Degree Forms and Milestones

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.

The Graduate Student Handbook contains advising guidelines for M.Ed. candidates.

Credit Overload Petition.

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

Add/Drop Course Form

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

• Transfer of Credit: External
• Transfer of Credit: Nondegree
• Transfer of Credit: Graduate Course Credit for Accelerated Master’s Degree Programs
• Transfer of Credit: UMass Undergraduate to Graduate

In your first semester:

• Review the Master's Advising Guidelines in the Graduate Student Handbook
• Review the Master's Advising Checklist
• Submit the Proposed Program of Study by end of first semester of study. The relationship you have with your academic advisor is an opportunity to engage in a collaborative teaching and learning experience in a consistent and enduring manner throughout your studies. The College of Education recommends you work with your advisor to complete a proposed program of study during your first semester as an initial step in the development of your advising experience.

Complete coursework

(Check individual programs for required credits and courses).

File to graduate 

In SPIRE, go to Academics>Graduation>Graduate Degree Eligibility and follow the instructions on the Graduate School website at: Graduate Degree Eligibility : Graduate School : UMass Amherst. The electronic Spire degree eligibility form will be forwarded to the College of Education Graduate Programs Office for review upon submission. Following our review and approval, Graduate Programs will forward your degree form to your academic advisor for a final review and approval (the advisor will receive a Kuali Notification in their UMass email address informing them of the pending review). Your advisor will then review and either 1) approve your form and send to the GPD, or 2) deny the form with requested changes and return to you for resubmission.

All courses you expect to transfer into your graduate program, including UMass non-degree courses, must be transferred into your program of study on your UMass transcript before filing to graduate. Please see the guidelines and procedures listed above for transferring credits to a degree program.

If you have an enrollment hold on your Spire account, this hold will delay or prevent the processing of your degree eligibility form.

For MED/EdS students in School Counselor or School Psychology:

If you intend to file for BOTH degrees you must submit separate MED and EdS electronic Spire degree eligibility forms.

• If you are filing for the MED but not yet filing for the EdS, then you only submit the MED degree eligibility form.
• If you have already filed for and graduated with the MED at a previous degree period, then you only submit the EdS degree eligibility form.

Education Specialist Degree Forms

The Graduate Student Handbook contains advising guidelines for Ed.S. candidates.

In your first semester

• Submit the Proposed Program of Study to your academic advisor by end of first semester of study. The relationship you have with your academic advisor is an opportunity to engage in a collaborative teaching and learning experience in a consistent and enduring manner throughout your studies. The College of Education recommends you work with your advisor to complete a proposed program of study during your first semester as an initial step in the development of your advising experience.

Complete Coursework
Check individual programs for required credits and courses.

File to graduate 
In SPIRE, go to Academics>Graduation>Graduate Degree Eligibility and follow the instructions on the Graduate School website at: Graduate Degree Eligibility : Graduate School : UMass Amherst. The electronic Spire degree eligibility form will be forwarded to the College of Education Graduate Programs Office for review upon submission. Following our review and approval, Graduate Programs will forward your degree form to your academic advisor for a final review and approval (the advisor will receive a Kuali Notification in their UMass email address informing them of the pending review). Your advisor will then review and either 1) approve your form and send to the GPD, or 2) deny the form with requested changes and return to you for resubmission.

UMass non-degree courses you expect to transfer into your graduate program must be transferred into your program of study on your UMass transcript before filing to graduate. Please see the guidelines and procedures listed above for transferring credits to a degree program. If you have an enrollment hold on your Spire account, this hold will delay or prevent the processing of your degree eligibility form.

For MED/EdS students in School Counselor or School Psychology:

If you intend to file for BOTH degrees you must submit separate MED and EdS electronic Spire degree eligibility forms.

• If you are filing for the MED but not yet filing for the EdS, then you only submit the MED degree eligibility form.
• If you have already filed for and graduated with the MED at a previous degree period, then you only submit the EdS degree eligibility form.

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.

The Graduate Student Handbook contains advising guidelines for Ph.D. candidates.

Get Started

Set up your program and advisor
Confirm advisor - by end of first semester of study: Submit Form D1: Advising Information

Confirm guidance committee and propose your program of study.
Submit Formation of Guidance Committee and Form D2: Proposed Program of Study

Approved Research Methods Courses

Complete your coursework

See specific program page for required credits and courses.

If you need to change your course of study:
Submit Amendments to Form D2A: Amendments to Program of Study

Complete your Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination (Comps)

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

Get your research approved
Submit form Form D3A: Comprehensive Human Subjects Review Approval

Schedule your exam
Submit form Form D4: Announcement of Comprehensive/Qualifying Exam

Submit results of the exam
Submit form Form D5: Results of Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination

Complete your Dissertation

Form your dissertation committee
Submit form Form D6: Formation of Dissertation Committee

If you need to change your committee membership
Submit form Form D10 - Change of Committee Membership

Get your dissertation proposal approved
Submit form Form D7: Dissertation Proposal Approval
Submit form Form D7A: Dissertation Proposal Human Subjects Review Approval

Schedule your final oral examination
Submit form Form D8: Announcement of Final Oral Examination

Submit results of your final oral examination
Submit form 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.

Red text

Graduate

STEP 1:

Submit signed PDFs of your Form D9: Results of Final Oral Examination and signature page to the College of Education Graduate Programs Office.

STEP 2:

In SPIRE, go to Academics>Graduation>Graduate Degree Eligibility and follow the instructions on the Graduate School website at: Graduate Degree Eligibility. The electronic Spire degree eligibility form will be forwarded to the College of Education Graduate Programs Office for review upon submission.  Upon our review and approval, Graduate Programs will forward your degree form to the Graduate School for final review. Dissertation credits only should be listed on the electronic degree form when submitted for review.

If you have an enrollment hold on your Spire account, this hold will delay or prevent the processing of your degree eligibility form.

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).

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

Independent Study Contract

Independent Practicum Contract (non-license)