Graduate Student Degree Timeline
Source: http://www.uwyo.edu/uwgrad/graduate-degree-timeline.html
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:15
Graduate Student Degree Timeline
Graduate Degree Timeline
UW School of Graduate Education
Navigating the grad school process can feel overwhelming. You want to be sure you
follow the correct steps, submit the right forms and do it all on time! The good news
is we are here to help lay out each step and keep you on track for your grad school
timeline.
In your first semester,
discuss your thesis/dissertation and committee members with your advisor. Look for
committee members who are passionate about your focus and have compatible communication
styles to set yourself up for success.
Within your first two semesters,
submit your Committee Assignment Form.
Committee Assignment Form
Main Page
Contact Information
LEARN MORE
Financial Assistance
New Student Info
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduate Forms & Petitions
Graduate Student Success
Graduate Student Resources
Graduate Student Mentorship Program
Professional Development
SGE Events Calendar
Three Minute Thesis
LEARN MORE
Award Information
Graduate Admissions Information
Graduate Degree Timeline
Policies
LEARN MORE
Campus Resources
Academic Programs
Featured Students
Research Areas
Graduate Student Life
Steps to Admission
Visiting UW
Page Title
Request Information
Viewbook
LEARN MORE
Biomedical Sciences
Ecology and Evolution
Hydrologic Sciences and Water Resources
Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences
Neuroscience
LEARN MORE
Fall 2025 3 Minute Thesis Competition
Preparing for a Professional Conference
Fall 2025 Letter from the Dean
Library Corner
Monthly Features in Graduate Professional Development
Graduate News
Workshop Recap
Program of Study
Once your Committee Assignment Form is approved, you can begin creating your
Program of Study
with your advisor. This roadmap will outline the courses, research and milestones
required for your degree timeline. You will be responsible for maintaining a minimum
3.0 GPA, and adhering to completion deadlines—six years for master’s students and
eight years for doctoral students.
Grad Degree Timeline: Next Steps
Once you have
formed your committee
and
submitted your Program of Study
, it's time to move forward with the grad school process. We have outlined a timeline
to help guide you, and remember that communication with your committee is key to staying
on track!
At your first committee meeting, ideally within your first two semesters, discuss
your research proposal or project plan to ensure viability and alignment with your
goals.
The preliminary exam must occur at least 15 weeks before your final exam/defense.
Submit
this report
to the Registrar’s office, regardless of whether you pass or fail.
After working on your courses and research, you will submit your thesis/dissertation
or project to your committee
at least three weeks before the final exam/defense.
An
Anticipated Graduation Date form
must be submitted, in WyoRecords, for the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Register via the survey located on the
commencement website
.
Your final exam can be held within your final semester. The exam will take place
at least
10 days before the last day of finals
, the details must be announced two weeks in advance.
Complete the necessary thesis or dissertation revisions compliant with UW format approved
by your committee.
Submit your
Report of Final Exam
to the Registrar’s Office on or before the last day of classes.
For those looking to embargo their thesis/dissertation (an intentional delay in the
publication of its results), an embargo request must be included with compelling written
justification and a proposed embargo period not to exceed one year. All embargo requests
are subject to approval by the School of Graduate Education and the Research and Economic
Development Division.
*
Ed.D.: use this form.
Upload your thesis or dissertation to
ProQuest
.
All Ph.D. students must submit the
Survey of Earned Doctorates
on or before the last day of classes in the semester you plan to graduate.
Stay up to date on
important submission dates
through the UW Office of the Registrar.
Contact Us
School of Graduate Education
Knight Hall
Room 250
1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Dept. 3108
Email:
GradEd@uwyo.edu
Phone:
(307) 766-6478
instagram
facebook
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year
university with the
top research universities
in the United States.
©
Graduate Degree Timeline
UW School of Graduate Education
Navigating the grad school process can feel overwhelming. You want to be sure you
follow the correct steps, submit the right forms and do it all on time! The good news
is we are here to help lay out each step and keep you on track for your grad school
timeline.
In your first semester,
discuss your thesis/dissertation and committee members with your advisor. Look for
committee members who are passionate about your focus and have compatible communication
styles to set yourself up for success.
Within your first two semesters,
submit your Committee Assignment Form.
Committee Assignment Form
Main Page
Contact Information
LEARN MORE
Financial Assistance
New Student Info
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduate Forms & Petitions
Graduate Student Success
Graduate Student Resources
Graduate Student Mentorship Program
Professional Development
SGE Events Calendar
Three Minute Thesis
LEARN MORE
Award Information
Graduate Admissions Information
Graduate Degree Timeline
Policies
LEARN MORE
Campus Resources
Academic Programs
Featured Students
Research Areas
Graduate Student Life
Steps to Admission
Visiting UW
Page Title
Request Information
Viewbook
LEARN MORE
Biomedical Sciences
Ecology and Evolution
Hydrologic Sciences and Water Resources
Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences
Neuroscience
LEARN MORE
Fall 2025 3 Minute Thesis Competition
Preparing for a Professional Conference
Fall 2025 Letter from the Dean
Library Corner
Monthly Features in Graduate Professional Development
Graduate News
Workshop Recap
Program of Study
Once your Committee Assignment Form is approved, you can begin creating your
Program of Study
with your advisor. This roadmap will outline the courses, research and milestones
required for your degree timeline. You will be responsible for maintaining a minimum
3.0 GPA, and adhering to completion deadlines—six years for master’s students and
eight years for doctoral students.
Grad Degree Timeline: Next Steps
Once you have
formed your committee
and
submitted your Program of Study
, it's time to move forward with the grad school process. We have outlined a timeline
to help guide you, and remember that communication with your committee is key to staying
on track!
At your first committee meeting, ideally within your first two semesters, discuss
your research proposal or project plan to ensure viability and alignment with your
goals.
The preliminary exam must occur at least 15 weeks before your final exam/defense.
Submit
this report
to the Registrar’s office, regardless of whether you pass or fail.
After working on your courses and research, you will submit your thesis/dissertation
or project to your committee
at least three weeks before the final exam/defense.
An
Anticipated Graduation Date form
must be submitted, in WyoRecords, for the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Register via the survey located on the
commencement website
.
Your final exam can be held within your final semester. The exam will take place
at least
10 days before the last day of finals
, the details must be announced two weeks in advance.
Complete the necessary thesis or dissertation revisions compliant with UW format approved
by your committee.
Submit your
Report of Final Exam
to the Registrar’s Office on or before the last day of classes.
For those looking to embargo their thesis/dissertation (an intentional delay in the
publication of its results), an embargo request must be included with compelling written
justification and a proposed embargo period not to exceed one year. All embargo requests
are subject to approval by the School of Graduate Education and the Research and Economic
Development Division.
*
Ed.D.: use this form.
Upload your thesis or dissertation to
ProQuest
.
All Ph.D. students must submit the
Survey of Earned Doctorates
on or before the last day of classes in the semester you plan to graduate.
Stay up to date on
important submission dates
through the UW Office of the Registrar.
Contact Us
School of Graduate Education
Knight Hall
Room 250
1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
Dept. 3108
Email:
GradEd@uwyo.edu
Phone:
(307) 766-6478
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year
university with the
top research universities
in the United States.
©