Graduate Procedures

It is a student’s responsibility to ascertain that requirements have been met and deadlines observed.
Degree programs may establish additional requirements.

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
 
*

Forms are available from the Graduate School website.

**

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.

*

Forms are available from the Graduate School website.

**

Specific deadlines are available in the Graduate School