Important Degree Dates and Deadlines

Timeline for Master's/Specialist Candidates

To see all required steps to earn your degree, please visit Steps To Your Degree.

EVENT DEADLINE
Submit Masters/Specialist Plan of Study. There are fees associated with this form. Second semester in program or by your departmental deadline, if earlier.

Submit Master's/Specialist Committee Appointment Form in GradPath.

As soon as the Plan of Study has been approved. This form is required whether or not you formed a committee.

Last recommended date for oral examinations/ thesis defenses is April 28, 2023 for Spring degree conferral and August 4th 2023 for Summer degree conferral. Please note that all coursework requirements must be completed by the last day of classes. 

Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 as well as Spring 2021 thesis submission deadlines were extended to accommodate the immediate impact of COVID-19

 

Graduation Term Date
Spring 2023 Final approved thesis submission, and all degree requirements by 12 May 2023
Summer 2023 Final approved thesis submission, and all degree requirements by 19 August 2023
Fall 2023 Final approved thesis submission, and all degree requirements by 15 December 2023
Winter 2023 Final approved thesis submission, and all degree requirements by 10 January 2024

Timeline for Doctoral Candidates

To see all required steps to earn your degree, please visit Steps To Your Degree.

EVENT DEADLINE
Submit Plan Of Study in GradPath. Generally by the 3rd semester in Residence, or your departmental deadline - if earlier.
Submit Comp Exam Committee Appointment Form in GradPath. As soon as you have determined who will serve on your committee, and before you begin the written comprehensive exams.
Submit Announcement of Doctoral Comprehensive Exam form in GradPath. The Announcement should be submitted before your oral exam once you set the date, time and room with your committee.  (Written and oral comprehensive exam results are reported together by the committee chair following the oral exam.)
Submit Announcement of Final Oral Defense in GradPath. At least ten (10) business days prior to the date of the Final Oral Examination. Submit the Announcement as soon as you set the date, time and room for your defense with the committee.

Complete the Final Oral Examination/Defense. Dates for the Final Oral Examination are the latest dates recommended in order to meet the Dissertation/disciplinary doctoral project* submission deadline (below).  Defending after this date leaves less time for final revisions before the submission can be made.

Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 as well as Spring 2021 recommended exam dates were extended to accommodate the immediate impact of COVID-19

Graduation Term Date
Spring 2023 17 April 2023
Summer 2023 4 August 2023
Fall 2023 20 November 2023
Winter 2023 22 December 2023

Last day to Submit Dissertations/Disciplinary Doctoral Project* to the Graduate Student Academic Services Office.
* Dissertations or any other doctoral product such as DMA document or DNP project report.

Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 as well as Spring 2021 final submission deadlines were extended to accommodate the immediate impact of COVID-19

Graduation Term Date
Spring 2023 1 May  2023
Summer 2023 18 August 2023
Fall 2023 4 December  2023
Winter 2023 9 January 2024

Commencement

The University holds its Commencement ceremony once a year in May. Students graduating in August or December may be included in the Commencement Program in the preceding May by special request. Please contact your Degree Counselor to make the request.  Each college also holds a convocation ceremony each December and May to honor its graduates.  Information about Commencement and college convocations is available at http://commencement.arizona.edu/.

Each student's degree is posted to the student record once the Graduate College confirms that all degree requirements have been completed.  Once awarded, the degree information on the transcript will include the official degree award date for the graduation term as shown below:

TERM DEGREE AWARD DATE
Spring 2023 Friday, May 12, 2023
Summer 2023 Saturday, August 19, 2023
Fall 2023 Friday, December 15, 2023
Winter 2023 Wednesday, January 10, 2024