Courtesy Policy for Meeting Graduation Requirements

University regulations require that a student must be enrolled in and complete a minimum of credit hours in the term the student completes degree requirements.

  • A Master’s student must be enrolled in and complete a minimum of one credit hour of graduate credit (Plan I must enroll in 599 Thesis).
  • An MFA or doctoral student must be enrolled in and complete a minimum of three credit hours of 699 Dissertation.

This policy can be waived in one specific circumstance: the student is eligible for a “courtesy” exemption if they completed all degree requirements on or before the last day of the prior term (please check the academic calendar’s ten year semester dates to determine the last day of the term). Degree requirements include submission and approval of Program of Studies, Application for Candidacy, Results of Exam, thesis or dissertation manuscript, and all manuscript forms.

In order to grant a “courtesy” exemption for students who qualify for this policy, the degree program must submit the student’s name on the proposed graduation list and select “yes” that the student is eligible for courtesy. The student will not be required to register for coursework, thesis, or dissertation hours in the term their degree is awarded.

Please note that a student who misses the graduation deadline (July 15 for Summer, November 15 for Fall, and April 15 for Spring) will not have the degree awarded until the following term.

If the student does not complete all the degree requirements on or before the last day of the term as per the Courtesy Policy, the student will be required to enroll for at least one graduate credit hour during the semester they wish to graduate.

Courtesy Checklist

I qualify for Graduate Studies’ courtesy policy if I completed all degree requirements by the last day of the semester. After consultation with my department advisor, I checked that I…

  • Completed all required courses with a passing grade
  • Have no Incomplete (I) or Non Reported (NR) grades on my transcript by the Monday after the last day of the term
  • Have a passed Report of Exam if I am a Plan I or II Master’s Student, MFA, or Doctoral student
  • Completed all manuscript requirements if I worked on a thesis or dissertation
    • Submission to the Digital Repository
    • Submission to ProQuest (only for PhD)
    • Turned in all required manuscript forms to Graduate Studies
  • Have an approved Program of Study (if GCERT or Master’s) or Application for Candidacy (if MFA or Doctoral) form
  • Have a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA or higher

Example of Students who Qualify for Courtesy

  1. Master’s Student (Qualifies)
    Maria planned to graduate in the Spring semester. She submitted her Program of Studies form by October 1 for Graduate Studies review, but forgot to revise her POS form until April 20. Graduate Studies approved her revised POS form a few days later on April 24. Since she completed all of her master’s coursework and degree requirement by the last day of the Spring semester, Maria’s department can include her degree on the Summer proposed graduation list under the courtesy policy.
  2. Doctoral Student (Qualifies)
    Jess intended to graduate in Fall but missed the November 15 graduation deadline. However, they defended their dissertation, submitted the final manuscript, submitted all manuscript forms, and completed all remaining requirements on December 5, which was before the end of the Fall semester. Jess’s department can include their degree on the Spring proposed graduation list under the courtesy policy.

Examples of Students Who Do Not Qualify for Courtesy

  1. Master’s Student (Does Not Qualify)
    Alyssa missed the April 15 Spring graduation deadline and was moved to the Summer graduation list. Although she completed most degree requirements by the end of the Spring term, one of her committee members submitted their vote on her Report of Exam on May 25, which was one week after the last day of the Spring term. Because not all degree requirements were completed by the last day of the Spring term, she is not eligible for courtesy and must enroll in graduate credit during the Summer term.
  2. Doctoral Student (Does Not Qualify)
    David missed the Fall graduation deadline and hoped to use the courtesy policy. Although he completed most degree requirements by the end of Fall, he did not submit his final thesis manuscript until January 3, which was approximately two weeks after the semester ended. Because not all degree requirements were completed by the last day of the Fall term, David is not eligible for courtesy and must enroll in dissertation hours during the Spring term.