MASTER’S NON-THESIS OPTION
Tuesday November 11, 2025
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in May 2026.
Monday December 22, 2025
First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in May 2026.
Friday January 9
Last day to register for Spring semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.
Monday January 12
First day of Spring semester classes.
Friday January 16
Last day for adding/dropping courses for the Spring semester by 5:00 p.m.
Monday January 26
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change degree level (e.g. master’s to doctoral). ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Spring 2026.
Wednesday January 28
Last day for the Registrar’s office to approve a certificate added by the student’s department for the Spring semester. Certificates are not added by the Graduate and Professional School.
Friday February 13
LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR DEGREES TO BE AWARDED IN MAY BY 5:00PM without a late fee. A diploma fee of $47.50 must be paid either at registration or at the Fiscal Office (GSC). Complete the application for degree form via the Howdy Portal. A LATE CHARGE OF $50.00 WILL BE ASSESSED TO STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR GRADUATION AFTER 02-13-2026.
Monday February 16
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change a degree within the same level (e.g. master’s to master’s) and graduate in May 2026.
Wednesday March 18
- Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive completed coursework petitions in DPSS to change degree plan coursework from master’s students in programs without a final examination requirement.
- Last day or 10 working days prior to the examination, whichever comes first for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Final Exam Request” in ARCS.
- Last day for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Request for Exemption from Final Examination” in ARCS.
Wednesday April 1
Last day to take final examination.
Tuesday April 14
Last day for all students to drop courses for the Spring semester with no penalty (Q-drop). Last day to officially withdraw from the University for the Spring semester.
Tuesday April 28
Last day to apply for graduation.
MASTER’S THESIS OPTION
Tuesday November 11, 2025
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in May 2026.
Monday November 24, 2025
Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System re-opens for May 2026 degree candidates.
Monday December 22, 2025
- First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in May 2026.
- First day students are able to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services for May 2026 graduation.
Friday January 9
Last day to register for Spring semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.
Monday January 12
First day of Spring semester classes.
Friday January 16
- Last day to CLEAR for December 2025 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
- Last day for adding/dropping courses for the Spring semester by 5:00 p.m.
- Last day to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services to avoid registration in Spring 2026 semester.
Monday January 26
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change degree level (e.g. master’s to doctoral). ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Spring 2026.
Wednesday January 28
Last day for the Registrar’s office to approve a certificate added by the student’s department for the Spring semester. Certificates are not added by the Graduate and Professional School.
Friday January 30
Last day for the Graduate and Professional School to receive Thesis Research Proposal Form in ARCS for May degree candidates.
Friday February 13
LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR DEGREES TO BE AWARDED IN MAY BY 5:00PM without a late fee. A diploma fee of $47.50 must be paid either at registration or at the Fiscal Office (GSC). Complete the application for degree form via the Howdy Portal. A LATE CHARGE OF $50.00 WILL BE ASSESSED TO STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR GRADUATION AFTER 02-13-2026.
Monday February 16
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change a degree within the same level (e.g. master’s to master’s) and graduate in May 2026.
Friday February 20
- Last day or 10 working days prior to the examination, whichever comes first for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Final Exam Request” in ARCS.
- Last day for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Request for Exemption from Final Examination” in ARCS.
Friday March 6
Last day to take final examination.
Friday March 2o
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive the completed/approved Written Thesis Approval form in ARCS. The PDF file of thesis must be uploaded via the web to Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System †by 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 14
Last day for all students to drop courses for the Spring semester with no penalty (Q-drop). Last day to officially withdraw from the University for the Spring semester.
Tuesday April 28
Last day to apply for graduation.
DOCTORAL DEGREES
Note: Preliminary examination results must be received and approved by the Graduate and Professional School prior to submitting the “Final Exam” in ARCS.
Tuesday November 11, 2025
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in May 2026.
Monday November 24, 2025
Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System re-opens for May 2026 degree candidates.
Monday December 22, 2025
- First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in May 2026.
- First day students are able to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services for May 2026 graduation.
Friday January 9
Last day to register for Spring semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.
Monday January 12
First day of Spring semester classes.
Friday January 16
- Last day to CLEAR for December 2025 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
- Last day for adding/dropping courses for the Spring semester by 5:00 p.m.
- Last day to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services to avoid registration in Spring 2026 semester.
Monday January 26
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change degree level (e.g. master’s to doctoral). ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Spring 2026.
Wednesday January 28
Last day for the Registrar’s office to approve a certificate added by the student’s department for the Spring semester. Certificates are not added by the Graduate and Professional School.
Friday February 13
LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR DEGREES TO BE AWARDED IN MAY BY 5:00PM without a late fee. A diploma fee of $47.50 must be paid either at registration or at the Fiscal Office (GSC). Complete the application for degree form via the Howdy Portal. A LATE CHARGE OF $50.00 WILL BE ASSESSED TO STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR GRADUATION AFTER 02-13-2026.
Monday February 16
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change a degree within the same level (e.g. master’s to master’s) and graduate in May 2026.
Friday February 20
Last day or 10 working days prior to the examination, whichever comes first for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Final Exam Request” in ARCS.
Friday March 6
Last day to take final examination.
Friday March 2o
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive the completed/approved Written Thesis Approval form in ARCS. The PDF file of thesis must be uploaded via the web to Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System †by 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday April 14
Last day for all students to drop courses for the Spring semester with no penalty (Q-drop). Last day to officially withdraw from the University for the Spring semester.
Tuesday April 28
Last day to apply for graduation.
Additional Dates and Deadlines
CLEARANCE FOR MAY 2026 DEGREE CANDIDATES
Academic Degree Evaluations conducted the Thursday before Graduation Ceremony. Academic Degree Evaluation results available once reports run.
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
Master’s and Doctoral Commencement, additional information available on the Graduation Website.
ADDITIONAL DEADLINES FOR DEGREES TO BE CONFERRED IN MAY 2026
Friday May 29 is the last day to CLEAR for May 2026 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.) For relevant forms and processes, see Degree Completion.
- † NOTE: Meeting Thesis & Dissertation Services deadlines does not guarantee, but merely maintains, eligibility for graduation/clearance in a certain time frame.
- NOTE: DPSS – A completed degree plan or petition in DPSS must have all of the required department and committee signatures to arrive in the Graduate and Professional School queue for approval.
- NOTE: Failure to meet deadlines may impact when degree is completed and awarded.