Final Steps in Graduating
Use the following links to view information about the graduation process:
- Course of Study Form and Supervisory Committee
- Apply to Graduate
- Final Steps for Coursework Option
- Final Steps for Thesis Option
- Oral Exam for Thesis Option
Course of Study Form and Supervisory Committee
During your first year, think about which graduation option (coursework or thesis) you will use to complete your degree and what your area of focus will be. Interviewing and consulting with faculty will help determine who your Supervisory Committee members will be and how you plan your course of study. You should also read over the Course of Study page which lists graduation requirements.
Next, approach faculty members in your area of focus and ask if they will serve on your Supervisory Committee. Once your Committee Chair and members have been finalized, please notify the Academic Counselor.
Finally, fill out your Course of Study form and ask for feedback and approval of the plan from your Committee. Once your Committee signs your Course of Study, please submit the form to the Academic Counselor for your student file. You can change your Course of Study at a later date, but any changes must be approved by your Committee.
The above steps should be completed by all students before registering for their 25th credit.
The quarter before you plan to finish, apply to graduate on the Graduate School's web site at: http://www.grad.washington.edu/stsv/mastapp.htm
The application period opens during the first week of your final quarter and ends the seventh week of that same quarter. You must be registered for at least two credits during your final quarter.
If you do not finish the quarter you applied, you must submit another application on the Graduate School's web page.
Request for Master's Degree Form (aka "Warrant")
About a month before the end of your final quarter, the Academic Counselor will receive your warrant from the UW Graduate School and contact you to make arrangements to have your warrant signed by your Committee. It is your responsibility to have your warrant signed, and returned to the Academic Counselor before the end of the quarter.
If you are doing the project report or thesis option, you will get signatures at your oral exam. If you choose the coursework only option, you should get signatures from your Committee before the last day of your final quarter.
Final Steps for Coursework Option
During your final quarter when you expect all of your coursework to be completed, you will need to apply to graduate. A degree warrant will be generated and available from your Academic Advisor. Ask your Committee to sign your warrant, accompanied by your finalized course of study form. Keep the signed warrant and give a copy to the Academic Advisor, who will submit the official recommendation to the Graduate School.
Ask your Chair how to handle this part of the process: if he or she has no specific advice, the following steps should offer a beginning point.
1. Secure a Style and Policy Manual for Theses and Dissertations from the Graduate School in order to properly format your thesis.
2. When the first draft of your thesis is done, take it over to the Graduate School in room G-1 of the Communications Building. They will review it for appropriate format, type, margins, etc. Remember who reviewed your draft at the Graduate School.
3. At least six weeks before your oral exam give your Committee Chair a draft of your thesis for review.
4. After your Chair reviews the first draft, complete and submit a second draft to the Chair. Although this may be the last draft the Chair makes significant suggestions on, let the Chair tell you when it is time to give a draft to the other Committee members. In cases where the other members are deeply involved in your topic, discuss with your Chair whether you should secure commentary from them on earlier drafts.
5. If you haven't already done so, add the following sections to your thesis: table of contents, abstract, acknowledgments, and references. Adding an abstract will be of immense help when you sit down to fill out the required database form for the STC society (see below).
6. At least three weeks before your oral exam, give a third draft to the rest of the Committee and your Chair. Include a memo to your Committee members telling them that this draft has been reviewed by your Chair and that you now need their feedback. Suggest to them by what date that you would like the copy back.
7. When you give your Committee members the draft, if not before, start discussing with your Chair and Committee members possible dates for your oral exam.
8. After you get the draft back from the Committee members, make any needed changes (you may want to discuss significant ones with your Chair).
9. At least one week before your exam, give what you deem to be final copies to your Chair and the Committee members.
10. After you finish your exam, if your Committee agrees that you are ready to graduate, they will sign the title pages of your thesis and also your warrant. They may ask you to do some revisions before they sign or you may have to continue work in the following quarter.
11. If your Committee signs off on your thesis, you will be ready to submit it to the Graduate School. First, pay $25 at the Cashier's Office in Schmitz Hall for binding fees prior to turning in your thesis at the graduate school. Second, make two unbound copies of your thesis and secure two original signed title pages for the Graduate School. Submit these to the Graduate School.
12. Xerox the signed warrant and give a copy to the Academic Counselor. Take the original to the Graduate School before the last day of the quarter.
13. Give one flat unbound copy and one electronic copy of your report to the Program Coordinator for the TC library and web site.
14. If you are an STC member, fill out the STC Society form for "International Database Bulletin Board of Theses and Dissertations" on the STC web site, www.stc.org.
1. Set a date for your oral exam. Work with your Committee to find a time when everyone is available.
2. Tell the Academic Counselor the title of your thesis, the date and time of your defense and whether you need an Internet connection for your presentation.   If you need to reserve the TC laptop or projector, please email contact the department secretary.
3. Invite your peers, family and friends to your Oral Exam.
The Very Final Steps
1. If needed, turn in any keys you have to the Fiscal Specialist.
2. Return any materials that you have borrowed from the TC lounge/library in Engr Annex room 232.
3. Remember to come to TC's graduation reception in honor all of you who have completed this process!!!