Doctoral Degree Deadlines
All forms are also available on our FORMS page and must be submitted to the Graduate School through your department’s academic coordinator.
Degree Program Action | Deadline to Complete |
|---|---|
| Obtain an Advisor/Committee Chair | As soon as possible after admission to the Graduate School. |
| Submit a Program of Study to the Graduate School Doctoral students must submit the Program of Study form to their graduate program's academic coordinator during their third semester. A graduate student cannot take an exam in the same semester they submit their Program of Study. If you plan to take a prelim exam in Fall 2022, your program form is due by the Spring 2022 deadline. Missing the deadline may be grounds for the Graduate School to deny an examination request. | Third Semester - Form Deadline Fall 2023: 10/1/2023 Spring 2024: 3/1/2024 Summer 2024: 3/1/2024 Fall 2024: 10/1/2024 Spring 2025: 3/1/2025 Summer 2025: 3/1/2025 Fall 2025: 10/1/2025 Spring 2026: 3/1/2026 Summer 2026: 3/1/2026 |
| Schedule Preliminary Exam You must have an approved Program of Study on file with the Graduate School to schedule your preliminary exam (see above). Submit your exam form at least 10 working days prior to the proposed exam date. You must have no more than 6 graded credits of outstanding and/or in-progress coursework remaining on your Program of Study to schedule your exam. Second attempt preliminary exam scheduling forms are due 15 working days prior to the proposed date of the exam. | Semester of Prelim - Form Deadline Fall 2023: 11/22/2023 Spring 2024: 4/12/2024 Summer 2024: 7/12/2024 Fall 2024: 11/20/2024 Spring 2025: 4/11/2025 Summer 2025: 7/11/2025 |
| Complete Preliminary Exam Students may take their preliminary exams at any point during the semester, Monday - Friday, between 8am and 5pm, excluding holidays. Preliminary exams may not be held during finals week. See the above deadlines for scheduling your preliminary exam. | Semester of Prelim - Last Day for Prelim Exams Fall 2023: 12/8/2023 Spring 2024: 4/26/2024 Summer 2024: 7/26/2024 Fall 2024: 12/6/2024 Spring 2025: 4/25/2025 Summer 2025: 7/25/2025 |
| Apply for Graduation You must have an approved Program of Study on file with the Graduate School, have passed your preliminary exam, and have at least a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA to apply for graduation. You may apply for graduation within myWSU by selecting the Academic Advising tile and clicking on Apply to Graduate. All applicants pay a $60 processing fee which is valid for one calendar year. Updating Graduation Date Students who have applied to graduate but are unable to complete their requirements may update their application for graduation. Send an email with your name, WSU ID number, and new graduation term to gradschool@wsu.edu. Students whose last Application for Graduation fee is more than one calendar year old will be required to reapply for graduation within myWSU and pay this fee again. | Semester of Graduation - Application Deadline Fall 2023 = 10/6/2023 Applications open 6/12/2023 w/$50 late fee: 10/7 - 10/31 w/$75 late fee: 11/1 - 11/17 Spring 2024 = 3/1/2024 Applications open 10/9/2023 w/$50 late fee: 3/2 - 3/31 w/$75 late fee: 4/1 - 4/19 Summer 2024 = 5/31/2024 Applications open 1/1/2024 w/$50 late fee: 6/1 - 6/30 w/$75 late fee: 7/1 - 7/26 Fall 2024 = 10/4/20243 Applications open 6/10/2024 w/$50 late fee: 10/5 - 10/31 w/$75 late fee: 11/1 - 11/22 Spring 2025 = 3/7/2025 Applications open 10/14/2024 w/$50 late fee: 3/8 - 3/31 w/$75 late fee: 4/1 - 4/18 Summer 2025 = 5/30/2025 Applications open 1/1/2025 w/$50 late fee: 5/31 - 6/30 w/$75 late fee: 7/1 - 7/25 |
| Schedule Final Exam You must have applied for graduation to schedule a final exam. Meet with your committee to identify a final exam date well in advance. Submit your exam form and upload a complete draft of your dissertation to ProQuest at least 10 working days prior to the proposed exam date. Second attempt final exam scheduling forms and drafts are due 15 working days prior to the proposed date of the exam. | Graduation Semester - Form Deadline Fall 2023: 11/2/2023 Spring 2024: 4/5/2024 Summer 2024: 7/12/2024 Fall 2024: 11/7/2024 Spring 2025: 4/4/2025 Summer 2025: 7/11/2025 |
| Complete Final Exam Students must take their final exam by these deadlines. Exceptions cannot be made to extend these dates. The exam must be Monday - Friday, between 8am and 5pm, excluding holidays. See the above deadlines for scheduling your final exam. | Graduation Semester - Last Day for Final Exams Fall 2023: 11/17/2023 Spring 2024: 4/19/2024 Summer 2024: 7/26/2024 Fall 2024: 11/22/2024 Spring 2025: 4/18/2025 Summer 2025: 7/25/2025 |
| Final Document Submission You must upload your final dissertation (including revisions from your committee and the Graduate School) at www.dissertations.wsu.edu. Also, you must upload your completed Hold Harmless form, SED completion certificate, and your Thesis/Dissertation Approval form into myWSU. Your committee chair must approve your Thesis/Dissertation Approval form within myWSU. Your academic coordinator will electronically deliver the approved form to the Graduate School. | All final documents (final dissertation, Hold Harmless, SED, and the Thesis/Dissertation Approval form along with myWSU approval by your committee chair) are due 10 working days after your final exam. For example, if your final examination is held on 4/4/2024, these documents are due by 5pm on 4/18/2024. |
| Commencement Participation Doctoral students wishing to participate in commencement must have applied for graduation. You (and the faculty member hooding you) must also register for the ceremony at the Graduation Fair or at https://commencement.wsu.edu. | For more information, please see https://commencement.wsu.edu. |
Master’s Degree Deadlines
All forms are also available on our FORMS page and must be submitted to the Graduate School through your department’s academic coordinator.
