M.S. Degree Checklist

Updated August 2021
[see Graduate Student Guide and graduate school website for full details]
― Organize advisory committee (minimum three members, all of whom must be on graduate
faculty)
― Complete Basic Safety Training (must be completed every year; mycampus portal), Information
Security Awareness Training (Blackboard), and Sexual Assault Prevention Training (mycampus
portal)
― Complete Responsible Research Conduct Training (e.g., INT601)
― Complete approved thesis proposal (end of second semester)
― Complete Program of Study (before third semester), acquire committee member signatures,
send to grad coordinator
― Hold advisory committee meetings at least annually
― Credits (all B or better) – minimum 30; must register for at least 1 credit in summer, 6 otherwise
― min. 18 credits in coursework
― min. 12 credits at 500-level or above
― min. 6 thesis credits
― min. 1 credit GeoLunch Seminar (ERS503)
― Apply to graduate
― Complete Tentative Thesis Acceptance form (committee/student may request committee
meeting before signing)
― Complete Notice of Oral Defense (to grad school >2 wks in advance)
― Provide copy of defense thesis to committee and the School office (>1 week in advance of oral
defense; committee may set an earlier deadline)
― Deliver thesis and tentative thesis acceptance form at least 24 hours in advance of defense and
by that semester’s deadline to graduate school
― Complete the Oral Examination and Final Project/Thesis/Dissertation Acceptance Form at oral
defense, acquire committee member signatures, send to grad coordinator
― Complete a revised Program of Study if needed, and send to grad coordinator
― Turn in final thesis following graduate school guidelines
― Prepare Completion of Requirements form, send to grad coordinator
― Upload thesis to Digital Commons