Final Semester Information



Below are some things to keep in mind as you get ready to finish. For more detailed information and to find current deadlines and requirements, please visit the UF grad school web site and that of the editorial office:

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If you haven't registered for the past two or more semesters, you'll need to apply for readmission. It is an online form that you mail in: http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/grad/readmission.html

Register for at least 3 research credits for spring or fall semesters and 2 credits for summer.

Apply for the degree  to the UF Office of the Registrar (222 Criser Hall). The form is online : http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/pdf/degreeapp.pdf

Early in the semester (or better yet, the semester prior to graduation), confirm that you have enough credits to graduate, and no issues such as "I", "NG", etc. You'll want to clear these up well before graduation (or you won't graduate). If you want to be sure you have met the Geology Department requirements, print out your class record from ISIS, count up your Geology formal classes, seminars, and research credits, and then pass along this information  to the graduate coordinator to check. For guidelines, see the departmental handbook. 

Schedule your defense room and time as soon as your advisor agrees you are ready.  Your advisor can give you detailed advice on defense format. Typically, you'll give a presentation of your work (~25-30 mins for MS, ~30 to 45 mins for PhD), answer general audience questions, then answer committee questions. Prior to your defense, make sure (check with the Geology office)  that you have any forms that you need.

If a committee member (other than the chair) cannot attend, you have a couple of options (http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/students/faqs-committees.html)

Plan on getting your thesis/dissertation to your committee 2 weeks before your defense.

The deadline for submitting the final formatted, defended thesis is typically a month prior to the end of the semester for MS students. That means you have to defend far enough before this to have time to revise and format.  For PhD students,  you'll submit an undefended version ~2 months before the end of the semester, and a final version shortly before the end of classes.

Dissertation and thesis checklists:
http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/pdf-files/checklist-dissertation.pdf
http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/pdf-files/checklist-thesis.pdf


"Clear prior" is a safety net. If you just can't make the deadline, you will officially graduate the following semester, but will not have to register (and pay for the credits) as long as you complete all requirements before the first day of classes. See these frequently asked questions for more information: http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/students/faqs-graduation.html
If you plan on taking part in the graduation ceremony, be sure to reserve your cap and gown in advance. If you're a PhD student, let your advisor know, so they can plan to attend and so they can reserve a cap and gown, if necessary: http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/commencement/