Staying on track for your degree involves more than coursework and research... there is some critical paperwork that needs to be taken care of by you and/or your advisor. But remember that only one person is ultimately responsible for making sure everything you need to graduate is taken care of: YOU.

• Master of Science (without thesis)
• Master of Science (with thesis)
• PhD

Master of Science (without Thesis)

 

Advisor/Student

Program of Study for Masters Degree (POS) – A POS should be on file with the Office of Graduate Studies after completing your first 12 graduate credit hours.  The student works in conjunction with their advisor to develop the POS in accordance with Graduate School as well as departmental requirements.

Change to Program of Study (if necessary) – A Change to POS can be filed at any time if it is deemed necessary, and again, complies with Graduate School and departmental requirements.

 

Advisor/Department

Report of the Master’s Degree Final Written Examination – this report is filed with the Office of Graduate Studies after the student passes (at the Masters Level) the Department's Comprehensive Exam.

 

Student

Application for Advanced Degree – 90 days before the end of semester in which you plan to graduate, an application for advanced degree along with a $20 application fee, must be filed with Charger Central in the University Center.  (The form will be forwarded from Charger Central to the appropriate department and Graduate Studies for processing).
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Master of Science (with Thesis)

 

Advisor/Student

Program of Study for Masters Degree (POS) – A POS should be on file with the Office of Graduate Studies after completing your first 12 graduate credit hours.  The student works in conjunction with their advisor to develop the POS in accordance with Graduate School as well as departmental requirements.

Change to Program of Study (if necessary) – A Change to POS can be filed at any time if it is deemed necessary, and again, complies with Graduate School and departmental requirements.

Change to Graduate Supervisory Committee (if necessary) – A Change of Committee form can be filed at any time if deemed necessary.

 

 

Advisor/Department

Notification of Oral Examination/Defense – At least two weeks before the thesis defense, a notification must be on file with the Office of Graduate Studies.  The Office of Graduate Studies is responsible for arranging a Graduate School Observer.  Deadlines for defenses are currently 9 weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the student plans to graduate.  Once set, the examination becomes an official Graduate School Matter; the date cannot be changed without prior agreement amongst the supervisory committee members and the student and without approval of the graduate dean.

Report of Oral Examination/Defense – Within 48 hours of the Thesis Defense, the results of the exam must be reported to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Please note that if this is a conditional pass, details and dates for completion must be listed.  Completion requirements not met by the date given will be counted as a failed attempt – Students are allowed only 2 attempts to pass their defense.

 

Student

Application for Advanced Degree – 90 days before the end of semester in which you plan to graduate, an application for advanced degree along with a $20 application fee, must be filed with Charger Central in the University Center.  (The form will be forwarded from Charger Central to the appropriate department and Graduate Studies for processing).

Submission of the Thesis

The final hard-copy of your thesis must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies at least 7 weeks (fall and spring) prior to the end of the semester in which you plan to graduate.  The copy must contain original signatures from your committee, department or program chair and college dean; you must also include the personal contact information form.

Theses submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies by the posted deadline date will be considered candidates for graduation that semester.

Theses submitted after the posted deadline dates are NOT considered candidates for that semester.  Theses must be COMPLETE by the end of the semester in which you wish to graduate.  COMPLETION is defined as a thesis approved by the Graduate Dean, copies, forms, fees, etc., submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Students submitting their thesis after the posted deadline date for a given semester MUST registered for graduate course work (to include 699) the following semester in order to be a candidate for graduation.

The Office of Graduate studies will submit your document to a proofreader who will contact you directly for any corrections deemed necessary.  It is crucial that you maintain timely contact with the proofreader to ensure completion of your document. 

The proofreader will submit the corrected version of your document to the Graduate Dean.  The Graduate Dean will review your document and may require additional corrections.  After all corrections are made, the Dean will approve your thesis.  After approval from the Graduate Dean, forms, fees, and copies must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies in order to fulfill your requirements for your degree.  Exact details of this process will be presented to you after the Dean’s approval.

