College of Graduate Studies

Congratulations on your progress toward completing the requirements for your graduate degree. The following checklists have been developed to help you through the graduation clearance process. Please note that there are two checklists: (1) The Master’s and EDS checklist and (2) The Doctoral (EDD) checklist. Please make sure that you use the appropriate checklist.

In addition, within each of the checklists we have provided a list of degree completion activities that you must meet to be eligible for graduation. Your department may have additional requirements and deadlines for the submission of theses and dissertations to the committee readers (you should check with your graduate advisor, graduate program director and/or committee chair).

Master’s Candidates and
Education Specialist (EDS) Candidates

Application for Graduation. This is your formal request for the Registrar's Office to begin proceedings for declaration of your degree. It must be received in the Registrar's Office by the last day of classes for the term prior to the expected graduation term. Complete the Application for Graduation Form online or you may print it and send it to: Georgia Southern University, Registrar's Office, PO Box 8092, Statesboro, GA 30460-8092, 912-681-0432 Email: tsaylor@georgiasouthern.edu

 
• Graduate in Absentia Form.
  If you do not plan on attending the commencement, you must also complete the Request to Graduate in Absentia Form in addition to the Application for Graduation. Send the form to: Georgia Southern University, Registrars Office, PO Box 8092, Statesboro, GA 30460-8092, 912-681-0432, Email tsaylor@georgiasouthern.edu
   
• Graduation Fee Payment. A non-refundable fee of $35 is required to cover the processing of the graduation and your diploma. Payment must be received by mid-term of the semester in which you plan to graduate. Checks should be mailed to: Georgia Southern University, Registrar's Office, PO Box 8092, Statesboro, GA 30460-8092.  You may also pay by credit card at: Georgia Southern University, Cashier's Office, Deal Hall, 912-681-0020



• Program of Study Form. Your Program of Study Form confirms that you have taken the courses required for your graduate degree. The Program of Study Form must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies after it has been signed by your advisor and Graduate Program director or Department chair.  The deadline to submit the Program of Study to the College of Graduate Studies is the last day of the semester prior to the expected graduation term.  Students are encouraged to submit the Program of Study prior to the deadline.  Master's POS  or EDS POS
  
   
• Graduate Program Exit Survey. Complete the College of Graduate Studies Graduate Exit Survey online.  Link to Survey

 
• Reserve Graduation Attire. Graduation attire should be reserved 8 weeks before graduation. Contact Herff Jones with your height, cap size, degree, and major at: Herff Jones, 32 Lindberg, Statesboro, GA 30458 Telephone: 912-764-9314 Fax: 912-764-9550 or visit the Herff Jones web site:  http://www.herffjones.com/college/graduation/
  
   
• Pay Outstanding Debts. All debts to Georgia Southern University must be paid in full. To determine if you have debts such as parking tickets, library fees, fines, etc. contact Cashier's Office at: Georgia Southern University, Cashier's Office Deal Hall, 912-681-0200

 
• Diploma Address.  The GSU Registrar’s Office will mail your diploma to you 12-14 weeks after graduation. We strongly encourage you to update your Diploma Address (DA) and graduation e-mail address on WINGS before the end of the semester in which you are completing your degree requirements.

Important Degree Completion Activities for Master’s and EDS Candidates. Please make sure that you:

• have satisfied the Foreign Language requirement if completing a master’s program in which a Foreign Language is required
   
• have accumulated the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree

 
• have completed the courses required for the degree

 
• have no grades of “I” or “IP” on your graduate transcript

 
• have a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.0. MED and EDS candidates must also have a GPA of at least 3.0 in the degree major courses

 
• be registered in at least one (1) credit hour during the final semester/term (including the semester/term in which the degree is awarded) if completing a degree program in which an internship is being conducted or a project or thesis is required
   
• pass the comprehensive examination (or equivalent in your department) if required for your degree program by the term or semester deadline. Your advisor must submit the Comprehensive Exam/Thesis Defense Report Form to the College of Graduate Studies by the deadline.
  GACE exam scores that are taken to fulfill a degree program requirement must be reported directly to Georgia Southern University by ETS
 
• pass the thesis defense by the deadline if completing a degree program in which a thesis is required

 
• submit thesis in electronic format (PDF) for format review to the College of Graduate Studies by the semester or term deadline
   
