A Graduate Study Committee must be appointed and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School before any student may be admitted to candidacy.
NOTE: As of January 2001, students whose research involves human or animal subjects must document appropriate approval before being admitted to candidacy. Documentation of continuous, appropriate approval will be required before degree conferral.
We understand that completing your final research project is both an exciting and a demanding process. In order to make this process as smooth as possible, please see below for a checklist of logistical items that must be completed along the way.
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Step 1: Discuss Expectations with Your Committee
- Your Committee paperwork should be submitted as soon as your graduate committee is formed, generally the semester prior to your thesis/dissertation proposal. The Application for Admission to Candidacy should be submitted following a successful comprehensive exam and research proposal in order to register for research hours. Deadlines can be found on the candidacy deadlines page.
- Decide which style guide (e.g. APA, CBE, etc.) will be used and arrangements for having your work edited.
- Confirm the date by which you are expected to submit your thesis or dissertation to each committee member.
- Start planning the date, time, and location for your public defense.
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Step 2: Determine Your Graduation Term
- Submit your Application for Degree/Certificate through BlazerNET by the appropriate deadline date.
- Schedule your public defense by the appropriate deadline date.
- Complete the online Approval Form Request at least 2 weeks before your public defense. If your committee has changed since your admission to candidacy, the Change of Committee form must be submitted before your approval forms can be created.
- Post fliers to announce your public defense and handle any additional advertising required by your committee and/or department.
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Step 3: Defend Your Thesis/Dissertation
- Meet with the Graduate School prior to your defense to collect your approval form and discuss next steps. The Graduate School will contact you via email when your form is ready for pickup.
- Obtain the original signatures of your committee members and your program director in blue or black ink on your original approval form after your successful defense.
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Step 4: Submit Final Paperwork
- Return the approval form with all appropriate signatures to the Graduate School within 10 business days after your final defense. Either original or good-quality scanned copies are accepted.
- Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates and print out the certificate of completion to submit to the Graduate School along with your signed approval form (applies to doctoral students only).
- Submit your thesis/dissertation as a single PDF to ProQuest within 10 business days of your final defense. Consult the checklist of common formatting errors prior to submission. You will be notified via email (usually within 5 – 7 business days) when your submission has been reviewed. Monitor your email closely so you can make necessary changes.
- Complete the Graduate School Exit Survey through Canvas (applies to doctoral students only).
*Note: Leaving the Birmingham area before the approval process is complete does not in any way alter these requirements or extend these deadlines.
