Master’s and doctoral degrees are awarded at the end of each month with the exception of June. To be awarded a degree, you must file an Application for Graduate Degree. Degree applications are valid for three months, beginning with the first month of application. If you are unable to complete all of your degree requirements by the end of the month, your application will be held open for two more months. For instance, a degree application submitted in January or February for a March degree will be valid for March, April, and May. If you have not received your degree by the end of that time, you must file a new application.

Students applying for graduation for July through January must file an Application for Graduate Degree by the first working day of the month in which they wish to receive the degree. Students will then be given until the last working day of the month (with the exception of May; see Section V. "Graduation and Commencement" for additional information) to meet all degree requirements.

Students who wish to apply to graduate in February, March, April, or May, must file an Application for Graduate Degree no later than the last day of the Add/Drop period in January. Those who do not do so will not have their names in the Commencement program book and their diplomas will not be available at the commencement ceremony in May.

In some cases, the three month application window may span two different semesters.  Students who apply to graduate toward the end of one semester, but who, for any reason, do not complete all degree requirements until the following semester, will be required to enroll in that semester.  If all degree requirements are met no later than the first day of classes for the new semester, you will be eligible for enrollment in Continuous Registration, section 2, for which no fee is charged.  If all degree requirements have not been met by the first day of classes for the new semester, you must enroll in the appropriate thesis or non-thesis registration mode.