Degree completion steps
Degree completion steps are requirements that you need to complete as part of your degree progress. Your graduate program may have additional requirements and program-specific timelines. If your degree program is not listed, visit your program office or website to obtain detailed information about graduation and graduation dates.
Requirements by degree
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Master’s degrees
Specialist Certificate in Educational Psychology
Doctoral degrees
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Juridical Sciences (SJD)
- Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
- Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
Students in professional master’s (e.g., MEd, MPH, MPS) or professional doctoral (e.g., DNP, OTD) degrees should contact their program for more information about degree completion requirements and deadlines. These degree completion steps do not apply to the following programs: JD, MD, PharmD, DVM, DDS, LLM, and MBA (Twin Cities). Contact your program for information about your degree completion steps.
Active status
All graduate students are required to maintain active status by registering every fall and spring term. There may be a time when you need to register solely to meet your registration requirements and avoid inactive status. Special registration categories are options to help you remain active.
Years to degree completion
-
Master’s students have five calendar years to complete a degree according to the master’s degree: performance standards and progress policy.
- Doctoral students have eight calendar years to complete a degree according to the doctoral degree: performance standards and progress policy.
Students admitted prior to spring 2013 adhere to a different set of policies. Please contact your graduate program or GSSP for more information.
If you need additional time for your degree, please complete the Doctoral or Master's Request for Extension to the Maximum Time Limit form.
Related Resources
Important Dates
Academics
| Wed, Dec 22, 2021 | End of fall semester |
| Tue, Jan 18, 2022 | Spring full semester and first 7-week sessions begin |
| Tue, Mar 15, 2022 | Spring second 7-week session begins |