Navigating Your Degree Program

Graduation Deadlines and Checklists

Congratulations on reaching this major milestone in your academic journey! To ensure a seamless graduation experience, here you will find information on how to apply for graduation, important graduation deadlines, commencement and regalia information, and other frequently asked questions.

Apply to Graduate

  • Students must submit an application for graduation through Joe'SS within the first four weeks of the semester (two weeks for the summer session) in which they plan to complete all degree requirements.
  • Please note: Thesis and dissertation students must meet the Graduate Education deadlines to graduate in a given term. These deadlines occur before the semester officially ends and are published prior to the start of the term.
  • Submitting an application is required for your name to appear on the official graduation list and for your degree to be awarded—even if you do not plan to attend commencement.
  • A $75 graduation fee (or $25 completion fee for certificates) will be charged to your student account once your application is submitted. If you miss the deadline and your graduation is moved to a later semester, you will need to reapply, but you will not be charged the fee again.

Review Your Degree Audit

A degree audit is your tool for confirming you are on track to graduate. Follow these steps:

  1. Request your degree audit in Joe’SS.
    You can do this at any time to review your progress toward degree completion.
  2. Review the audit carefully.
    • Look for any “unmet requirements.”
    • Confirm that all coursework, GPA, and program requirements are showing as in progress or satisfied.
    • Be aware of additional requirements that may not be not flagged in the audit.
      • Some items are not captured in the audit, such as:
        • Time limit issues
        • Incomplete grades
        • Certificate Program Courses Form
        • Other special program requirements
        In these cases, the Graduate Education office will notify your department if your audit shows issues that may prevent your degree from being awarded.
  3. Resolve all issues.
    • Work with your department and/or graduate specialist to clear any discrepancies.
    • It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to make sure all issues are resolved before commencement.
    • Failure to resolve issues will delay your degree to a future term.

Submit Any Necessary Forms

  • Depending on your program, you may need to complete and submit forms such as:
    • Form 1/1A – Plan of Study / Revised Plan of Study
    • Form 1B – Appointment of Committee for Non-Thesis Comprehensive Exam *
    • Form 3 – Report on Non-Thesis Comprehensive Examination *
    • Form 5A – Revised Plan of Study
    • Certificate Program Courses Form
    • Substitution for Required Certificate Course(s) Form
  • These forms must be submitted and fully approved by Graduate Education before the close of the semester or session in which the degree will be awarded.
  • Deadlines for the Form 2 (Master’s Thesis/Dissertation Defense Results) and Form 7 (Doctoral Defense Results) are included in the Thesis/Dissertation Deadlines.
  • Forms 1B and 3 are required only for non-thesis students in Biological Sciences.

Thesis/Dissertation Deadlines

Master's (Non-Thesis) Degree and Certificate Programs

A graduate student who has applied for graduation and is on the commencement list to be presented to the Missouri S&T Graduate Faculty, and has satisfactorily completed the requirements for the graduate degree program, may request a degree completion letter from their graduate specialist. Please note that all degree completion letters are standard template letters and cannot be altered. After the degree has been awarded, an official certification letter must be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation Checklists

Designed specifically for our graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation, our completion checklists provide a step-by-step guide to help you navigate your final milestones with ease.

Attending the Commencement Ceremony

Stay informed and ready to celebrate your achievement with ease, let's make your graduation day unforgettable!

After Graduation

Can’t Meet Deadlines? Here’s What’s Next