Graduate School
Deadlines, Forms, and Policies
The Graduate School is here to support you during your time at Southern Miss, from your first day of class until you walk across the stage at commencement. Throughout these pages, you'll find deadlines, forms, and other resources to help you as you work to complete your degree.
Graduate School Deadlines
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Thesis, Dissertation, or Doctoral Project Proposal Form Your research topic must be approved by your Committee and submitted to the Graduate School. |
November 1 *semester before graduation |
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Complete via SOAR. (If admitted before Fall 2017 you should submit your Plan of Study.) **Spring Graduates are only allowed to participate in the Spring Commencement Ceremony. Requests to defer participation to another ceremony will not be considered.
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November 1 *semester before graduation **There is a $50 late application fee added for applications submitted from November 2 - January 30. No applications will be accepted after January 30. |
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Doctoral and MFA candidates only. |
February 25 |
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March 27 |
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Thesis/Dissertation/Project Approval Form Your committee chair and school director or program coordinator should submit this form indicating their approval of your document. This form replaces the signed title page and includes Turnitin results and approval. |
April 1 |
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Submit your final, COMMITTEE approved thesis, dissertation, or doctoral project via Aquila. All committee revisions should be complete. Any changes made after this date will ONLY be at the direction of the Graduate School. |
April 1 |
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Submit your final, GRADUATE SCHOOL approved thesis, dissertation, or doctoral project via Aquila. No changes may be made after this date. Unapproved changes will result in withdrawal of document and deferral of graduation. |
May 4 |
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Doctoral candidates only. A national census of all individuals earning a research doctorate from accredited US institutions. Students earning their doctorate should complete this survey. |
May 4 |
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Students should coordinate their comprehensive exam with their graduate program. Graduate programs must submit comprehensive exam results on or before the date semester grades are due. |
Masters students: Friday of Exam Week. Doctoral students: Immediately following completion of coursework. |
|
Thesis, Dissertation, or Doctoral Project Proposal Form Your research topic must be approved by your Committee and submitted to the Graduate School. |
April 1 *semester before graduation |
|
Complete via SOAR. (If admitted before Fall 2017 you should submit your Plan of Study.) **Spring Graduates are only allowed to participate in the Spring Commencement Ceremony. Requests to defer participation to another ceremony will not be considered. |
April 1 *semester before graduation **There is a $50 late application fee added for applications submitted from April 2 - June 30. No applications will be accepted after June 30. |
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Doctoral and MFA candidates only. |
September 20 *Summer graduates participate in Fall commencement ceremony |
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June 14 |
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| Your committee chair and school director or program coordinator should submit this form indicating their approval of your document. This form replaces the signed title page and includes Turnitin results and approval. |
June 21 |
| Submit your final, COMMITTEE approved thesis, dissertation, or doctoral project via Aquila. All committee revisions should be complete. Any changes made after this date will ONLY be at the direction of the Graduate School. |
June 21 |
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Submit your final, GRADUATE SCHOOL approved thesis, dissertation, or doctoral project via Aquila. No changes may be made after this date. Unapproved changes will result in withdrawal of document and deferral of graduation. |
July 24 |
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Doctoral candidates only. A national census of all individuals earning a research doctorate from accredited US institutions. Students earning their doctorate should complete this survey. |
July 24 |
|
Students should coordinate their comprehensive exam with their graduate program. Graduate programs must submit comprehensive exam results on or before the date semester grades are due. |
Masters students: Friday of Exam Week. Doctoral students: Immediately following completion of coursework. |
|
Thesis, Dissertation, or Doctoral Project Proposal Form Your research topic must be approved by your Committee and submitted to the Graduate School. |
July 1 *semester before graduation |
|
Complete via SOAR. (If admitted before Fall 2017 you should submit your Plan of Study.) **Spring Graduates are only allowed to participate in the Spring Commencement Ceremony. Requests to defer participation to another ceremony will not be considered.
|
July 1 *semester before graduation **There is a $50 late application fee added for applications submitted from July 2 - September 30. No applications will be accepted after September 30. |
|
Doctoral and MFA candidates only. |
September 20 |
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October 18 |
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Thesis/Dissertation/Project Approval Form Your committee chair and school director or program coordinator should submit this form indicating their approval of your document. This form replaces the signed title page and includes Turnitin results and approval. |
October 25 |
|
Submit your final, COMMITTEE approved thesis, dissertation, or doctoral project via Aquila. All committee revisions should be complete. Any changes made after this date will ONLY be at the direction of the Graduate School. |
October 25 |
|
Submit your final, GRADUATE SCHOOL approved thesis, dissertation, or doctoral project via Aquila. No changes may be made after this date. Unapproved changes will result in withdrawal of document and deferral of graduation. |
December 1 |
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Doctoral candidates only. A national census of all individuals earning a research doctorate from accredited US institutions. Students earning their doctorate should complete this survey. |
November 28 |
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Students should coordinate their comprehensive exam with their graduate program. Graduate programs must submit comprehensive exam results on or before the date semester grades are due. |
Masters students: Friday of Exam Week. Doctoral students: Immediately following completion of coursework. |
Forms Initiated by Students
- Commencement Program Form
- Course Retake Form
- Graduate Assistant External Employment Request
- Graduate Out of Career Course Request
- Leave of Absence Request
- See the full policy in the “Grad School Policies and Procedures” section below
- Survey of Earned Doctorates
- Undergraduate Out of Career Course Request
Forms Initiated by Faculty/Staff
- Approved Proposal for Project/Thesis/Dissertation Instructions
- Change of Emphasis/Degree
- Committee Request Instructions
- Completion Plan Template
- Comprehensive and Qualifying Results Instructions
- Course Substitution/Transfer/Waiver Instructions
- Discontinuation/Dismissal
- Document Approval for Thesis/Dissertation/Doctoral Project
- Oral Defense Results
- Revalidation Verification
Apply for Graduation & Graduation Info
- Graduate Degree/Certificate
- Commencement and Graduation Information
- Graduation Deferment Request
- If you have already applied for graduation and determine you will not be able to meet the requirements for graduation as expected, you are able to defer your graduation term. To do so, you will need to complete a new application for graduation through your SOAR account. Deferment fees may apply. (Deferral fees for first deferment are waived.)
Graduate School Policies and Procedures
- Affirmative Action and Equal Employment
- Academic Integrity
- Appeals and Grievances
- Consensual Relationships
- Course Revalidation
- Graduate School Bulletin
- Leave of Absence
- Initial/ Complete this form in the “Forms initiated by Students” section above
- Maternity Leave for GAs
- Sexual Misconduct