Master's thesis
Your graduate degree program in Graduate Planning and Audit System (GPAS) must be submitted before you can obtain your Graduation Packet and defend your thesis.
Assign members to your master’s final exam committee.
One semester before your Final Oral Examination:
Check the Degree Completion Steps that you need to complete as part of your degree.
Submit your Application for Degree no later than the first day of the month you would like to graduate. Application instructions are available here.
Final Oral Examination
1. Initiate your Reviewers’ Report form at least one week before your final exam. All committee members submit their responses before your final exam.
2. Initiate the Final Exam form at least 1 day prior to your exam. Review your examining committee for accuracy and click “Submit” to send the form to your committee chair. Committee chair must submit the completed form no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation.
3. Consult the Master's Degree Completion Checklist for information.
Students may elect to give a presentation of their master’s thesis work - it is an option, not a requirement. This is a joint decision between the advisor and the student.
No Final Oral Examination can occur without all committee members present. It is advisable to schedule (tentatively) with your committee at least one month prior to when you plan to have your oral examination. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule a date and two-hour time block for the final oral examination with their committee. Plan ahead because faculty members are very busy with many students at the end of the semester. The Final Oral Examination is closed to everyone except the student and the student’s committee.
Degree completion and graduation
Students must deposit the thesis by the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation. Degrees are conferred monthly by the University of Minnesota. A student finishing a thesis is requested to share an electronic copy with their advisor.