Degree Program Action | Deadline to Complete |
|---|---|
| Obtain an Advisor/Committee Chair Refer to your graduate program's student handbook for more information. | As soon as possible after admission to the Graduate School |
| Submit a Program of Study to the Graduate School Masters students must submit the Program of Study form to their graduate program's academic coordinator at the beginning of the semester before they intend to take a final exam. A graduate student cannot take an exam in the same semester they submit their Program of Study. For example, if you plan to take a final exam in Fall 2023, your program form is due no later than 2/1/2023. Missing this deadline may be grounds for the Graduate School to deny an examination request. | Graduation Semester - Form Deadline Fall 2023: 2/1/2023 Spring 2024: 9/1/2023 Summer 2024: 2/1/2024 Fall 2024: 2/1/2024 Spring 2025: 9/1/2024 Summer 2025: 2/1/2025 Fall 2025: 2/1/2025 Spring 2026: 9/1/2025 Summer 2026: 2/1/2026 |
| Apply for Graduation You must have an approved Program of Study on file with the Graduate School and have at least a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA to apply for graduation. You may apply for graduation within myWSU by selecting the Academic Advising tile and clicking on Apply to Graduate. All applicants pay a $60 processing fee which is valid for one calendar year. Updating Graduation Date Students who have applied to graduate but are unable to complete their requirements may update their application for graduation. Send an email with your name WSU ID number, and new graduation term to gradschool@wsu.edu. Students whose latest Application for Graduation fee is more than one year old will be required to reapply for graduation within myWSU and pay this fee again. | Semester of Graduation - Application Deadline Fall 2023 = 10/6/2023 Applications open 6/12/2023 w/$50 late fee: 10/7 - 10/31 w/$75 late fee: 11/1 - 11/17 Spring 2024 = 3/1/2024 Applications open 10/9/2023 w/$50 late fee: 3/2 - 3/31 w/$75 late fee: 4/1 - 4/19 Summer 2024 = 5/31/2024 Applications open 1/1/2024 w/$50 late fee: 6/1 - 6/30 w/$75 late fee: 7/1 - 7/26 Fall 2024 = 10/4/20243 Applications open 6/10/2024 w/$50 late fee: 10/5 - 10/31 w/$75 late fee: 11/1 - 11/22 Spring 2025 = 3/7/2025 Applications open 10/14/2024 w/$50 late fee: 3/8 - 3/31 w/$75 late fee: 4/1 - 4/18 Summer 2025 = 5/30/2025 Applications open 1/1/2025 w/$50 late fee: 5/31 - 6/30 w/$75 late fee: 7/1 - 7/25 |
| Schedule Final Exam You must have applied for graduation to schedule a final exam. Meet with your committee to identify a final exam date well in advance. Submit your exam form and upload a complete draft of your thesis to ProQuest at least 10 working days prior to the proposed exam date at www.dissertations.wsu.edu. Second attempt final exam scheduling forms and drafts are due 15 working days prior to the proposed date of the exam. | Graduation Semester - Form Deadline Fall 2023: 11/2/2023 Spring 2024: 4/5/2024 Summer 2024: 7/12/2024 Fall 2024: 11/7/2024 Spring 2025: 4/4/2025 Summer 2025: 7/11/2025 |
| Complete Final Exam Students must take their final exam by these deadlines. Exceptions cannot be made to extend these dates. The exam must be Monday - Friday, between 8am and 5pm, excluding holidays. See the above deadlines for scheduling your final exam. | Graduation Semester - Last Day for Final Exams Fall 2023: 11/17/2023 Spring 2024: 4/19/2024 Summer 2024: 7/26/2024 Fall 2024: 11/22/2024 Spring 2025: 4/18/2025 Summer 2025: 7/25/2025 |
| Final Document Submission You must upload your final thesis (including revisions from your committee and the Graduate School) at www.dissertations.wsu.edu. Also, you must upload your completed Hold Harmless form and your Thesis/Dissertation Approval form into myWSU. Your committee chair must approve your Thesis/Dissertation Approval form within myWSU. Your academic coordinator will electronically deliver the approved form to the Graduate School. | All final documents (final thesis, Hold Harmless, and the Thesis/Dissertation Approval form along with myWSU approval by your committee chair) are due 10 working days after your final exam. For example, if your final examination is held on 4/4/2024, these documents are due by 5pm on 4/18/2024. |
| Commencement Participation Masters students wishing to participate in commencement must have applied for graduation and must have registered for the commencement ceremony. You may register to walk in commencement at the Graduation Fair or at https://commencement.wsu.edu. | Deadlines for registering to walk in commencement and to order regalia are available at https://commencement.wsu.edu. |