Procedures for Master’s and Specialist Degrees
| Procedure | Responsible Party | Action Date |
|---|---|---|
| Formation of program advisory committee and submission of Master's Committee form* | Major Adviser/Department Chair/Head | Immediately following admission to degree program for those programs that use an advisory committee |
| Changes in program advisory committee by memorandum or Master's Committee form | Major Adviser/Member Leaving Committee | As soon as change occurs |
| Request transfer of credit by submitting Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form* (master’s degrees only) | Major Adviser | Before Graduation, preferably one semester prior |
| Graduation Application* | Student | By the following deadlines for the semester in which the degree is to be awarded as set by the Registrar’s Office: |
| Fall - Oct. 1; Spring - March 1; Summer - July 1 | ||
| Inclusion of name for commencement exercises, regalia, and announcement orders | Student | Deadlines indicated in on the Registrar’s Office web page at https://registrar.uark.edu/graduation/applying-to-graduate.php |
| Removal of incompletes (Change of Grade form in UA Connect) | Student/Instructor | When course requirements have been met but no later than 12 months after the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was posted |
| To avoid an incomplete becoming “F” | Student/Instructor | Change of grade form must be submitted prior to 12 months after the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was posted. |
| Final comprehensive examination (Certified by the department in UA Connect Degree Audit) | Advisory Committee | Must be completed by last day of graduation term of student’s graduation (published date on Registrar's page) |
| Review of Degree Audit | Student/Major Adviser/Department Head/Graduate Coordinator | Each semester or as dictated by department |
| Clear Degree Audit/Certify final comprehensive exam | Department Head/Graduate Coordinator | After deadline to apply for graduation but before announced deadline on Graduate School website |
Additional Requirements for the Thesis Option
| Procedure | Responsible Party | Action Date |
|---|---|---|
| Selection of thesis title and formation of thesis committee and submission of new Master’s Committee form* if thesis committee differs from the advisory committee | Thesis Director/Department Chair/Head | As soon as change occurs |
| Review Thesis and Dissertation Guide from the Graduate School website | Student | Prior to formatting of thesis document |
| Submission of preliminary copies to each thesis committee member | Student | At least three weeks before theses are due in the Graduate School |
| Defense of thesis (certified by submission of Title Page with original signatures*) | Thesis Committee | By theses submission deadline as set by the Graduate School |
| Registration for at least six hours of thesis | Student | Before graduation |
| Preliminary editorial check of thesis | Student | At least two weeks before theses are due in the Graduate School |
| Final submission of approved thesis to Graduate School | Student submits to Graduate School | No later than one week before graduation** |
| Review of Degree Audit/Certification of Thesis Defense | Student/Major Adviser | Each semester or as dictated by department |
| Clear Degree Audit/Certification of Thesis Defense | Department Head/Graduate Coordinator | After deadline to apply for graduation but before announced deadline on Graduate School website |
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Forms are available from the Graduate School website.
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Specific deadlines are available in the Graduate School.
Procedures for Doctoral Degrees
| Procedure | Responsible Party | Action Date |
|---|---|---|
| Formation of program advisory committee and submission of Doctoral Committee form* | Major Adviser/ Department Chair/Head | Immediately following admission to degree program for those programs that use an advisory committee |
| Changes in program advisory committee by memorandum or Doctoral Committee form | Major Adviser/ Department Chair/Head | As soon as change occurs |
| Foreign Language Requirement (if required by department) | Advisory Committee | Determined by committee |
| Admission to candidacy | Advisory Committee | Before beginning work on the dissertation* |
| Submit Candidacy Exam Notification form to Graduate School | Department | Term in which candidacy exam was passed |
| Enrollment in at least one hour of graded graduate course work or dissertation credit following passing of candidacy exams | Student | Each major semester (fall, spring) until graduation. Summer is excluded unless it is the term of graduation. |
| Selection of dissertation title and formation of dissertation committee and submission of Doctoral Dissertation Title and new Doctoral Committee form* if dissertation committee differs from advisory committee | Dissertation Director/Student | As soon as change occurs* |
| Registration for at least 18 hours of dissertation or, for Ed.D. students, an approved sequence of 7000-level courses | Student | Before graduation |
| Graduation Application | Student | By the following deadlines for the semester in which the degree is to be awarded as set by the Registrar’s Office: |
| Fall - Oct. 1; Spring - March 1; Summer - July 1 | ||
| Inclusion of name for commencement exercises, regalia, and announcement orders | Student | Deadlines indicated on the Registrar’s Office web page at https://registrar.uark.edu/graduation/applying-to-graduate.php |
| Removal of incompletes (Change of Grade form in UA Connect) | Student/Instructor | When course requirements have been met but no later than 12 months after the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was posted |
| To avoid an incomplete becoming “F” | Student/Instructor | Change of grade form must be submitted prior to 12 months after the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was posted. |
| Review Thesis and Dissertation Guide on the Graduate School website | Student | Before formatting of dissertation document |
| Submission of Announcement of Defense through web form on Graduate School website | Dissertation Director or student | At least two weeks before the defense** |
| Defense of dissertation (Certified by submission of Title Page with original signatures*) | Dissertation Committee | By the dissertation submission deadline set by the Graduate School** |
| Submission of preliminary copies to each dissertation committee member | Student | At the direction of the dissertation adviser |
| Preliminary editorial check of dissertation | Student | At least two weeks before dissertations are due in the Graduate School ** |
| Final submission of approved dissertation to Graduate School | Student submits to Graduate School | No later than one week before graduation** |
| Review of Degree Audit | Student/Major Adviser | Each semester or as dictated by department |
| Clear Degree Audit including certification of dissertation defense | Department Head/Graduate Coordinator | After deadline to apply for graduation but before announced deadline on Graduate School website |
Procedures for Professional Doctoral Degrees
For procedures for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree or the Occupational Therapy Doctor degree, refer to the specific program of study for degree requirements.
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Forms are available from the Graduate School website.
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Specific deadlines are available in the Graduate School