Degree Forms and Milestones

As you make progress toward your degree, confirm and celebrate each step in the process!
 

Student and teacher looking at form

Make sure to check with your individual department or degree program. Some have additional requirements and customized forms. 

The Graduate School also maintains a list of Forms for Graduate Students

Deadlines

Degrees and certificates are conferred three times a year: May, September, and February.

In order to receive your degree or certificate on time, submit all required forms and paperwork to the college's Academic Affairs office ahead of the posted College of Education deadlines below. This allows time for checking and processing by the college to ensure everything is correct well ahead of the Graduate School deadlines.

  • August 17, 2021 college deadline for a September 2021 conferral 
  • December 20, 2021 college deadline for a February 2022 conferral
  • March 30, 2022 college deadline for a May 2022 conferral

Master’s Degree Milestones & Forms

Master Degree Forms

Please save the form you intend to fill out on your computer and open it using Adobe Acrobat Reader (not your web browser) .  Please do not request the GPD’s signature via Docusign or other automated means. All forms are reviewed and prepared for the GPD’s signature by the Graduate Programs Manager.

Access Advising Guidelines for M.Ed. candidates here
 

Credit Overload Petition

Please fill out the credit overload petition if you need to register for more then 16 credits. Please return it to the Academic Affairs Office. 

Add/Drop course form

The add/drop form needs to be completed after the end of Add/drop period. 

Transfer of Credit: External
Transfer of Credit: Nondegree
Transfer of Credit: UMass Undergraduate to Graduate 

In your first semester

Complete coursework

(Check individual programs for required credits and courses )

As you complete the program

Submit Completed Program of Study (M2 Form)

Submit the M.Ed. degree eligibility form

Degree forms are fill able with electronic signatures sections enabled. Please download and save the form prior to completing it.  All degree forms should be submitted to Kristin Tyler electronically.

To sign a forms electronically;

  • Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Click on Fill & Sign in the Tools pane on the right.
  • Click Sign, and then select Add Signature.
  • A popup will open, giving you three options—Type, Draw, and Image. Once you're done, click the Apply button.
  • Drag, resize and position the signature inside your PDF file.

Education Specialist Degree Forms and Milestones

Education Specialist Degree Forms

Please save the form you intend to fill out on your computer and open it using Adobe Acrobat Reader (not your web browser). Please do not request the GPD’s signature via Docusign or other automated means. All forms are reviewed and prepared for the GPD’s signature by the Graduate Programs Manager.


Access Advising Guidelines for Ed.S. candidates here.

Education Specialist Checklist

In your first semester

Complete coursework

(Check individual programs for required credits and courses )

As you complete the program

Submit Completed Program of Study (ES2 Form) during final semester of study

Submit the Ed.S. degree eligibility form ahead of when you wish to graduate (see posted deadlines above).

Degree forms are fillable with electronic signatures section enabled. Please download and save the form prior to completing it.  All degree forms should be submitted to Kristin Tyler electronically.

To sign a forms electronically;

  • Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Click on Fill & Sign in the Tools pane on the right.
  • Click Sign, and then select Add Signature.
  • A popup will open, giving you three options—Type, Draw, and Image. Once you're done, click the Apply button.
  • Drag, resize and position the signature inside your PDF file.

Doctoral Degree Forms and Milestones

 

Doctoral Advising Guidelines

College of Education Doctoral Advising Guidelines coming soon.  Please see your advisor, the office of Academic Affairs or consult the Graduate Student Handbook and/or Graduate School Bulletin.  

Doctoral Degree Forms

Please save the form you intend to fill out on your computer and open it using Adobe Acrobat Reader (not your web browser). Please do not request the GPD’s signature via Docusign or other automated means. All forms are reviewed and prepared for the GPD’s signature by the Graduate Programs Manager.

Access Advising Guidelines for Ph.D. candidates.

Set up your program & advisor

Confirm advisor - by end of first semester of study: Submit Advising Information (Form D1)

Confirm guidance committee and propose your program of study. 

