{"id":1937,"date":"2012-11-08T11:50:48","date_gmt":"2012-11-08T16:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/?page_id=1937"},"modified":"2026-01-29T06:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:21:07","slug":"steps-to-graduation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/steps-to-graduation\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Graduate Degree Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>These are the key steps along the way as you earn a graduate degree. As you complete your studies and move towards graduation, come back to this page to check on your next steps. <\/p>\nThis feature is only available by using the Full Width or Full Width (Hero) template.\n<\/div><\/article><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content w-full px-6 lg:px-0   lg:py-4 \">\n\t<div class=\"w-full lg:w-1\/2 mx-auto xl:mx-auto\">\n\t\t<h2>Graduate Student Timeline: Step by Step<\/h2>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"w-full lg:w-1\/2 mx-auto xl:mx-auto mt-4\">\n\t\t\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto border-b border-gray-100 last:border-b-0  py-8\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t<div class=\"flex items-start\">\n\t\t\t<div><svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"text-green h-6 w-6 lg:h-8 lg:w-8 mr-4 lg:mr-6 mt-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"m9 12 2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"\">Orientation<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-green h-1 mt-2 w-1\/6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-4 leading-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Graduate Orientation is available online in our Marshall Skills Exchange system. It provides key information for getting started at Marshall and tells you about the resources and support offices that you have available as a student.<br \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/files\/MU-Grad-Orientation-Instructions-2026.pdf\" class=\"button button--secondary w-full lg:w-auto\">Access the Graduate Orientation<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto border-b border-gray-100 last:border-b-0  py-8\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t<div class=\"flex items-start\">\n\t\t\t<div><svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"text-green h-6 w-6 lg:h-8 lg:w-8 mr-4 lg:mr-6 mt-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"m9 12 2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"\">New Student Checklist<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-green h-1 mt-2 w-1\/6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-4 leading-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThe New Student Checklist has the key steps that new students need to complete to start at Marshall. These include Financial Aid, activating your Marshall computing account, setting up your mobile Marshall ID, registering for classes, and other key steps to complete before your first semester.<br \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/admissions\/graduate\/admitted-degree-seeking\/\" class=\"button button--secondary w-full lg:w-auto\">View the new student checklist<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto border-b border-gray-100 last:border-b-0  py-8\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t<div class=\"flex items-start\">\n\t\t\t<div><svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"text-green h-6 w-6 lg:h-8 lg:w-8 mr-4 lg:mr-6 mt-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"m9 12 2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"\">Plan of Study<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-green h-1 mt-2 w-1\/6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-4 leading-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"styled-list\"><ul class=\"my-3\">\n<li>Meet with your degree program Graduate Advisor or Program Director to plan your course of study.\u00a0You can find your graduate advisor info in MyMU. A list of <a title=\"Directors of Graduate Studies\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/directors-of-graduate-studies\/\">Directors of Graduate Study<\/a> is available online.<\/li>\n<li>No later than your 12th credit hour, work with your Advisor to prepare a <a title=\"Plan of Study\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/current-students\/forms-and-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Plan of Study.<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/current-students\/plan-of-study\/\" class=\"button button--secondary w-full lg:w-auto\">Learn about Plans of Study<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto border-b border-gray-100 last:border-b-0  py-8\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t<div class=\"flex items-start\">\n\t\t\t<div><svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"text-green h-6 w-6 lg:h-8 lg:w-8 mr-4 lg:mr-6 mt-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"m9 12 2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"\">Thesis, Dissertation, or Comprehensive Assessment<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-green h-1 mt-2 w-1\/6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-4 leading-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"styled-list\"><ul class=\"my-3\">\n<li> If you will <strong>not<\/strong> write a thesis or dissertation, you will have a <strong>Comprehensive Assessment<\/strong> appropriate for your program. This final activity will be assessed by your Comprehensive Assessment Committee. <\/li>\n<li>If\u00a0you <strong>will<\/strong> write a  a\u00a0thesis or dissertation,\u00a0review the <a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.marshall.edu\/mu-etd-home\">ETD guidelines<\/a>. The thesis or dissertation takes the place of your Comprehensive Assessment.