As you make progress toward your degree, confirm and celebrate each step in the process!
Refer to the college Student Resources page for more resources and detailed descriptions of these processes.
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 16, 2019 college deadline for a September 2019 conferral
- November 29, 2019 college deadline for a February 2020 conferral
- March 25, 2020 college deadline for a May 2020 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).
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
- Review the Master's Advising Guidelines
- Review the Master's Advising Checklist
- Submit Proposed Program of Study (M1 Form) by end of first semester of study
Complete coursework
(Check individual programs for required credits and courses )
As you complete the program
Submit Completed Program of Study (M2 Form) any time after add/drop period ends and well before the college deadline (see above).
Submit the M.Ed. degree eligibility form ahead of the deadline of when you wish to graduate (see posted deadlines above).
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).
Education Specialist Advising Guidelines
Education Specialist Checklist
In your first semester
- Submit Proposed Program of Study (ES1) by end of first semester of study
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).
Doctoral Degree Forms and Milestones
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).
Set up your program & advisor
Doctoral Advising Guidelines coming soon. Please see your advisor or the office of Academic of Affairs
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
Once you pass your final oral exam, submit the following forms to the College of Education Office of Academic Affairs Furcolo W104 to file to graduate.
Submit the Doctoral Degree Eligibility form + D9: Results of Final Oral Examination + signature page from committee
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
- Submit Graduate Certificate Eligibility Form when you have completed the requirements of your certificate program
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.
Late Course Withdrawal Petition
For students wishing to withdraw from a course after add/drop period ends.
Late Pass/Fail Petition
For students requesting a course to be changed from letter grading to pass/fail after the mid-semester date.
Petition for Overload of Credits
For students wishing to enroll in more than 19 credits in a single semester. Please submit it to the Education Advising Center.
Change of Major
Complete the change major form and return back to the Education Advising Center.
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 it to the Education Advising Center.
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.
