All requirements for any advanced degrees to be awarded at a given degree-granting period (February, May, September) must be completed by the appropriate deadline as published on the Graduate School's calendar (generally, mid-December for February; early April for May; and the last working day of August for September). The completed Eligibility for Degree Form, signed by the candidate, the Graduate Program Director, and the Department Chair/Head, must be submitted to the Graduate Student Service Center by the specified date so that all the candidate's credentials can be certified before the degree is actually awarded. Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for further detailed guidance in the preparation and completion of a program of study. Guidelines for Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations are also available online.

Any Graduate School regulation or procedure shall not preclude graduate programs from developing specific regulations or procedures which are more restrictive or selective. For example, some programs have a foreign language requirement.