Stay on Track for Graduation
Follow these steps toward the completion of your certificate, master’s or doctoral degree, preparing to meet milestones from your first months on campus to graduation day.
Master’s and Certificate Degree Progress
Your degree program may have additional requirements and deadlines, such as a language proficiency exam or thesis defense. Check with your advisor about specific degree requirements for your program of study.
FORM:
Master’s Program of Study (MPOS)
Every degree-seeking student must file a Master’s Program of Study for approval by
the dean of the Graduate School.
FORM:
Program of Study Adjustment (POSA)
If you’d like to remove or add a course for approval, complete the Program of Study
Adjustment form. It must be approved by your advisor, graduate director and the dean
of the Graduate School.
DEADLINE:
Within the first 12 months of course work. Check other deadlines.
REQUIREMENTS:
Check with your program for specific course requirements. Refer to the Graduate Studies Bulletin.
DEADLINE:
By your final term of study. Check Dates and Deadlines.
If your program requires a thesis, this is at least a four-step process:
- Have your thesis topic approved by your advisor and thesis committee.
- Submit a draft of your thesis for a preliminary format check .
- Defend your thesis and attend to any required changes.
- Submit a final version of your thesis.
DEADLINE:
Check Dates and Deadlines for format check, defense and final submission deadlines.
Review the Thesis and Dissertation guidelines
Apply for Graduation on my.sc.edu. Click the “Apply to Graduate” link under the “Student” tab. The attendance question refers to participation in the ceremony at the Colonial Life Arena.
DEADLINE:
Check Dates and Deadlines for your commencement ceremony.
Congratulations! You made it!
REVIEW:
Plan for your commencement ceremony
Doctoral Degree Progress
Your degree program may have additional requirements and deadlines, such as a language proficiency exam. Check with your advisor about specific degree requirements for your program of study.
FORM:
Doctoral Committee Appointment Request (DCA)
Your Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation Committees may be appointed at the
same time. These committee members may be the same, similar, or completely different
from each other.
DEADLINES:
Comprehensive Exam Committee should be approved before or when your comprehensive exam is scheduled.
Dissertation Committee should be approved before you enroll in your first Dissertation Preparation hours.
Sign up for the Qualifying Exam
All candidates for a Doctoral degree must take the Qualifying Exam. Sign up with your
program’s graduate director.
FORM:
Doctoral Program of Study (DPOS)
You must submit your approved program of study to the Graduate School..
FORM:
Program of Study Adjustment (POSA)
Make any adjustments to your program of study using this form.
DEADLINE:
Within the first 24 months of course work (earlier if possible).
Course Requirements
Check with your program for specific course requirements.
Comprehensive Exam
All candidates for a doctoral degree must pass a written and oral comprehensive examination
conducted by your academic program under the direction of your Written and Oral Comprehensive
Examination Committee.
DEADLINE:
By your final term of study.
If your doctoral program requires a dissertation, this is at least a four-step process:
- Propose a topic and gain approval from your major professor and dissertation committee
to pursue the topic
DEADLINE: As soon as possible, typically near the completion of required core course work. - Submit a draft of what you propose for a preliminary format approval.
DEADLINE: Check Dates and Deadlines for format check. - Complete your dissertation and defend.
DEADLINE: Check Dates and Deadlines for defense deadlines. - Address any required corrections and submit a final version of your dissertation.
DEADLINE: Check Dates and Deadlines for final submission deadlines.
FORM:
Dissertation Signature and Approval Form
Once the dissertation has been successfully defended and the final revision of the
document has been accepted, complete and submit via email the PDF of the Dissertation
Signature and Approval Form to the Graduate School Coordinator for your program.
FORM:
Survey of Earned Doctorates
Upon completion of your dissertation, you must also complete a Survey of Earned Doctorates,
and submit via email the certificate of completion to the Graduate School Coordinator for your program.
DEADLINE:
Typically in your final term of study; check Dates and Deadlines.
Apply for Graduation on my.sc.edu
Click the “Apply to Graduate” link under the “Student” tab. The attendance question
refers to participation in the university Hooding program at the Koger Center.
DEADLINE:
Early in your final term of study; check Dates and Deadlines.
Submit information to be printed in the Doctoral Commencement program through the Doctoral Hooding Information Portal. This is required of all doctoral graduates, even if you are not planning to attend the ceremony.
DEADLINE:
In your final term of study.
Congratulations! You made it!
REVIEW:
Plan for your commencement ceremony.
BULLETIN: Check Your Degree Requirements
Remember to always check the specific requirements for your degree in the Graduate Studies Bulletin.