Degree Requirements

In addition to the requirements that each department sets for their graduate programs, UA graduate students must meet the requirements of the Graduate College.

This section of our website outlines the requirements for the different types of degrees and programs and provides instructions for graduate students.

Each of these steps should be taken at the appropriate time in your academic career. Please see Important Deadlines for dates you will need to be aware of to keep your graduation on schedule. Each of these steps requires completion and submission of the appropriate student form submitted via the GradPath forms system in UAccess. (New users should begin with the "FAQ for Students" found on that web page.)

The first GradPath form you will be required to submit is to verify mandatory compliance with the Responsible Conduct of Research regulations. You cannot access other forms in GradPath until you signal your compliance. Before you begin conducting research, be sure you have fulfilled all your responsibilities with regard to the Responsible Conduct of Research, especially with regard to human subjects.

Steps to Your Degree

Master's or Specialist Degrees

Forms on GradPath

  1. Responsible Conduct of Research Form
  2. Evaluation of Transfer Credit (only if using external transfer courses)
  3. Master's/Specialist Plan of Study
  4. Master's/Specialist Committee Appointment Form — required for every master's or specialist student whether or not that student has a committee.
  5. Master's/Specialist Completion Confirmation Form — submitted by department Graduate Coordinator on behalf of the student to initiate final Graduate College degree audit.
  6. Submission of thesis for archiving (required if student completes a thesis).
  7. Exit survey

Other information

Doctoral Degrees

Forms on GradPath

  1. Responsible Conduct of Research Form
  2. Evaluation of Transfer Credit (only if using external transfer courses)
  3. Doctoral Plan of Study
  4. Comprehensive Exam Committee Appointment Form
  5. Announcement of Doctoral Comprehensive Examination
  6. Results of the Oral Comprehensive Examination for Doctoral Candidacy - submitted by committee chair. (Candidacy fees charged to student upon advancement to doctoral candidacy.)
  7. Verification of Prospectus/Proposal Approval - submitted by department Graduate Coordinator
  8. Doctoral Dissertation Committee Appointment Form
  9. Announcement of Final Defense - must be submitted and approved at least one week before the date of defense
  10. Results of Final Defense - submitted by committee chair
  11. Submission of Final Dissertation for Archiving
  12. Exit survey

Other Information