IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need an accessible version of any of the documents or forms below, please contact the Biology Graduate Academic Support Coordinator, (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex).
Do You Plan to Defend and/or Graduate This Semester?
Students who intend to defend and/or graduate by the end of the current semester are expected to comply with all Biology Department and Syracuse University requirements in order to meet eligibility requirements for graduation. This includes the submission of several signed forms before specific deadlines (see below). It is the student's responsibility to be aware of all requirements, and to anticipate any relevant form deadlines, well in advance of the date of their scheduled thesis or dissertation defense and/or graduation date. It is also very important for the student to be in frequent contact with their Advisor throughout their final semester, as they prepare for their defense and for graduation.
The Biology Department has created a checklist to help students to prepare for their final semester, for their defense, and for graduation:
If you have specific questions relating to defense and/or graduation requirements, please contact the Biology Graduate Academic Support Coordinator, (biograd@syr.edu, 114 Life Sciences Complex).
Syracuse University Graduate School:
The Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall) manages all official documents associated with a student's thesis or dissertation defense, and also certifies that a student has fulfilled all relevant eligibility requirements for graduation and a diploma.
Please refer to the following links on the Syracuse University Graduate School website, which will help you to ensure that you meet each of the necessary requirements (before the associated deadline, where applicable):
- What You Need to Graduate
- Graduation Deadlines
- Qualifications for Commencement Participation
- Thesis/ Dissertation Defense Checklist
- Format Guidelines for Doctoral Dissertations & Master's Theses
- Electronic Dissertation/ Thesis Submittal Checklist
- More Thesis/Dissertation Resources
Degree Works:
Degree Works is a web-based tool to help students and advisors monitor a student's progress toward degree completion. For more information, visit the Degree Works website. Students may access Degree Works via MySlice.
Forms:
Request for Diploma
DEADLINE: Fall graduates are expected to file their Request for Diploma in early November. Spring and Summer graduates are expected to file their Request for Diploma in mid-February. Refer to Qualifications for Commencement Participation for specific deadlines.
Students must submit their Request for Diploma electronically via MySlice. To access this feature, after logging into MySlice, in the horizontal navigation menu at the top of the page, click on File Diploma Request.
Program of Study Form
Even if this two-page form has been submitted previously, a final version will need to be submitted again prior to graduation. All courses which fulfill the degree requirements are listed on this form (including transfer credit, if applicable). The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall) after obtaining signatures from the student's Advisor and the Biology Department Chair or Graduate Program Director.
Important notes for completing the Program of Study Form:
- BIO 997 (Master's Thesis) or BIO 999 (Dissertation) credits should be listed at the bottom of the second page, under Thesis/ Dissertation Credit Hours.
- GRD 998 (Degree in Progress, 0 credits) should not be listed on this form.
Request for Examination
DEADLINE: The signed form must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the defense date. This form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall), after obtaining the signature of the student's Advisor and the Biology Department Chair. The student will enter the names and e-mail addresses of the members of their Oral Defense Committee, along with the thesis/dissertation title and defense date, time and location. Department approval is granted after your Advisor and your reader(s) notify the Graduate Program Administrator (in writing) that your defense may proceed.
Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. students only)
Ph.D. students are expected to complete this online survey as part of the Syracuse University Graduate School requirements.
Last Semester Memo (international students only)
All international students must complete this form during their last semester, and should do so as early as possible during the semester. The form is completed electronically, signed by the Biology department, and then submitted to the Slutzker Center for International Services (310 Walnut Place).
Last Day to Submit Final Documents:
Students intending to graduate should be aware of the following deadlines for submitting their final documents to the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall). These documents include the following:
- Final Thesis/ Dissertation:
submit electronically via ProQuest - Signed Thesis/ Dissertation Cover Page:
signed by your Advisor and submitted to Kristina Ashley (degreecert@syr.edu) in the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall) - Survey of Earned Doctorates:
Ph.D. students only: complete this required online survey - Report of Exam Memo:
written and e-mailed by Oral Defense Chair to Kristina Ashley (degreecert@syr.edu) in the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall) - Committee Approval Page:
signed by all Defense Committee members and e-mailed by Oral Defense Chair to Kristina Ashley (degreecert@syr.edu) in the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall)
Deadlines:
DEADLINE for December 2020 graduation:
All students: Thursday, December 17, 2020
DEADLINE for May 2021 graduation:
Ph.D. students: Friday, April 30, 2021
M.S. students: Thursday, May 20, 2021
DEADLINE for June 2021 graduation:
All students: Thursday, July 15, 2021
DEADLINE for August 2021 graduation:
All students: Thursday, August 26, 2021