The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Mechanical Engineering
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During the semester in which you plan to graduate, ALL master's degree candidates must submit the following:
1. The Master's Graduation Application may be submitted electronically until the posted deadline (usually mid-semester), or in paper form after the electron submission deadline.
2. A departmental Program of Work form must be completed and approved by your supervising professor. Submit the completed form to the ME Graduate Office in ETC 5.204. Your Graduation Application will not be approved online until the Program of Work has been reviewed and approved by the Graduate Advisor.
3. The Master's Degree Certification form requires the signature of your thesis or report supervisor, as applicable, and the Graduate Advisor. Please allow at least 24 hours for processing. The signed form must be submitted to the Graduate School, Main Building 101, by the last class day of the semester.
If you are completing a Thesis or Report:
4. Students completing a thesis or report are strongly encouraged to read the Copyright Information and Format Guidelines posted on the Graduate School website.
5. Students may submit their thesis or report electronically or in a traditional bound version. Either format requires an additional printed copy of the following pages to be submitted separately from your thesis or report.
6. Students completing a thesis must submit a Copyright Disclaimer and Photocopy Permission form.
1. Register for Dissertation (#99W)
2. Submit the Degree Candidate Form during the semester in which you plan to graduate. The Degree Candidate Form is valid for ONE SEMESTER ONLY. In the event that you do not graduate, a new form must be filed the next semester and every semester after that until you graduate.
3. Schedule your Defense/Final Oral Examination. Give your committee a copy of your dissertation at least a month before you plan to defend so each member can examine it. Secure signatures from each member of your committee on the Request for Final Oral form (Note: the form must be printed on pink paper! Feel free to visit the Graduate Office, ETC 5.204, where we have a plentiful supply of pink paper.)
4. Submit the Request for Final Oral form to the Graduate School, Main Building 101, at least two weeks in advance of the defense. Include one copy each of the dissertation abstract, the vita, title page, and Committee Certification of Approved Version (unsigned) for a format check. Form must be typed or word-processed.
5. At the defense, you will need to obtain original signatures of all approved committee members on the Committee Certification of Approved Version form (see Format Guidelines). Any committee members not attending will need to sign this page before the dissertation is submitted.
6. The defense and draft must meet the approval of the committee. If satisfactory, the committee will Pass the student and sign the Report of Dissertation Defense. The Chair of the departmental Graduate Studies Committee will review your file and approve the Report of Dissertation Defense before forwarding it to the Graduate School.
7. The candidate then has the dissertation prepared in final form, including any requirements specified by the committee and according to the specific guidelines provided by the Graduate School. Students are strongly encouraged to review the Checklist for Final Submission of Dissertation or Treatise, and/or consult with a doctoral degree evaluator in the Graduate School, Main Building 101.
8. Please submit a copy, either bound or in CD format, to the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Office, ETC 5.204, for inclusion in the departmental library.
Graduation/Commencement ceremonies are an optional part of the graduation process. Depending on which semester a student completes his or her degree requirements, there will various ceremony options. There are generally no graduation/commencement/convocation ceremonies held for summer graduates. Students who graduate in August may attend either the December ceremonies or the subsequent May ceremonies. Please refer to the links below for more information on each ceremony. Feel free to contact the ME Graduate Office if you have questions.
The Cockrell School of Engineering Graduation/Commencement ceremonyThis ceremony is held in the fall and spring semesters only. It is open to students in all Engineering programs and includes all degree levels.The Graduate School Convocation ceremony
This ceremony is held in the fall and spring semesters only. It is open to all UT Master's and PhD degree candidates. Please note: There will be no December 2007 Graduate School Convocation Ceremony due to renovations to Bass Concert Hall.The University of Texas Commencement ceremony
The University-wide ceremony is held only in May and is open to all UT graduates. Please note that graduate students are not hooded at this ceremony, and there is no individual recognition of graduates. Graduates from each school or college are recognized en masse.