Degree Requirements & Graduation

At the end of your academic career, it is important to abide by the graduation policies in order to graduate on time. Most procedures regarding graduation are located on the Graduation Requirements & Deadlines page, however specific policies regarding graduation are referred to here from our online catalog.

Application for Graduation
In order to graduate, all students must apply for graduation. This is usually the first step towards degree clearance; graduating students must apply online.
Candidacy Procedures
Doctoral students who have completed their program coursework and preliminary examinations are eligible for candidacy admission. All doctoral students must reach candidacy within five (5) years of starting their program.
Dissertation Defense
The ability to do independent research must be demonstrated by an original dissertation on a topic approved by the program’s graduate committee.

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