Graduation Deadlines

It is ultimately your responsibility to have all requirements completed and meet all the deadlines for graduation. Please make sure you know the deadlines for the Graduate College as well as for the College of Musical Arts. Graduate College deadlines can be found on the Degree Candidates Deadlines page through the Graduate College website.

The following are deadlines for submitting the final copy of a composition, thesis or dissertation and completing a comprehensive exam. Please do not request extensions of these dates. They should be considered “non-negotiable.” The purpose of maintaining these deadlines is to guarantee that final projects of the highest possible quality are achieved.

All forms can be downloaded through the Graduate College Documents and Forms Web page.    

Master's students completing Plan II (non-thesis) degree requirements will use the forms found here:
MUED/MUCT Masters Plan II Form
MUSP Masters Plan II Form

Last day for submission for Fall 2025 semester (December graduation)

• Dissertation Topic Approval to Grad Coordinator                     May 14, 2025
• Thesis Topic Approval to Grad Coordinator                              July 26, 2025
• Portfolio electronically submitted to your committee               Two weeks before scheduled exam date
• Thesis/Dissertation to Grad Coordinator                                 October 31, 2025
• Final Degree Recital Date (musp students)                              November 21, 2025
• Comprehensive Exam                                                               December 5, 2025
• Exam results and summary                                                       December 12, 2025
• Commencement                                                                       December 12, 2025

dates are subject to change without notice

Last day for submission for Spring 2026 semester (May graduation)

• Dissertation Topic Approval to Grad Coordinator                      September 5, 2025
• Thesis Topic Approval to Grad Coordinator                               December 5, 2025
• Graduation application due                                                       February 6, 2026
• Plann II Portfolio electronically submitted to your committee   Two weeks before scheduled exam date
• Suggested Thesis/Dissertation defense deadline                     March 13, 2026            
• Thesis/Dissertation to Grad Coordinator                                  March 20, 2026
• Thesis/Dissertation defense/manuscript approval form            March 27, 2026        
• OhioLINK upload of final thesis/dissertation document            April 3, 2026
• Final Degree Recital Date (MUSP students)                               April 17, 2026
• Last day for Plan II comprehensive/portfolio exams                  April 24, 2026
• Plan II Exam results and summary submitted                             May 1, 2026
• Commencement                                                                        May 1, 2026

dates are subject to change without notice