Steps to a Graduate Degree

What	When	Where/How
Submit Final Transcript(s) from all previous work to Graduate School. (Such transcripts must clearly indicate the actual receipt of previous degree.)	Prior to start of classes, if receiving financial support (e.g., TA); by last day of classes during your first semester of enrollment, at the latest; otherwise you may not receive your stipend and your program might be automatically terminated	Submit to BOTH: NCSU Graduate School (Box 7102) Raleigh, NC 27695-7102 AND Dept. of Psychology (7650)
Submit US Patent Agreement for initial degree (MS or PhD)	First week of class	Sign at an early session of PSY 800; or submit to Graduate Assistant.
Form M.S. Graduate Advisory Committee ^*	Second semester of enrollment, if possible, or ASAP thereafter	Secure signatures on the M.S. Plan of Work form (see next step)
Submit M.S. Plan of Work ^*	Second semester of enrollment, if possible, or ASAP thereafter, but before it is 50% complete in all cases	Complete the M.S. Plan of Work form and checklist, obtain signatures of Committee members, submit form and checklist to Graduate Assistant.
Schedule Presentation of the Proposal for M.S. Thesis (or Thesis-Equivalent Project) ¹	After Chair agrees the Proposal is in acceptable form, but at least one week prior to the meeting	Obtain Chair's signature on Request to Schedule Proposal Presentation verifying proposal is ready; submit to Graduate Assistant.
Present M.S. Thesis (or thesis equivalency) Proposal ^*	If you have been a TA or RA from the start, the proposal should be presented and approved by April 15th of your second year, in order to be eligible to receive continued departmental funding during your third year. ² Consult DGP if any problems.	After presentation (and needed changes), obtain Committee signatures on the proposal, verifying it is approved, and submit the signed copy to Graduate Assistant.
File Application for M.S. Degree (aka Diploma Card)	Early in the semester of expected graduation; by the end of the third week, at the latest (if you don't graduate during this semester, this form must be filed again)	Complete and submit to Graduate Assistant.
Complete ETD Workshop	Prior to scheduling Final Thesis Defense	Go to: http://www.ncsu.edu/grad/etd/

What	When	Where/How
Schedule M.S. Final Oral Exam (aka Defense of Thesis or Thesis-Equivalent Project)	After Chair agrees the Thesis itself (or Thesis Equivalent Project) is in acceptable form, but at least three (3) weeks prior to the date of the exam. Verify that the Department has an up-to-date and error-free copy of a signed Plan of Work, or an up-to-date list of revisions to the Plan, as well as a signed Patent Agreement.	Obtain Chair's signature on Request to Schedule MS Defense. Submit signed copy to Graduate Assistant. The Graduate Assistant will reserve a suitable room.
Hold M.S. Final Oral Exam (aka Thesis Defense) ^{* 1}	As scheduled	Student meets with Committee, to present thesis research and describe results/conclusions. The Committee votes and signs Examination Report
File Report on the M.S. Final Oral Examination	At the conclusion of the Final Oral Examination; form is due back at the Graduate School within two days.	Committee Chair should deliver two copies of signed Report to Graduate Assistant.
Submit M.S. Thesis to the Graduate School (SKIP for Equivalency Projects)	ASAP after changes requested during the Defense have been made; by announced deadlines each semester to graduate at the end of that semester.	See procedures for electronic submissions of theses/dissertations. (Procedure requires fully-signed cover page).
Receive Recommendation to continue in the Ph.D. program ^*	ASAP following the Final Oral Examination; if you have held a TA or RA from the start, you must advance before the start of the fourth year to be assured of continued departmental support.	Committee Chair sends memorandum to DGP; student may then be asked to sign a form to complete process
Submit a second US Patent Agreement, if needed	If you entered as an M.S.-seeking student, you must sign another Patent agreement as a Ph.D.-seeking student.	Sign at the time you are approved for continuation (submit to Graduate Assistant).
Form Ph.D. Graduate Advisory Committee ^*	Second semester of enrollment, if possible, or ASAP thereafter; or ASAP after approved continuation in Ph.D. program after the M.S.	Secure signatures on the Ph.D. Plan of Work form (see next item).
File Ph.D. Plan Of Work ^*	Second semester of enrollment, if possible, or ASAP thereafter; or ASAP after advancing to Ph.D. program, but before it is 50% complete in all cases	Complete the Plan of Work form and checklist, obtain signatures of Committee members, submit form to Graduate Assistant.

What	When	Where/How
Begin Preliminary Examination Process	When you are Ready	Consult Chair and Committee — about six months or so ahead. Confirm that Chair recommends proceeding and that faculty will be available. Check on program rules or procedures.
Schedule and complete Written Ph.D. Preliminary Examination ^*	File request at least one week before the written examination process starts. Writtens MUST be completed within a two-week period. The Oral Preliminary Exam is scheduled at the same time, on the same form. (Note: Some students may be allowed to complete an Alternative Procedure in place of the normal written exam. In such cases, the request must be filed at least one week before starting the alternative process. The Oral Exam must again be scheduled prior to starting.)	Submit signed Request to Schedule Preliminary Examination to Graduate Assistant.
File Report on the Ph.D. Written Preliminary Examination	ASAP upon completion of the written exam; the Oral will be canceled, if the DGP and Graduate Assistant are not notified the student has passed the Written Exam unconditionally.	The Chair should notify the DGP and the Graduate Assistant concerning the outcome of the Written preliminary Exam (Unconditional Pass, Fail, Conditional Pass – with the conditions stated). Email is appropriate.
Hold Ph.D. Preliminary Oral Examination ^*	As scheduled. The entire Preliminary Exam (Writtens and Oral) should take place within ≈ 6 weeks, or the Committee Chair should request a waiver from the DGP.	Student meets with Committee. The Committee votes and signs Examination Report.
File Report on the Oral Ph.D. Preliminary Examination	Immediately at the conclusion of the Oral Preliminary Examination; form is due back at the Graduate School within two days.	Committee Chair delivers two copies of the signed Report to the Graduate Assistant.
Present Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal ^*	As scheduled	After presentation (and any needed changes), obtain Committee signatures on the proposal, verifying it is approved, and submit fully-signed copy to the Graduate Assistant.
File Application for Ph.D. Degree (Diploma Card)	Early in the semester of expected graduation, but by the end of the third week at the latest (if you don't graduate during this semester, the form must be filed again)	Complete and submit to Graduate Assistant.

¹ For this step you will need to arrange a time for a meeting of your Graduate Advisory Committee. As much lead time as possible is advised, so that your progress is not needlessly delayed by scheduling conflicts.
² For students in the School Psychology program, this deadline is December 1st of the third year. Exceptions of the special proposal and thesis deadlines for TAs and RAs must be approved by the Director of Graduate Programs.
^* Additional information regarding this step is included in the Notes and Attachments that follow.

Advisor: Initial faculty advisor, prior to establishing a formal Graduate Advisory Committee
Chair: Head of one's Graduate Advisory Committee; may also have two Co-Chairs
Committee: Graduate Advisory Committee (faculty who direct a student's studies and research)
Coordinator: Faculty member responsible for operation of a specific concentration. (The Coordinator for School Psychology is identified as the Director for that program.)
DGP: Director of Graduate Programs; oversees operation of all departmental graduate programs
Graduate Assistant: Graduate Student Services Assistant; aka Graduate Secretary

Graduate Programs

Other Links of Interest

Steps to a Graduate Degree