Exams and Graduation

Graduation Deadlines

 

Master's degree programs

Master’s degree programs give students the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and necessary skills in a field in order to engage in research and other scholarly activities, to teach, and to become practitioners. At this university, master’s degree programs consist of a coherent pattern of courses and other educational experiences, a master’s examination, and, in many cases, a thesis or its equivalent. See Section 6 of the Graduate School Handbook for a full description of master's degree rules and requirements.

Master's examination

The master’s examination is administered under the auspices of the local program’s Graduate Studies Committee, and the responsibility for the examination rests with the master’s examination committee. More

Doctoral degree programs

Doctoral degree programs give students the opportunity to achieve a high level of scholarly competence and to develop the capacity to contribute to the knowledge of their field. At this university, doctoral degree programs consist of a coherent pattern of courses and other educational experiences, a candidacy examination, a dissertation (PhD) or document (DMA), and a final oral examination. See Section 7 of the Graduate School Handbook for a full description of doctoral degree rules and requirements.

Candidacy examination

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Final oral examination

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Professional doctoral examination

Students pursuing a professional doctorate degree are required to take a professional doctoral examination testing the student’s understanding of the theoretical and applied fundamentals of the field as well as the student’s readiness to engage in a sustained clinical or professional experience. More

Graduation

Graduation from a degree program is not just the culmination of academic pursuits with the awarding of a diploma at a commencement ceremony. In the Graduate School, we see graduation as a process that must be managed to insure timely progress towards degree completion. 

Planning by students is essential because there are many steps and procedures that must be navigated in completing a degree. More