SMU Office of Research and Graduate Studies

The Five Steps to Graduating For DEDMAN COLLEGE Graduate Students

Step 1:
Discuss the prospects for graduating with your graduate advisor, and if you both agree that you are in a position to graduate during the next graduation cycle (May, August, December), you should file your intent to graduate by filing the ACG form (Application for Candidacy, which can be found at the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS) in Room 336, Dallas Hall. The deadline for filing this form as well as deadlines for submitting copies of your dissertation for approval is listed on the Calendar of Deadlines, by semester, at http://www.smu.edu/graduate/thesisinfo.html. If you or your advisor conclude at any point that your graduation needs to be postponed, you need to notify Barbara Phillips (bphillip@mail.smu.edu). You should file a new ACG for the next attempt.

Step 2:
Whether or not your are planning to submit your thesis or dissertation electronically, sign up for a training session with Cynthia Standfield. She will cover two important aspects of getting your thesis or dissertation ready for final submission: Format of the document and the option of converting your document to a PDF file in lieu of the printed copies required as part of graduation. THIS CLASS WILL BE TAUGHT ONLY ONCE DURING EACH SEMESTER. You can register for the class at http://www.smu.edu/its/classes. The thesis/dissertation guide can be found at http://www.smu.edu/graduate/thesisinfo.html

Step 3:
Finish research and writing, and submit copies to your committee when your advisor says your thesis or dissertation is ready for the review process. Schedule the defense within the calendar deadlines. Submit a paper copy to ORGS before stated deadlines.

Step 4:
If the defense is successful, make any required revisions or additions. Submit a corrected copy as required by faculty and a corrected format copy to ORGS. When your advisor and committee have signed your signature page and the examination form, and ORGS has signed the release for the format, you are very close to being finished with the thesis/dissertation.

Step 5:
All Ph.D. and Master's graduates of Dedman College will submit the final copy for University records electronically. Additionally, a CD copy is required and must be submitted to the ORGS. Please go to "Final Submission" for instructions. The graduate can elect to order paper copies from UMI - as explained on the submission site.