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Timeline for the PhD Qualifying Examination and the Master’s Defense (Final Oral Examination)

Guidelines for Terminal Master’s Degree Completion

Event	Due Date	Notes
Notice to your Program Coordinator of scheduled qualifying exam or defense date.	Check your graduate program handbook for specific requirements regarding qualifying examination and defense paperwork and deadlines.	Review calendar above for deadline dates.
Submission of paperwork for the exam/defense to the Dean.	At least 15 full working days prior to the qualifying exam or defense date.	Review calendar above for deadline dates.
Completion of modifications to the thesis proposal after the qualifying exam.	The School allows 14 calendar days after the qualifying examination for modifications to be made.	This applies only if “passed pending modifications” is the outcome of the exam.
Submission of final copy of Master’s thesis after defense.	The School allows 30 calendar days after the defense date for submission. However, defenses scheduled later in the semester will be subject to a deadline date that may be shorter than 30 days.	Review calendar above for deadline dates.

Publication date: July 1, 2015. This calendar is subject to change without notice. Questions regarding the calendar should be directed to the Registrar, Office for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, (585) 275-4522.