1. 6 copies on 100% cotton fiber paper
2. Receipt for Binding - $55
3. Forms – Binding Form, UMI form
4. UMI Fee - $45

Please Note – This is a very time consuming process and can take upwards of 6 weeks to complete.

Thesis/Dissertation manual available at grad.uah.edu/forms.php

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PhD

Advisor/Student

Program of Study for the Doctor of Philosophy  (POS) – A POS should be on file with the Office of Graduate Studies after completing your first 12 graduate credit hours.  The student works in conjunction with their advisor to develop the POS in accordance with Graduate School as well as departmental requirements.

Change of POS (if necessary) – A Change of POS can be filed at any time if it is deemed necessary, and again, complies with Graduate School and departmental requirements.

Change of Committee (if necessary) – A Change of Committee form can be filed at any time if deemed necessary.

 

 

Advisor/Department

Results of the Comprehensive (PhD Preliminary) Exam – A report of the Ph.D. preliminary exam must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies as quickly as possible after the exam has been given and results calculated.

Notification of Qualifying Exam – At least two weeks before the qualifying exam, submit notification to the Office of Graduate Studies for processing.

Report of Qualifying Exam – Within 48 hours of the Qualifying Exam, the results of the exam must be reported to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Please note that if this is a conditional pass, details and dates for completion must be listed.  Completion requirements not met by the date given will be counted as a failed attempt – Students are allowed only 2 attempts to pass this exam.

Notification of Dissertation Defense – At least two weeks before the dissertation defense a notification must be on file with the Office of Graduate Studies.  The Office of Graduate Studies is responsible for arranging a Graduate School Observer.  Deadline for defenses is currently 9 weeks (fall & spring) prior to the end of the semester in which the student plans to graduate.  Once set, the examination becomes an official Graduate School Matter; the date cannot be changed without prior agreement amongst the supervisory committee members and the student and without approval of the graduate dean.

Report of Dissertation Defense – Within 48 hours of the Dissertation Defense, the results of the exam must be reported to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Please note that if this is a conditional pass, details and dates for completion must be listed.  Completion requirements not met by the date given will be counted as a failed attempt – Students are allowed only 2 attempts to pass their defense.

 

Student

Application for Advanced Degree – 90 days before the end of semester in which you plan to graduate, an application for advanced degree along with a $20 application fee, must be filed with Charger Central in the University Center.  (The form will be forwarded from Charger Central to the appropriate department and Graduate Studies for processing).

Submission of the Dissertation

The final hard-copy of your dissertation must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies at least 6 weeks (fall and spring) prior to the end of the semester in which you plan to graduate.  The copy must contain original signatures from your committee, department or program chair and college dean; you must also attached personal contact information.

Dissertations submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies by the posted deadline date will be considered candidates for graduation that semester.

Dissertations submitted after the posted deadline dates are NOT considered candidates for that semester.  Dissertations must be COMPLETE by the end of the semester in which you wish to graduate.  COMPLETION is defined as a dissertation approved by the Graduate Dean, copies, forms, fees, etc., submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Students submitting their dissertation after the posted deadline date for a given semester MUST registered for a minimum of 3 semester hours of graduate course work (to include 799) the following semester in order to be a candidate for graduation.

The Office of Graduate studies will submit your document to a proofreader who will contact you directly for any corrections deemed necessary. 

The proofreader will submit the corrected version of your document to the Graduate Dean.  The Graduate Dean will also proofread your document for further corrections.  After all corrections are made, the Dean will approve your thesis.  After approval from the Graduate Dean, forms, fees, and copies must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies in order to fulfill your requirements for your degree.  Exact details of this process will be presented to you after the Dean’s approval.

1. 6 copies on 100% cotton fiber paper
2. Receipt for Binding - $55
3. Forms – Binding Form, UMI form, SED form
4. UMI Fee - $55

Please Note – This is a very time consuming process and can take upwards to 6 weeks to complete.

Thesis/Dissertation manual available at grad.uah.edu/forms.php
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