Summary of Procedures

It is a student’s responsibility to ascertain that requirements have been met and deadlines observed.
Degree programs may establish additional requirements.

Procedure for Master's and Specialist Degrees
PROCEDURE	RESPONSIBLE PARTY	ACTION DATE
Formation of program advisory committee and submission of Program Advisory Committee form1	Major Adviser/Department Chair/Head	Immediately following admission to degree program for those programs that use an advisory committee
Changes in program advisory committee by memorandum	Major Adviser/Member Leaving Committee	As soon as change occurs
Request transfer of credit by submitting Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form1 (master’s degrees only)	Major Adviser	Before Graduation
Graduation Application Card1	Student	By end of semester in which the degree is to be awarded
Inclusion of name for commencement exercises, regalia, and announcement orders	Student	Deadlines indicated in “Instructions to Graduates”
Removal of incompletes
(Change of Grade form)	Student/Instructor	When course requirements have been met
To avoid an incomplete becoming “F”	Student/Instructor	Change of grade form must be submitted twelve weeks into the next major semester of enrollment
Final comprehensive examination (Certified by submission of Record of Progress form1 with original signatures)	Advisory Committee	Must be completed by graduation
Additional Requirements for the Thesis Option
Selection of thesis title and formation of thesis committee and submission of Master’s Thesis Title and Thesis Committee form1	Thesis Director/Department Chair/Head	At least three months prior to the date of the defense
Obtain Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations from Union Bookstore or from the Web	Student	Before first draft of thesis is typed
Defense of thesis	Thesis Committee	At least one week before graduation
Registration for at least six hours of thesis	Student	Before graduation
Submission of preliminary copies to each thesis committee member	Student	At least three weeks before graduation
Preliminary editorial check of thesis	Student	Before final copies of thesis are made
Final copies of thesis to Graduate School and to Mullins Library	Student submits to Graduate School; Graduate School submits to Library	Specific deadline. One week before graduation
Procedures for Doctoral Degrees
PROCEDURE	RESPONSIBLE PARTY	ACTION DATE
Submission of Declaration of Intent form1	Department Chair/Head	Before any requirements can be satisfied
Formation of program advisory committee and submission of Doctoral Program Advisory Committee form1	Major Adviser/ Department Chair/Head	Immediately following admission to degree program for those programs that use an advisory committee
Changes in program advisory committee by memorandum	Major Adviser/Member Leaving Committee	As soon as change occurs
Foreign Language Requirement (if required)	Advisory Committee	Determined by committee
Satisfaction of residence: Ph.D., enrollment in two consecutive semesters as a full-time student; Ed.D., enrollment as indicated on an approved Residence Plan form1	Student/Adviser	Before graduation
Admission to candidacy	Advisory Committee	Before beginning work on the dissertation
Enrollment in at least one hour of dissertation following passing of candidacy exams	Student	Each semester (including summer) until graduation
Selection of dissertation title & formation of dissertation committee and submission of Doctoral Dissertation Title and Dissertation Committee form1	Dissertation Director	At least three months prior to the date of the defense
Registration for at least 18 hours of dissertation	Student	Before graduation
Graduation Application Card1	Student	By end of semester in which the degree is to be awarded.
Inclusion of name for commencement exercises, regalia, and announcement orders	Student	Deadlines indicated in “Instructions  to Graduates”
Removal of incompletes (Change of Grade form)	Student/Instructor	When course requirements have been met
To avoid an incomplete becoming “F”	Student/Instructor	Change of grade form must be submitted twelve weeks in the next major semester of enrollment
Obtain Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations from Union Bookstore or from the Web	Student	Before first draft of dissertation is typed
Submission of Announcement of Defense by memorandum	Dissertation Director	At least one week before graduation2
Defense of dissertation (Certified by submission of Record of Progress with original signatures1)	Dissertation Committee	At least one week before graduation2
Submission of preliminary copies to each dissertation committee member	Student	At least three weeks before graduation
Preliminary editorial check of dissertation	Student	Before final copies of dissertation are made
Final copies of dissertation to Graduate School and to Mullins Library	Student submits to Graduate School; Graduate School submits to Library.	At least one week before graduation2

1 Forms are available in the Graduate School or on the Web at www.uark.edu/grad.
2. Specific deadlines are available in the Graduate School.