1

Meet with departmental graduate advisor to plan course of study for first semester.

Before first semester registration.

Graduate advisor

2

Establish advisory committee; submit your degree plan online.

Following the deadline imposed by the student's college and approved no later than 90 days prior to the request of final oral or thesis defense; see the Graduate and Professional School calendar.

Advisory committee, department head, and the Graduate and Professional School

3

If thesis is required, submit thesis research proposal and Research Proposal Approval Form to the Graduate and Professional School.

Must be submitted no later than 20 working days prior to submitting the request and announcement of final examination.

Advisory committee, department head or chair of the intercollegiate faculty, Research Compliance and Biosafety, and the Graduate and Professional School

4

Apply for a degree online at the Howdy portal; pay graduation fee.

During the first week of final semester; pay graduation fee after graduate application is submitted; see the Graduate and Professional School calendar.

The Graduate and Professional School 

5

Check to make sure degree program and advisory committee are up-to-date, and course work is complete.

Well before submitting request to schedule final examination.

Advisory committee, graduate advisor and department head or chair of the intercollegiate faculty

6

Complete residence requirement. (Check with your department to determine if there is a residency requirement.)

If applicable, before or during final semester.

The Graduate and Professional School

7

Submit Request and Announcement of Final Examination to schedule final examination to the Graduate and Professional School.

Must be received by the Graduate and Professional School at least 10 working days before exam date.(See The Graduate and Professional School calendar for deadlines.)

Advisory committee, department head or chair of the intercollegiate faculty, and the Graduate and Professional School

8

Successfully complete final examination.

The Report of the Final Exam form should be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School within 10 days following the exam date by the department.

Advisory committee and the Graduate and Professional School

9

If required, upload one approved final copy of thesis as a single PDF file to etd.tamu.edu and submit signed thesis approval form to the Graduate and Professional School.

See The Graduate and Professional School calendar for deadlines.

Advisory committee, department head or chair of the intercollegiate faculty and the Graduate and Professional School

10

Graduation; arrange for cap and gown. More information