Degree Completion
Resources for Degree Completion
Obtaining a graduate or professional degree involves the synchronization of many moving parts. The Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School is working hard to ensure a smooth process from matriculation to graduation. On this page, you’ll find links and information for everything you need to know to successfully complete your degree.
Looking for more information about graduate and professional programs at Texas A&M University?
Check Out the Graduate and Professional CatalogSteps to a Degree
The Knowledge Center contains basic information detailing the necessary steps for fulfilling graduate degree requirements, including what you need to do, when you need to do it and who is involved in the approval process.
Resources for Fulfilling Degree Requirements
Fulfilling your master’s, doctoral, or first-professional doctoral degree requirements can seem overwhelming at first. The information and services below can direct you to the appropriate resource or process you need to complete each phase of your journey.
Howdy Portal
The first step to making sure you are on the right track for fulfilling your degree program is to become familiar with Howdy, Texas A&M’s web portal that connects you with records and resources pertaining to your individualized plan. If you haven’t already, set up your student account to access class registration, student schedules, degree plans and more.
DEGREE PLAN SUBMISSION
Graduate and professional students must submit an official degree plan for approval through the Graduate and Professional School Document Processing Submission System (DPSS). The degree plan formally declares your degree objective, the specific courses of your degree program and the membership of your advisory committee, who will approve your degree plan along with the head of your department or intercollegiate faculty chairperson.
Document Processing Submission System (DPSS)
Use DPSS to submit or change your degree plan. To initiate petitions, use either a Major, Degree, or Department petition (MDD) or Long Form petition.
DPSSWhen do I need to submit my degree plan?
Completed degree plans must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School:
- Prior to the deadline imposed by the student's college or interdisciplinary degree program.
- No later than 90 days prior to the date of the final oral examination or thesis defense for master's students, or 90 days prior to the date of the preliminary examination for doctoral students.
- According to deadlines scheduled in the Graduate and Professional School calendar and term calendar documents, published each semester.
How do I access my degree plan?
Active, approved degree plans are available in Howdy through the degree evaluation function, which can be found under the “My Records” tab.
How do I make changes to my degree plan?
Once a degree plan gets approved by the Graduate and Professional School, any changes in course work, committee membership, major, degree or department must be requested by a petition submitted via DPSS.
More rules and limitations on course work and committee membership
Contact Records Processing
The Records Processing Team is responsible for facilitating document processing related to graduate students’ progress toward their specific graduate degree. Contact us for questions about DPSS or other issues having to do with records processing.
Email: gradprocessing@tamu.edu
Phone: 979-845-3631
Establishing a Graduate Advisory Committee
Most programs require that you work with your department or program to establish your advisory committee as a part of your degree planning process. Check with your committee chair or advisor for details. The Graduate Faculty Search can assist you in selecting members of your committee.
DEGREE MILESTONES
Many of the important milestones in your graduate or professional career require approval from our office. To help us keep track of your progress, you must initiate and submit forms for each of the following milestones via DocuSign.
DocuSign Forms
Thesis and Dissertation Requirements and Information
Your thesis, dissertation or record of study marks the apex of your graduate program and showcases the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout. The Graduate and Professional School provides the resources you need to create a final product that meets the high scholarly standards set by Texas A&M University. Services include reviewing each electronic thesis, dissertation and record of study (ETD) for uniformity, consistency and adherence to university guidelines and coordinating the timely release of the ETD for public access.
University Writing Center
The University Writing Center provides tools and advising services to help improve your writing and public speaking skills
POWER WRITING SUPPORT SERVICES
POWER provides motivational and instrumental support for graduate students’ academic writing through services such as individual writing consultations, writing and practicing in Writing Studios and graduate-level writing productivity classes.
OVERLEAF LATEX AUTHORING AND EDITING TOOL
Texas A&M offers free Overleaf Professional accounts for all students who would like to use an online LaTeX editor for their final projects. Overleaf is designed to facilitate the process of writing, editing and receiving feedback from faculty advisors.
OVERLEAF LATEX AUTHORING AND EDITING TOOL
Graduation
Graduation is the ceremony at which the degree is conferred and the diploma awarded to degree candidates, contingent the completion of all requirements by the specified deadlines. Doctoral students who participate in the graduation ceremony have the opportunity to be hooded in addition to receiving their diploma. Texas A&M University holds graduation ceremonies three times per year, in May, December and August.
.JPG)