Student Expectations: Timeline for Degree Completion
Students are expected to complete the following milestones to avoid having holds placed on their registration and to ensure completion of the degree requirements in a timely fashion. The following is representative of a student completing nine credit hours per semester (full-time). Students who take more or less than full-time credits should adjust their schedule accordingly.
Academic Semester 1
- Complete EGMT 571 if started in the fall.
- Review the thesis procedures or the requirements for the graduate project.
- Establish a three-member graduate thesis committee or talk to a faculty member regarding a graduate project.
Academic Semester 2
- Complete EGMT 571 if started in spring.
- Meet with graduate thesis committee to discuss your thesis proposal
- Complete the thesis Graduate Committee Selection Form.
- Review the thesis writing guide.
- Write a proposal for a thesis or project (this may require several drafts).
Academic Semester 3
- Non-thesis: Take EGMT 690 and submit the graduate project per the instructions provided in the course.
- Thesis: Take EGMT 699 and submit a thesis proposal for review to graduate thesis committee by end of week five.
- Complete and submit application for graduation.
- Complete and pass Certified Technology Manager (CTM) Exam.
Academic Semester 4
- Complete all courses
- Submit thesis to graduate thesis committee at least three weeks before the final defense deadline. Submit graduate project to faculty by the deadline posted for the capstone.
- Complete the oral comprehensive exam before the final defense deadline. The Capstone Completion form will be submitted via TopNet by the graduate thesis committee, or graduate project faculty, if successful.
- Submit the final thesis to the graduate thesis committee for review before the deadline. The thesis cover page will be signed by graduate thesis committee, if successful.
- Graduate.
Sample Plan for the Completion of the Thesis
Let's say that you want to graduate in the fall semester. How soon should you begin to form your thesis committee and start actively working on you thesis?
There are rules of thumb for most students, but let’s start by working backward from your planned graduation date of December. Depending on the scope of your research, here is an estimate based on our observation of motivated students. Please recognize it may take longer.
10. Graduate (December)
9. Committee signs the thesis signature page and submits it to Graduate School (November)
8. Submit your thesis to reader
7. Last day to defend your thesis (October; Capstone completion posted on TopNet by thesis chair)
6. Write up findings and conclusion (Start by September; may take 1-2 months)
5. Data collection, compilation, and analysis (Start by June; may take 2-3 months)
4. Completed and approved proposal (May)
3. Literature review (Start in March; may take 1-2 months)
2. Development of introduction and methodology (Start in February; may take 1-2 months)
1. Form committee (start in the previous semester; The committee may want to see a proposal before
they agree to serve on your committee)
We advise starting at least a year in advance of when you would like to graduate.
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