / Computer Competence – not required for all degree programs; should be submitted once the requirement has been met
Report on Qualifying Examination – verification of results of the Qualifying Exam; must include curriculum outline of courses completed and to be completed for the Ph.D. (Program of Study); should be submitted after the second year of full‐time enrollment
Report on General Examination – verification of results of the General Exam; must include curriculum outline of courses completed and to be completed for the Ph.D. (Program of Study) unless there are no changes to what was approved at the time of the Qualifying Examination. Due to the Graduate School at least the semester prior to the semester in which you will be graduating (Fall: May 15, Spring: October 1, Summer: March 1)
Application for Graduation - How a student is officially added to the University graduation list. Complete on the Registrar's website. Due October 1 for Fall, March 1 for Spring, and July 1 for Summer.
Dissertation Approval Form – evidence of approval by committee; title on the form must be identical to the title as it appears on the manuscript; due three weeks before Commencement. Please see the Thesis and Dissertation Format Manual
Survey of Earned Doctorates – The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) began in 1957–58 to collect data continuously on the number and characteristics of individuals receiving research doctoral degrees from all accredited U.S. institutions. The SED is sponsored by the following 6 federal agencies: National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Endowment for the Humanities, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Thesis/Dissertation Embargo Extension or Redaction Request
Request for Extension of the time limit
Students admitted prior to Fall 2012
- All requirements towards a Master's degree must be completed within 8 calendar years.
- All requirements towards a Doctoral degree must be completed within 13 years of admission.
Students admitted or re-admitted after a 5-year absence Fall 2012 and thereafter
- All requirements towards a Master's degree must be completed within 6 calendar years.
- All requirements towards a Doctoral degree must be completed within 6 calendar years of completing the General Examination.