Dissertation & Thesis Overview
Congratulations on nearing the end of your degree program! All of the information you will need to prepare your dissertation or thesis for submission to the Graduate School can be found on this site. Familiarize yourself with the process through the flowchart below and the subpages in the left-hand column under "Dissertation and Thesis Overview."
Download our Dissertation and Thesis Checklist before continuing.
Dissertation/Thesis Deadlines: August 2025 Graduation
Below are deadlines specifically related to your dissertation and thesis approval. See the Graduate Academic Calendar for all Graduate School deadlines.
All oral exams (defenses) must be announced at least 10 days prior to defense, and preliminary technical reviews should be conducted 14 days prior to defense.
- Last day to defend for all students: July 11, for Dissertation & Thesis.
- Last day to submit the final committee-approved manuscript/forms: within 10 days after defense or for dissertation & thesis is July 21, whichever comes first.
Dissertation and Thesis Process Step-by-Step
![]() | Before You Begin Writing
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![]() | Preliminary Review
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| Oral Exam
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| Final ReviewWithin 10 days after your defense, or by the final semester deadline (whichever comes first):
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| ProQuest Submission
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