Submit Formation of Guidance Committee and Proposed Program of Study (Form D2)

Approved Research Methods Courses

If you need to change your course of study:

Submit Amendments to Program of Study (Form D2A)

Complete coursework

See specific program page for required credits and courses  

Complete your Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination (Comps)

Form your committee
Submit Form D3: Committee Membership Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination Committee

Get your research approved

Submit Form D3A: Comprehensive Human Subjects Review Approval

Schedule your exam

Submit Form D4: Announcement of Comprehensive/Qualifying Exam

Submit results of the exam

Submit Form D5: Results of Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination

Complete your Dissertation

Form your committee

Submit Form D6: Formation of Dissertation Committee

If you need to change your committee membership

Submit Form D10: Change of Committee Membership

Get your dissertation proposal approved

Submit Form D7: Dissertation Proposal Approval

Submit Form D7A: Dissertation Proposal Human Subjects Review Approval

Schedule your final oral examination

Submit Form D8: Announcement of Final Oral Examination

Submit results of your final oral examination

Submit Form D9: Results of Final Oral Examination

Apply to request a Ph.D. if you began your program of study under the Ed.D. guidelines. 

Graduate

Degree forms are fillable with electronic signatures section enabled. Please download and save the form prior to completing it.  All degree forms should be submitted to Kristin Tyler electronically.

Submit the Doctoral Degree Eligibility form + D9: Results of Final Oral Examination + signature page from committee

To sign a forms electronically;

  • Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Click on Fill & Sign in the Tools pane on the right.
  • Click Sign, and then select Add Signature.
  • A popup will open, giving you three options—Type, Draw, and Image. Once you're done, click the Apply button.
  • Drag, resize and position the signature inside your PDF file.

Graduate Certificate Forms and Milestones

Milestones

  • Take classes that are required for your program. Stay in touch with the program coordinator about your progress.

Forms 

Completion Deadlines

Certificates are conferred three times a year. To receive your certificate on time, turn in your completion form ahead of the deadlines (see posted deadlines above).

Undergraduate Forms

Please fill out the appropriate form below, print the form, and submit to the Education Advising Center. 

Authorization for Release of Academic Information 
For students wishing to permit the release of academic information to certain individuals.
In accordance with FERPA, all information regarding a student’s academic record is considered private. This form must be submitted by appointment only. 

Late Course Add Petition (requires instructor’s signature) 
For students wishing to add a course after add/drop period ends.  Please submit all materials to the Education Advising Center, w144 Furcolo Hall. 

Late Course Withdrawal Petition
For students wishing to withdraw from a course after add/drop period ends. Please submit all materials to the  Education Advising Center, w144 Furcolo Hall.

Late Pass/Fail Petition
For students requesting a course to be changed from letter grading to pass/fail after the mid-semester date. Please submit all materials to the Education Advising Center, w144 Furcolo Hall.

Petition for Overload of Credits
For students wishing to enroll in more than 19 credits in a single semester. Please submit all materials to the Education Advising Center, w144 Furcolo Hall.

Change of Major
Please stop by the Education Advising Center to discuss switching majors. 

Declare a Minor

The Minor in Education can be declared when a student has either completed all coursework necessary to fulfill the Minor in Education or is in his/her last semester of completing coursework for the minor. To declare, students must complete section A of the Minor Declaration form and submit all materials to the Education Advising Center, w144 Furcolo Hall.

Withdrawal from University

If a student is withdrawing DURING the semester, please visit the Dean of Students Office website for information regarding Withdrawing from the University.

If a student is withdrawing from the University AFTER the current semester ends but before the first day of classes of the next semester, they must fill out an End of Term Withdrawal in SPIRE.

Application for Readmission

All students planning to return to the university after withdrawal must file a Readmission Application with the Office of the Registrar. Be sure to check the application date to ensure "on time course registration" as these deadlines are final.

Spire Guide

 

Other Forms