Graduate Degree Clearance Services

Graduate Degrees and Certificate Completion Procedures

This section provides the basic outlines for the degree completion processes for the Master’s and Doctoral degrees and Graduate Certificates at the University of Maryland, College Park. The information is a summary of the essential progress of the latter-stages of most graduate degree experiences at the University. Graduate programs may have requirements beyond those listed here. Please check with your academic advisor and departmental Graduate Studies Office for specific program requirements.

Doctoral Degree

  1. Completion of required coursework
  2. Completion of departmental examinations and requirements
  3. Completion of departmental qualifying examinations
  4. Admission to Candidacy
  5. Beginning - Completion of dissertation
  6. Submission of Application for Graduation
  7. Submission of Nomination of Dissertation Committee*
  8. Dissertation Oral examination defense
  9. Submission of signed Report of Dissertation Examination form
  10. Submission of dissertation electronically via ProQuest Learning Services**
  11. Evaluation and approval of submitted dissertation
  12. Graduation

* The nomination of the thesis/dissertation committee should be submitted at least six weeks before the date of the expected defense examination. Some departments require that the thesis/dissertation examining committee be nominated prior to the beginning of the thesis/dissertation. Please check with your department.

** A processing and archiving fee will be charged to your student account.

The Doctoral Degree Completion and Graduation Checklist can be downloaded to serve as a guide to your degree completion.

Graduate Certificate

  1. Completion of required coursework
  2. Submission of Application for Graduation
  3. Submission of Graduate Certificate Completion form
  4. Verification of coursework completion
  5. Graduation

Master’s Degree

  1. Completion of required coursework
  2. Submission of Application for Graduation
  3. Submission of Approved Program Form
  4. Completion of departmental examination requirements
  5. Completion of thesis/departmental writing requirements
    1. Thesis students
      1. Register for at least 1 credit at semester of graduation
      2. Submission of Nomination of Thesis or Dissertation*
      3. Thesis oral examination defense
      4. Submission of signed Report of Thesis Examination Committee form
      5. Submission of thesis electronically via ProQuest Learning Services**
      6. Evaluation and approval of submitted thesis
      7. Graduation
    2. Non-Thesis students
      1. Register for at least 1 credit at semester of graduation
      2. Submission of Certification of Master’s Degree without Thesis form
      3. Graduation

* The nomination of the thesis/dissertation committee should be submitted at least six weeks before the date of the expected defense examination. Some departments require that the thesis/dissertation examining committee be nominated prior to the beginning of the thesis/dissertation. Please check with your department.

** A processing and archiving fee will be charged to your student account.

The Master Degree Completion and Graduation Checklist can be downloaded to serve as a guide to your degree completion.