What to do when you are ready to graduate (Application for Graduation)

Master’s Students

1. Within 30 days of the start of the semester (or 15 days of the start of the summer session) you expect to graduate, notify Graduate School of intended degree completion by submitting the “Application for Master’s Degree” form. You may file this application earlier. This form is available on the Graduate School website. Both copies need to be filled out and signed
   by you, and pre-approved and signed by the DGS.
2. Bring your completed Program Checklist to the DGS for degree certification. Conditions include:
   • All “incomplete” grades removed
   • All library or other fines or dues paid
   • A GPA of 3.0 or higher
   • All program requirements completed
3. Form Final Exam Committee with Advisor’s help. The
   Committee must include three full-time faculty members or
   more, one of them must be from the area of theory, another
   from musicology. In addition, the chair must be from your
   major area of study; at least two of the Committee members
   must be members of the Graduate Faculty of the University,
   and at least one of these must be a full member.
4. Schedule the Final Exam, filing the “Final Master’s Degree
   Examination” form, pre- approved by the DGS, to be received
   at the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to sitting for
   the Exam. This means it must arrive at the DGS office three
   weeks prior to the exam. The final examination must be
   scheduled for not later than eight days before the last day of
   classes of the semester if you wish to graduate that semester.
   You must check with all committee members early to make
   sure that you find a time when all members can meet.
5. If you are writing a master’s thesis, follow the Graduate School
   Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertation for proper style. The
   final draft must be submitted to the committee members at
   least three weeks before scheduling the final exam. The
   request to schedule must be accompanied by an Approval
   Sheet signed by the thesis director and the DGS.
6. Submit the thesis with all the corrections to the Graduate
   School within 60 days of the successful completion of the Oral
   Exam. Have the Graduate School do a First Format check with
   plenty of time to make corrections. Revise the format as
   needed, have DGS sign the final document, and bring it to the
   Graduate School for Final Format check, thesis and copyright
   fees, and acceptance of the document.
7. The Master’s Final Exam may include a writing portion. The
   final Oral exam will take about one hour. Questions will be
   asked on your thesis if there is one, or on course content
   covered in your program. The Master’s Final Exam may be
   repeated once, after a lapse of 30 days.
8. On successful completion of all degree requirements, order cap, hood and gown and attend the commencement.

Doctoral Students

1. Within 30 days of the start of the semester (or 15 days of the start of the summer session) you expect to graduate, notify Graduate School of intended degree completion by submitting the “Application for
   Doctoral Degree” form. You may file this application earlier. This form is available on the Graduate School website. Both forms need to be filled and signed by you, then pre-approved and signed by the DGS.
2. Submit “Notification of Intent to Schedule a Final Doctoral Exam” form to initiate the doctoral final exam process, at least eight weeks before the exam is to be scheduled. The Graduate School will appoint an outside examiner. In addition, these conditions must be met:
   • All “incomplete” grades removed
   • All library or other fines or dues paid
   • A GPA of 3.0 or higher
   • All program requirements completed and recorded
   • Student is currently enrolled for dissertation residence
3. Your Final Exam Committee is the same as your doctoral advisory committee, plus the outside reader/examiner. The Committee must include five full-time faculty members or more, consisting of the major professor as chair, a member of the theory division, a member of the musicology division. In addition, two members must be from
   your major area of study and one member must be outside the School of Music; all Committee members must be members of the Graduate Faculty of the University, and at least three of these must be full member. The chair of the committee must be a full member of the Graduate Faculty. If the major professor is not a full member, he
   or she can serve as co-chair.
4. Schedule the Final Exam, filing the “Final doctoral Degree Examination” Form, pre- approved by the DGS, to be received at the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to sitting for the Exam. This means that it should arrive at the DGS office three weeks prior to the exam. The final examination must be scheduled for not later than
   eight days before the last day of classes of the semester if you wish to graduate the same semester. You must check with all committee members and the outside reader early to make sure that you find a time when all members can meet. The request to schedule must be accompanied by the Dissertation Approval Sheet signed by the majority of the advisory committee including the chair, and the DGS.
5. You must write your dissertation/document following the Graduate School Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertation. The final draft must be submitted to all the committee members at least two weeks before the final exam, the earlier the better. Some committees require one month readying time.
6. The Doctoral Final Exam will be an oral exam. It will take about two hours or more. It is an open exam where a public audience is allowed to observe. Questions will be asked on your dissertation and you have a chance to defend the content and the theories behind it. The exam can be cancelled prior to its official start. Once started, it must be carried to the end. All voting members must be present and remain until the end. The results will be based on majority vote and will be either “pass” or “fail”; even vote is a “fail”. If re-examination is considered, the committee must clearly describe the conditions to be met. A third exam is not allowed.
7. Submit two copies of the dissertation with all the corrections to the Graduate School within 60 days of the successful completion of the Oral Exam. Have the Graduate School do a First Format check with plenty of time to make corrections. Revise the format as needed, have DGS sign both copy of the final document, and bring them to the Graduate School for Final Format check. Pay dissertation fee and, if desired, copyright fee.
8. On successful completion of all degree requirements, order cap, hood and gown and attend the commencement.