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The University of Texas at Austin
The Cockrell School of Engineering

Graduation Information

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Please refer to the Graduate School web site for detailed information regarding graduation deadlines, policies, and procedures.

Graduation/Commencement/Convocation Ceremonies

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 be 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.

Graduation Dates for 2009-2010 for Summer and Fall '09 Graduates

  1. Cockrell School of Engineering Graduation/Commencement ceremony: Saturday, December 5 at 9:00 a.m. in the Frank Erwin Center.
    • This ceremony is held in the fall and spring semesters only. It is open to students in all Engineering programs and includes all degree levels.
  2. Graduation Details for Engineering Graduate Students (CSE site)
  3. The Graduate School's Convocation ceremony
    • Masters: Saturday, May 22 at 9:00 a.m. in Bass Concert Hall
    • Doctors: Saturday, May 22 at noon in Bass Concert Hall
    • 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.

Sign up to attend six weeks in advance

Students are able to attend the Graduate School ceremony and the Engineering ceremony. If students want to attend the Engineering ceremony, contact Pam Vrabel by email six weeks prior to the ceremony you plan to attend.

Procedures for Master's Students

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).
  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. Students completing a thesis or report are required to read the Copyright Information and Format Guidelines posted on the Graduate School website.
  4. 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.
    • a title page
    • a signature page (with original signatures of your supervising committee as listed on your Master's Graduation Application form), and
    • an Abstract
  5. Students completing a thesis must submit a Copyright Disclaimer and Photocopy Permission form.

Steps to Completing Dissertation and Graduation for Doctoral Students

  1. Be registered for Dissertation (x99W)
  2. Submit the online Degree Candidate Application 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.