• Advising Form: completed by student with the Major Professor at the end of each semester, in preparation for course registration.
  • Student submits completed, signed form to GPA for Departmental Approval and removal of Academic Hold, before course registration can take place.
• Theory and Methods Graduate Assessment Rubric Final: used by Major Professor for Proposal Defenses, Oral Comps and Dissertation/Thesis Defenses.
• Thesis and Dissertation Resources:
  • Graduate School - Guiding Principles of Dissertations and Theses
  • Theses and Dissertations - Student Guide to Preparation and Processing

Doctoral links

• Geography Doctoral Handbook
• PhD Degree Milestones & POS Checklist

Requirements for Doctoral Degree Completion:

1- Major Professor 

In-House form completed and submitted by student to the GPA:

• Major Professor Co-Advisor Form
  • Change of Major Professor Co-Advisor Form
    • used to update an existing Major Professor/Co-Advisor Form

2- Advisory Committee

Students submit to Grad School through the: 

• Enrolled Student Progress Portal
  • Graduate_Advisory_Cmte Tutorial

3- Dissertation Research Proposal

In-House form managed by Major Professor → Student sends details of the defense to the GPA at least two weeks in advance. GPA will coordinate the room reservation and send the announcement to the Geography community. Advisor sends this fully signed form to GPA after defense:

• PhD_Proposal_Acceptance_Form

4- Program of Study (POS)

Completed in DegreeWorks (DGW). Submitted by student and must be approved by Grad School at least two weeks before the final dissertation & oral defense form will be created by Grad School. A full plan must be submitted by all students in DW: DegreeWorks

DGW for Graduate Students information page: DGW for Graduate Students - UGA Office of the Registrar

CREATING AND SUBMITTING PROGRAMS OF STUDY:

• Process Summary
• Tutorial and Resources

5- Oral Comps Examination

Grad Status form submitted by the GPA → Student sends details of the oral exam to the GPA approximately three (3) weeks in advance. GPA submits an "announcement" to the Grad School via GradStatus, then Grad School creates form. POS must be approved two weeks before for Grad School to create the approval form.

6- Admission to Candidacy

Grad Status form. Completed by student when all coursework is completed + proposal and comps successfully defended. 

• Application for Admission to Candidacy for Doctoral Degrees

7- Graduation Application

Students should apply for graduation no later than Friday of the second full week of classes in the semester they plan to graduate. For summer graduates, the deadline is earlier—Friday of the first full week of classes.

• Apply in Athena

8- Dissertation Defense

GradStatus form managed by GPA and approved by committee. Student sends information to GPA three weeks in advance of defense. GPA creates digital form in GradStatus, which is later approved electronically by committee. 

• Dissertation and Final Examination Approval Form

After the defense and final reviews, the student submits a final draft of the thesis to the Graduate School for a Final Format Check and works with their Major Professor in completing the:

• Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Submission Approval Form

**IMPORTANT**: a draft of the dissertation MUST be submitted electronically for a format check (first format check) about 3 weeks before the thesis defense. See the Important Dates and Deadlines webpage for the deadline in the semester you plan to graduate. 

• Format Check
  • Please be aware that this link will send you to ProQuest. All ETD submissions are handled through ProQuest.

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Have questions? Contact the Geography Graduate Program Administrator (GPA) at GeographyGradProgram@uga.edu