Students and advisors should check with the Office of Graduate Studies, 117 Cramer Hall, 725-8410, to verify important deadlines for processing graduation forms.

Much of the clerical work required to graduate should occur within the term prior to the proposed term of graduation. Ideally, students will identify a thesis director, arrange for an MA Committee to read the thesis and administer exams, and apply for graduation before the proposed term of graduation. In the final term, students will submit the thesis, sit the written and oral exams, and submit a final, approved copy of the thesis to the Office of Graduate Studies. Students and advisors should try to complete the following steps in order.

1. Student identifies a portfolio director who will chair the portfolio and exam committees.

2. Advisor submits departmental form MA/MS in Writing: Portfolio Proposal Approval form to MA/MS in Writing Committee in the term before the proposed graduation term.

3. Student and advisor file GO-12 Approved Graduate Degree Program normally in the term before the proposed graduation term. Absolute deadline is within the first week of proposed term of graduation. (Thesis advisor and Chair, MA/MS in Writing Committee must sign and forward to Graduate Office.)

4. Student applies for graduation with the Graduate Office normally at the same time that the GO-12 is filed (see above).

5. Student and advisor create MS Committee to approve portfolio and administer written and oral exams. Advisor and/or Chair, MA/MS in Writing Committee must approve of the MS Committee members. Normally, the thesis advisor will chair the MS Committee and direct both the thesis and exams. The MA Committee should consist of three members: (1) thesis advisor, (2) a member of the MA/MS in Writing Committee, (3) and an additional member from the English department.

6. Student enrolls in at least one graduate credit in the proposed term of graduation.

7. Student submits copies of portfolio to MS Committee no later than 14 days prior to the oral exam.

8. Student takes written and oral exams no later than the sixth week of the proposed term of graduation. Student and MS Committee chair work together to organize the MS Committee and to meet this deadline.

9. If the exams are successful and the portfolio is approved, the MS Committee normally completes and files GO-17 Masters: Recommendation for the Degree at the end of the oral exam. (If additional work is required on the portfolio, the GO-17 can be submitted during the final week of the term.)