Ph.D. Requirements

Please refer to the Graduate College deadlines for term-specific dates. Students are encouraged to complete the steps below as early in the semester as possible, and students are responsible to adhere to the published deadlines to graduate in the term desired. Failure to meet all deadlines will result in postponing graduation to a later term.

  1. Program of Study & Committee Online Form (POSC)

    • The student's initial Program of Study and Committee appointment form (POSC) must be approved by the Graduate College no later than three calendar months prior to the preliminary oral examination; the three calendar-month timeframe for scheduling a preliminary oral examination begins the day that the Graduate College approves the POSC. For the POSC to be approved in any given term, it must be received by the Graduate College by the published deadline for that term.

  2. Preliminary Oral Examination

    • The student's POSC must be approved at least three calendar months before the preliminary oral examination.
    • A minimum of six months must elapse between passing the preliminary oral examination and taking the final oral examination.
    • Submit the Preliminary Oral Exam Request online to the Graduate College a minimum of two weeks before the requested exam date.
    • You must register for the minimum tuition fee (tuition equivalent of one credit) as an Iowa State University graduate student in the term in which the preliminary oral examination is taken.
    • If the preliminary oral examination is taken between terms (including the first day of classes for the later term), registration can be for either the term before or the term after the examination date.
    • International students holding F-1 or J-1 visas may have additional registration requirements and should contact the International Students and Scholars Office as early as possible.
    • After the preliminary oral exam request has been approved by the Graduate College, the major professor will be required to submit the Report of Preliminary Oral Examination.

  3. Application for Graduation

    • Apply for graduation through Access Plus.
    • A non-refundable, one-time-only dissertation fee of $145 will be billed by the Graduate College at the time of application.
    • Students who will not meet the graduation requirements for a given term are responsible to withdraw their application through Access Plus by the cancellation deadline.

  4. Registration/Tuition

    • Students must register for the minimum tuition fee (tuition equivalent of one credit) or GR ST 681B “Examination Only” credit as an Iowa State University graduate student in the term in which the final oral examination is taken.
    • If the final oral examination is taken between terms (including the first day of classes for the later term), registration can be for either the term before or the term after the examination date.
    • International students holding F-1 or J-1 visas may have additional registration requirements and should contact the International Students and Scholars office as early as possible.
    • Doctoral students who have completed coursework and passed (full or conditional) the preliminary oral examination are required to register each fall and spring term, regardless of whether university facilities, equipment, or staff time are used in person or in absentia.

  5. Request for Final Oral Examination

    • Submit the Final Oral Exam Request online to the Graduate College a minimum of three weeks before the requested exam date.
    • The Final Oral Exam Request must be received by the Graduate College no later than the cancellation deadline in the term of graduation. Students who do not meet this deadline will have their graduation cancelled by the Graduate College.
    • The final oral examination must be held no later than three weeks before the end of the term of graduation. See deadlines for more information.
    • Open your account with ProQuest and input the title of your dissertation, which will appear in the commencement program. http://www.etdadmin.com/cgi-bin/home

  6. Report of Final Oral Examination

    • This form is sent to the department/program through email once the Final Oral Exam Request has been approved by the Graduate College.
    • The report form, with all required signatures, should be submitted to the Graduate College immediately following the examination.

  7. Graduate Student Approval Form

    • Your major professor(s) and committee members review the content and format of your final dissertation when you complete your final oral exam.
    • Once you pass your final oral exam and make all the changes to your dissertation, you or your major professor must submit the online Graduate Student Approval Form for routing and approval. Only one submission is required.
    • The Graduate College must receive the online Graduate Student Approval Form by the deadline of the graduation semester.
    • Verify that all grades for Incompletes and Non-Report grades from previous terms have been submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
    • Any conditions placed on the final oral examination must be removed by the major professor and/or committee members, as designated on the Report of Final Oral Examination Form.
    • After completing the Thesis Checklist, you will find a link to upload your dissertation at the end of the checklist.
    • Upload your dissertation to ProQuest - note deadline for uploading.
    • The Graduate College will not review your dissertation unless we have received the Graduate Student Approval Form.

  8. Final Step

    • Final clearance of academic requirements will be made when current term grades have been submitted and evaluated by the Graduate College.
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