To be eligible to earn an advanced degree, students must fulfill appropriate requirements as established by their major department and the Graduate School, and have an approved Candidacy Application. Procedures and final deadlines required by the Graduate School are described below.

Note: Please submit paperwork first to your department and allow time for review before Graduate School deadlines.


Commencement Dates & Requirements

For December 19, 2024*

  • September 4, 2024
    • Preferred Deadline- ​Master's students must submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree. Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
  • October 1, 2024
    • Final Deadline- ​Master's students who have not already done so must submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree. Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
  • October 1, 2024
    • Master's students who have not already done so must apply online to graduate through buff portal on the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in December. This is required even though there is no university-wide ceremony.
  • November 21, 2024
    • Master's students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date. Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the master's final examination form two weeks before the exam. Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students. Please contact your department with any questions.
  • December 3, 2024
    • Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesis and Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The thesis must be submitted electronically for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The single-page Thesis Approval Form (TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete. Students whose dissertations are received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF, must apply to graduate at the following semester's commencement.
  • December 9, 2024
    • Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
  • January 3, 2025

For May 8, 2025

  • February 3, 2025
    • Preferred Deadline- ​Master's students must submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree. Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
  • March 1, 2025
    • Master's students who have not already done so must apply online to graduate through buff portal on the “apply for graduation” card in order to have the degree awarded in May. This is required whether or not you plan to attend the university-wide ceremony.
  • March 3, 2025
    • Final Deadline- ​Master's students who have not already done so must submit to the Graduate School a Candidacy Application for an Advanced Degree. Applications follow a workflow process and must be approved by the academic department before they are directed to the Graduate School.
  • April 15, 2025
    • Master's students must complete the thesis defense or final examination by this date. Notice of the examination must be provided to the Graduate School using the master's final examination form two weeks before the exam. Certain units do not require an exam for non-thesis students. Please contact your department with any questions.
  • April 23, 2025
    • Master's thesis plan students must submit the thesis and Thesis Approval Form to ProQuest by this deadline. The thesis must be submitted electronically for review and approval by Graduate School staff by the end of the business day. The single-page Thesis Approval Form (TAF) must be uploaded as a supplemental file with the dissertation in order for the submission to be complete. Students whose dissertations are received after this deadline, or those not submitted with the TAF, must apply to graduate at the following semester's commencement.
  • April 28, 2025
    • Grade changes must be submitted for incomplete courses taken during previous semesters.
  • TBD

*Note: Although there is no campus-wide ceremony, students may have degrees awarded in August and December.