These are the key steps along the way as you earn a graduate degree. As you complete your studies and move towards graduation, come back to this page to check on your next steps.
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Graduate Student Timeline: Step by Step
Orientation
The Graduate Orientation is available online in our Marshall Skills Exchange system. It provides key information for getting started at Marshall and tells you about the resources and support offices that you have available as a student.
New Student Checklist
The New Student Checklist has the key steps that new students need to complete to start at Marshall. These include Financial Aid, activating your Marshall computing account, setting up your mobile Marshall ID, registering for classes, and other key steps to complete before your first semester.
Plan of Study
Meet with your degree program Graduate Advisor or Program Director to plan your course of study. You can find your graduate advisor info in MyMU. A list of Directors of Graduate Study is available online.
No later than your 12th credit hour, work with your Advisor to prepare a Plan of Study.
Thesis, Dissertation, or Comprehensive Assessment
If you will not write a thesis or dissertation, you will have a Comprehensive Assessment appropriate for your program. This final activity will be assessed by your Comprehensive Assessment Committee.
If you will write a a thesis or dissertation, review the ETD process and Checklist. The thesis or dissertation takes the place of your Comprehensive Assessment.
Plan for Graduation
The official graduation dates are:
- the day of Commencement in the spring semester.
- the last day of final examinations in the summer;
- the day of Commencement in December;
Marshall University observes two Commencement ceremonies.
- The spring ceremony honors students who complete their degree requirements between December and May and is held in May;
- The fall ceremony honors students who complete their degree requirements between May and December and is held in December.
Doctoral degree candidates are invested with the academic hood signifying the appropriate degree during the Commencement ceremony. Doctoral candidates may invite a major professor, advisor or dissertation committee chair to participate in the hooding. Master’s and Education Specialist candidates wear academic hoods with regalia during the ceremony
Apply for Graduation
Before or at the beginning of your final semester, you must formally apply for graduation. For the exact time, see the University Calendar.
During your final spring or fall semester, attend Countdown to Commencement for information about caps, gowns, announcements, rings, and more. This event is held in November and March of each year. Watch for an announcement that will come out during the semester.
Thesis/Dissertation Defense or Comprehensive Examination
If you are not writing a thesis or dissertation, you will have a comprehensive examination or other assessment. Your committee submits the Comprehensive Assessment Evaluation Report.
If you are writing a thesis or dissertation, your ETD chair will set a defense date before the deadline for submitting an ETD. You will upload your approved and complete ETD to the ETD Administrator site. Your committee submits the Comprehensive Assessment Evaluation Report.