FILING FOR YOUR DIPLOMA
The deadline for FALL 2009 graduation is Friday, September 25, 2009.  You may Apply for Graduation online via Texas State CatsWeb.  It is important to apply by this date or your graduation may be delayed an entire semester.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
The Master's Comprehensive Examination form must be signed by all committee members and the department chair and received in the Office of the Graduate College by DECEMBER 7, 2009.

THESIS
You must be registered for the thesis course (5399B) during the semester in which your thesis is completed and submitted to Alkek Library. The following steps are required:

1. You must have an approved thesis proposal on file in the Graduate College prior to submitting the thesis for review.  One copy of the Proposed Thesis Research form, with original signatures of committee members and department chair, and attached thesis proposal is submitted to the Graduate Dean for approval.  If your thesis topic involves human subjects or vertebrate animals, you must secure compliance with the Texas State Institutional Review Board (human subjects) or the Texas State Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (vertebrate animals) prior to submitting your thesis proposal form to the Graduate College and prior to beginning research.
2. While writing the thesis, please refer to the Graduate College Guide to Preparing and Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation, available online.  You must follow the formatting (margins, page numbering, etc.) specified in the Guide.
3. The completed thesis should be presented to the thesis committee with sufficient time allowed for careful review.  The committee should receive copies of the thesis no later than OCTOBER 20, 2009.
4. Once the thesis is approved by the committee it is then submitted to the Dean of the Graduate College.  THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF A THESIS TO THE DEAN OF THE GRADUATE COLLEGE IS NOVEMBER 12, 2009.  Note that the deadline to submit the thesis occurs prior to the deadline to submit the comprehensive exam form.  Theses are reviewed by the Office of the Graduate College in order of receipt.  It is to the student’s advantage to submit the thesis as early as possible.  There are two options for submitting the thesis: traditional and electronic.
   • In the traditional option a paper copy of the thesis is submitted to the Graduate College along with two signature pages bearing original signatures of committee members. Additional signature pages may be submitted for personal copies of the thesis.  The signature pages must be printed on thesis quality paper (refer to the Guide).  Since the remainder of the thesis may require further revision, print it on regular paper rather than thesis quality paper.  The thesis is reviewed by Graduate College staff and the Graduate Dean and the Dean signs the signature pages.  You will be notified of any required revisions.  If revisions are required, you will need to correct and resubmit the thesis to the Graduate College to verify that necessary edits have been made.  Once the thesis is approved, you will be cleared to submit it to Alkek Library.  You will then submit two final copies of the thesis, printed on thesis quality paper with the signed signature pages inserted, to the Circulation Desk in Alkek Library and pay the binding fee.  Additional copies for personal use may be submitted for binding.
   • In the electronic option a CD containing the thesis as one document [non-encrypted PDF (preferred) or Microsoft Word] together with a signed Electronic Thesis/Dissertation (ETD) Access Agreement form (obtain from the Graduate College web site) is submitted to the Graduate College.  One signature page bearing original signatures of committee members is also submitted.  Extra signature pages may be included for additional copies of the thesis that the student wants bound.  The signature page(s) must be printed on thesis quality paper (refer to the Guide).  The thesis is reviewed by Graduate College staff and the Graduate Dean and the Dean signs the signature page(s).  You will be notified of any required revisions.  If revisions are required, you will need to correct and resubmit the thesis to the Graduate College to verify that necessary edits have been made.  Once the thesis is approved, you will be cleared to submit it to Alkek Library.  You will then submit one final copy of the thesis, printed on thesis quality paper with the signed signature page inserted, to the Circulation Desk in Alkek Library and pay the binding fee.  Additional copies for personal use may be submitted for binding.  The Graduate College will submit the CD with final thesis document and the signed ETD form to Alkek Library.

5. You must submit your approved and signed thesis to Alkek Library before 5:00 p.m., DECEMBER 10, 2009.
6. If you do not complete the thesis requirements by the above deadlines, you must register next semester for an additional thesis course and reapply for graduation.

NOTE: All thesis credit is deferred until the thesis has been deposited in Alkek Library. You must be registered for the thesis course during the semester in which your thesis is completed.

LETTER OF COMPLETION
Even though you may have missed the deadline for submission of your thesis to Alkek Library and thus be unable to graduate FALL 2009, it still may be possible to receive a "Letter of Completion" from the Office of the Graduate College. A "Letter of Completion" states that the bearer has completed all requirements for a degree.

NOTE: Candidate information changes each semester. If you do not graduate during the FALL 2009 semester, please check the Graduate College web site for new deadline information.