MASTER’S NON-THESIS OPTION
Monday November 16, 2026
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in May 2027.
Monday December 14, 2026
First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in May 2027.
Friday January 15
Last day to register for Spring semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.
Tuesday January 19
First day of Spring semester classes.
Friday January 22
Last day to CLEAR for December 2026 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
Monday January 25
Last day for adding/dropping courses for the Spring semester by 5:00 p.m.
Monday February 1
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 2027.
Wednesday February 3
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 19
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 02-19-2027
Monday February 22
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 2027.
Monday March 29
- 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.
Monday April 12
Last day to take final examination.
Tuesday April 20
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 May 4
Last day to apply for graduation.
MASTER’S THESIS OPTION
Thursday November 16, 2026
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in May 2027.
Wednesday December 2, 2026
Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System re-opens for May 2027 degree candidates.
Monday December 14, 2026
- First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in May 2027.
- First day students are able to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services for May 2027 graduation.
Friday January 15
Last day to register for Spring semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.
Tuesday January 19
First day of Spring semester classes.
Friday January 22
- Last day to CLEAR for December 2026 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
Monday January 25
- 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 2027 semester.
Monday February 1
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from doctoral students to change degree level (e.g. doctoral to masters) and graduate in May 2027. ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Spring 2027.
Wednesday February 3
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.
Monday February 8
Last day for the Graduate and Professional School to receive Thesis Research Proposal Form in ARCS for May degree candidates.
Friday February 19
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 02-19-2027.
Monday February 22
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 2027.
Monday March 1
- 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 12
Last day to take final examination.
Friday March 26
Last day (by 5:00 p.m.) for submission of (1) the thesis PDF in Vireo Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System and (2) the Written Thesis Approval Form, fully signed by all committee members and the department, in ARCS.
Tuesday April 20
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 May 4
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.
Thursday November 12, 2026
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in May 2027.
Wednesday December 2, 2026
Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System re-opens for May 2027 degree candidates.
Monday December 14, 2026
- First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in May 2027.
- First day students are able to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services for May 2027 graduation.
Friday January 15
Last day to register for Spring semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.
Tuesday January 19
First day of Spring semester classes.
Friday January 22
Last day to CLEAR for December 2025 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
Monday January 25
- 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 2027 semester.
Monday February 1
Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from doctoral students to change degree level (e.g. doctoral to masters) and graduate in May 2027. ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Spring 2027.
Wednesday February 3
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 19
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 02-19-2027.
Monday February 22
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 2027.
Monday March 1
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
Monday March 12
Last day to take final examination.
Friday March 26
Last day (by 5:00 p.m.) for submission of (1) the dissertation/record of study PDF in Vireo Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System and (2) the Written Dissertation/Record of Study Approval Form, fully signed by all committee members and the department, in ARCS.
Tuesday April 20
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 May 4
Last day to apply for graduation.
Additional Dates and Deadlines
CLEARANCE FOR MAY 2027 DEGREE CANDIDATES
Thursday May 13 – 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 2027
Friday June 4 is the last day to CLEAR for May 2027 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.