Updated November 28, 2007

Application for Graduation. Applications are made to the Graduate School months in advance of graduation. Specific deadlines for the current academic year can be found in the Academic Calendar section of the Graduate Bulletin or on the Graduate School web site.

MSCS Master's Comprehensive Examinations

Students who are graduating in:	Register in Deptartment Office (CU 340) by:	For exam from 9 am-noon on:
December, 2007	October 8, 2007	November 3, 2007
May, 2008	February 25, 2008	April 5, 2008
August, 2008	March 31, 2008	July 5, 2008

MSCS Ph.D. Preliminary Examinations

Register in Department Office (CU 340) by:	For exams during the week of:
November 30, 2007	January 7-11, 2008
April 25, 2008	August 18-22, 2008

Note: Students entering the MSCS doctoral program with a bachelor’s degree must attempt the Ph.D. preliminary examinations within two years of beginning their graduate studies in this department, and must complete them within two and one half years of beginning their studies. Those entering the MSCS doctoral program with a Master’s Degree in mathematics must complete the Ph.D. preliminary examinations within two years of beginning their studies (see section III, MSCS Handbook for Graduate Students).

Master’ Essays. The essay must be submitted to the Graduate School, together with a form signed by the Essay Advisor and the MSCS Graduate Committee Chair, approximately 1 month before graduation. The specific essay submission deadlines for the current academic year can be found in the Academic Calendar section of the Graduate Bulletin or on the Graduate School web site.

It will probably take a student a month to write a high-quality Master's essay after having already completed the background reading. Allow plenty of time (often an additional month!) for the Essay Advisor to read the essay, suggest revisions, and approve a revised version. It is a good idea for the student to sit down with their essay advisor to discuss a tentative essay outline and a timeline for completion. Remember, a student's essay advisor can be someone other than his or her academic advisor.

Doctoral Dissertations. The dissertation outline should be submitted to the Graduate School in the first semester in which dissertation credits are taken. Specific deadlines for the current academic year can be found in the Academic Calendar section of the Graduate Bulletin, or on the Graduate School web site, for submission of the outline, public defense, and submission of the final copy of your dissertation.

Application for Financial Aid. Applications are made to the Graduate School months in advance of the semester in which financial aid is sought. Specific deadlines for spring and summer consideration appear in the Academic Calendar section of the Graduate Bulletin. Your application for a TA or RA in the MSCS Department for the 2008-2009 academic year or fall semester 2008 should be submitted by January 15, 2008.