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.marshall.edu\/mu-etd-home\" class=\"button button--secondary w-full lg:w-auto\">Learn about Theses and Dissertations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto border-b border-gray-100 last:border-b-0  py-8\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t<div class=\"flex items-start\">\n\t\t\t<div><svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"text-green h-6 w-6 lg:h-8 lg:w-8 mr-4 lg:mr-6 mt-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"m9 12 2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"\">Plan for Graduation<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-green h-1 mt-2 w-1\/6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-4 leading-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\nThe official graduation dates are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the day of Commencement in the spring semester.<\/li>\n<li>the last day of final examinations in the summer;<\/li>\n<li>the day of Commencement in December;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Marshall University observes two Commencement ceremonies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The spring ceremony honors students who complete their degree requirements between December and May and is held in May;<\/li>\n<li>The fall ceremony honors students who complete their degree requirements between May and December and is held in December.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Doctoral degree candidates are invested with the academic hood signifying the appropriate degree during the Commencement ceremony. Doctoral candidates may invite a major professor, advisor or dissertation committee chair to participate in the hooding. Master&#8217;s and Education Specialist candidates wear academic hoods with regalia during the ceremony<br \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/commencement\/\" class=\"button button--secondary w-full lg:w-auto\">Learn about Graduation<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto border-b border-gray-100 last:border-b-0  py-8\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t<div class=\"flex items-start\">\n\t\t\t<div><svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"text-green h-6 w-6 lg:h-8 lg:w-8 mr-4 lg:mr-6 mt-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"m9 12 2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"\">Apply for Graduation<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-green h-1 mt-2 w-1\/6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-4 leading-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"styled-list\"><ul class=\"my-3\">\n<li>Before or at the beginning of your final semester, you must formally apply for graduation. For the exact time, see the <a title=\"Calendar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/calendar\/academic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University Calendar<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>During your final spring or fall semester, attend <em>Countdown to Commencement<\/em> for information about caps, gowns, announcements, rings, and more. This event is held in November and March of each year. Watch for an announcement that will come out during the semester.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/current-students\/forms-and-information\/\" class=\"button button--secondary w-full lg:w-auto\">Apply for Graduation<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto border-b border-gray-100 last:border-b-0  py-8\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t<div class=\"flex items-start\">\n\t\t\t<div><svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"text-green h-6 w-6 lg:h-8 lg:w-8 mr-4 lg:mr-6 mt-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"\/><path d=\"m9 12 2 2 4-4\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"\">Thesis\/Dissertation Defense or Comprehensive Examination<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bg-green h-1 mt-2 w-1\/6\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-4 leading-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"styled-list\"><ul class=\"my-3\">\n<li>If you are <strong>not<\/strong> writing a thesis or dissertation, you will have a comprehensive examination or other assessment. Your committee submits the <a title=\"Comprehensive Evaluation Report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/current-students\/forms-and-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Comprehensive Assessment Evaluation Report<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>If you <strong>are<\/strong> writing a thesis or dissertation, your ETD chair will set a defense date before the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/deadlines-dates\/\">deadline for submitting an ETD<\/a>. You will upload your approved and complete ETD to the <em>ETD Administrator<\/em> site. Your committee submits the <a title=\"Comprehensive Evaluation Report\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/current-students\/forms-and-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Comprehensive Assessment Evaluation Report<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.marshall.edu\/mu-etd-home\" class=\"button button--secondary w-full lg:w-auto\">Learn about ETD Review<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"w-full xl:container mx-auto px-6 pt-8 pb-8\">\n<div>\n<article class=\"page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These are the key steps along the way as you earn a graduate degree. As you complete your studies and move towards graduation, come back to this page to check on your next steps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-full-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1937","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1937"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9304,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1937\/revisions\/9304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}