Preparing for Graduation

1.  Fill out and print the Doctoral Degree Candidacy Form from the Graduate School website.  http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/graduation.html

2.  Bring the completed Doctoral Degree Candidacy Form to the Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Philosophy to make sure that it is complete and you have fulfilled all the requirements for the degree.

3.  If you have met all requirements the Graduate Coordinator will sign the Candidacy form and pass it on to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School for appropriate signatures. 

4.  Before you begin writing the dissertation, familiarize yourself with the Graduate School Thesis/Dissertation Guide. http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/tdinfo.html

All dissertations produced at the University of Memphis must meet formatting and stylistic guidelines.  It will be a lot easier if you write your dissertation using these guidelines rather than try to revise a finished document to meet the guidelines.

5.  Set a defense date.  This should be done in conjunction with your committee and only when you have finished a complete draft of the dissertation.  Because dissertation defenses are public you must verify with office staff and Chair that the date does not conflict with other departmental events.

6.  Submit an Intent to Graduate Card via the Graduate School website by the appropriate date in the semester you wish to graduate. http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/graduation.html

7.  If you intend to participate in the Graduate ceremony submit a Cap and Gown order form.  http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/graduation.html

8.  Submit a Diploma Mailing Card.  http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/graduation.html

9.  Defend Dissertation

10. Submit defended and corrected dissertation copy to Graduate School for review.  See http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/deadlines.html for Graduate School deadlines for review process. 

11. Submit final copies to Graduate School

In addition to the documents listed above (the intent to graduate card, the candidacy form and so on), the following documents must be on file with the Graduate School in order for a student to graduate.

Filed by the Graduate Coordinator:

1.  Comprehensive Exam Results Form (there should be one filed for each exam and the Graduate Coordinator should note the name of the exam on each form).

Filed by the Dissertation Advisor:

1. Dissertation Faculty Committee Form
2. Dissertation Proposal Defense Results Form
3. Dissertation Defense Form

If you are receiving the Women’s Studies Certificate, you must have applied for admissions to this program and have submitted the following forms:

1. Graduate Certificate Program Candidacy Form
2. Change of Status Form

Note about dissertation credit hours:  The continuous enrollment policy at the University of Memphis is a Graduate School policy.  It says that once a student begins taking dissertation credit hours, they must continue to take dissertation credits (at least one credit hour per semester) until they defend their dissertation.  There is a minimum requirement of six dissertation hours.  Please meet with the Graduate Coordinator in advance of taking dissertation credit hours.