• submit the final corrected thesis in electronic format (pdf file) to the College of Graduate Studies by the term submission deadline.
  Committee members must electronically verify (approve) the final submission document by the submission deadline before the document is accepted by the College of Graduate Studies
 
• complete the Institutional Review Board (IRB) termination notification through the Office of Research Services and Sponsored Programs by the deadline

Doctoral Candidates

• Application for Graduation. This is your formal request for the Registrar's Office to begin proceedings for declaration of your degree. It must be received in the Registrar's Office the semester BEFORE you plan to graduate. Send the completed Application for Graduation Form to: Georgia Southern University, Registrar's Office, PO Box 8092, Statesboro, GA 30460-8092, 912-681-0432 Email: tsaylor@georgiasouthern.edu.
 
 
• Graduation in Absentia Form. If you do not plan on attending the commencement, you must also complete the Request to Graduate in Absentia Form in addition to the Application for Graduation. Send the form to: Georgia Southern University, Registrars Office, PO Box 8092, Statesboro, GA 30460-8092, 912-681-0432, Email tsaylor@georgiasouthern.edu
   
• Graduation Fee Payment. A non-refundable fee of $35 is required to cover the processing of the graduation and your diploma. Payment must be received by mid-term of the semester in which you plan to graduate. Checks should be mailed to: Georgia Southern University, Registrar's Office, PO Box 8092, Statesboro, GA 30460-8092.  You may also pay by credit card at: Georgia Southern University, Cashier's Office, Deal Hall, 912-681-0020

 
• Program of Study Form. Your Program of Study Form confirms that you have taken the courses required for your graduate degree. The Program of Study Form must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies after it has been signed by your Major Professor and Committee Members.  The deadline to submit the Program of Study to the College of Graduate Studies is the last day of the semester prior to the expected graduation term.  Students are encouraged to submit the Program of Study prior to the deadline.  EDD Curriculum Studies POS or EDD Educational Administration POS
   
• Graduate Program Exit Survey. Complete the College of Graduate Studies Graduate Exit Survey online.  Link to Survey
   
• Reserve Graduation Attire. Graduation attire should be reserved 8 weeks before graduation. Contact Herf Jones with your height, cap size, degree, and major at: Herf Jones, 32 Lindberg, Statesboro, GA 30458 Telephone: 912-764-9314 Fax: 912-764-9550 or visit the Herff Jones web site:  http://www.herffjones.com/college/graduation/
   
• Pay Outstanding Debts. All debts to Georgia Southern University must be paid in full. To determine if you have debts such as parking tickets, library fees, fines, etc. contact Cashier's Office at: Georgia Southern University, Cashier's Office Deal Hall, 912-681-0200
   
• Diploma Address. The GSU Registrar’s Office will mail your diploma to you 12-14 weeks after graduation. We strongly encourage you to update your Diploma Address (DA) and graduation e-mail address on WINGS before the end of the semester in which you are completing your degree requirements.

• have accumulated the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree

 
• have on file in the College of Graduate Studies documents that attest that: (a) you have passed the Comprehensive and/or Candidacy Examinations, (b) you have passed the dissertation pre-prospectus (EDD-Educational Administration only), (c) your dissertation committee has been approved, (d) you have passed the dissertation prospectus, (e) you have been recommended for EDD candidacy, and, (f) you have passed the dissertation defense
   
• have completed the courses required for the degree

 
• have submitted official transcripts of any transfer work to the College of Graduate Studies

 
• have no grades of “I” or “IP” on your graduate transcript

 
• have a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.5
   
• be registered in at least one (1) credit hour during the final semester/term (including the semester/term in which the degree is awarded)
   
• submit dissertation in electronic format (PDF) for format review to the College of Graduate Studies by the semester or term deadline
   
• submit the final corrected dissertation in electronic format (pdf file) to the College of Graduate Studies by the term submission deadline.
  Committee members must electronically verify (approve) the final submission document by the submission deadline before the document is accepted by College of Graduate Studies
 
• complete the Institutional Review Board (IRB) termination notification through the Office of Research Services and Sponsored Programs by the deadline

Please check with your advisor, graduate program director or College of Graduate Studies 912-478-2647 if you have questions. 

MR 04/08/2008