Doctoral Path

During your graduate program:

• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require a higher CGPA. Check your program’s student handbook for more information.
• Maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until all degree requirements are completed, including the final defense and disquisition format review process.

End of your second semester:

Submit the Plan of Study and Supervisory Committee form (Not all programs require a Plan of Study form be filed. See the list below.)

Your Plan of Study is a crucial agreement between you, your academic program, and the Graduate College. It details all the courses you'll complete to earn your graduate degree. This may include:

• Qualifying transfer credits (review the transfer credit policy).
• Up to 10 credits earned as a non-degree NDSU graduate student that you'll apply toward your degree.

You may make changes to your Plan of Study by working with your advisor to submit the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.

Supervisory Committee

Doctoral students must have a supervisory committee that meets the Graduate School requirements. Your committee is documented on your Plan of Study. Any changes to your committee can be made with the Change to Supervisory Committee form.

Preliminary Examination

Once you complete the majority of your coursework, prepare for and complete your preliminary examination. This exam includes both a written and an oral portion. Passing it formally admits you to candidacy for your doctoral degree.

Only the oral preliminary examination must be documented with the Graduate School. Submit the Notification of Preliminary Examination form to the Graduate School a minimum of seven calendar days before your scheduled exam date. Forms received less than seven calendar days prior to the defense date will not be processed. A new defense date must be scheduled, and a new notification form filed by the seven-calendar day deadline.

A preliminary Graduation Audit is completed when the notification form is received. Review the audit as it will indicate any remaining coursework or grade issues that may keep your degree from posting. Contact your Academic Support Specialist if you have questions or concerns.

After Your Oral Preliminary Examination

Submit the Report of Preliminary Examination within 14 calendar days after your examination date. If the Graduate School has no approved Notification of Preliminary Examination form on file, your report will not be processed, and you'll need to repeat the examination.

Before Your Final Defense

Review your approved Plan of Study form or Academic Progress in Campus Connection. If there are any changes to your approved coursework or supervisory committee membership, you will need to make updates before you defend the master’s paper, thesis, or dissertation.

• For Plan of Study or degree curriculum changes, work your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
• For committee changes, submit the online Request to Change Supervisory Committee form.

The Notification of Scheduled Examination form must be received by the Graduate School a minimum of seven calendar days prior to the scheduled defense date. Forms received less than seven calendar days prior to the defense date will not be processed. A new defense date must be scheduled, and a new notification form filed by the seven-calendar day deadline.

A preliminary Graduation Audit is completed when the notification form is received. Review the audit as it will indicate any remaining coursework or grade issues that may keep your degree from posting. Contact your Academic Support Specialist if you have questions or concerns.

The Graduate School requires students to provide a copy of your disquisition to your supervisory committee for review a minimum of seven days prior to the defense.

After Your Final Defense

• Submit the Report of Final Defense within 14 calendar days after the examination date or by the Post-Defense Submission for Format Review deadline, whichever comes first.
  • Report forms received with no approved Notification of Scheduled Examination on file, will not be processed and the examination must be repeated.
• Submit the IRB/IACUC/IBC Compliance Notification, even if your research does not involve human subjects, live vertebrate animals, or biohazards. The Graduate School is not responsible for obtaining supporting documents or determining if approval is required for the research conducted for the disquisition.
• Complete all the revisions to your disquisition required by your committee.
• Obtain the signed Approval Page (Copy 1) from your committee and department chair (program coordinator if your program is not within a department). A typed copy (Copy 2) of the Approval page must be included in the disquisition submitted to the Graduate School for review.
• Pay the required $175 processing fee.
• Submit your disquisition to the Graduate School for format review.

All items must be received (with all required signatures)by the Graduate School prior to submitting your disquisition for format review. If the fee and/or forms are not received by the submission deadline, your submission date is considered to be the date on which the last item is received.

Complete the Disquisition Format Review Process

All dissertations must be submitted for the disquisition format review process and publication. The Graduate School conducts a format review of your disquisition (master's thesis, paper, or dissertation) to ensure it meets the Graduate School's formatting guidelines before your degree can be officially posted.

This review is the final step before your work is published. Therefore, submit your document to the Graduate School only after you have completed all preceding steps and all written content is in its final form.

The format guidelines cover every aspect of your disquisition, from the title page and preliminary materials to your chapters, references, and appendices. Please note, this review focuses solely on formatting; it is not a copy edit of your content.

The student will have one year from the date of the final examination to complete the Graduate College format review process and any other outstanding degree requirements.

During your graduate program:

• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require a higher CGPA. Check your program’s student handbook for more information.
• Maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until all degree requirements are completed, including the final defense and disquisition format review process.

Plan of Study and Supervisory Committee:

The D.M.A. degree does not require the Plan of Study and Supervisory Committeee form. Your curriculum requirements will be available in Campus Connection under the "Academic Progress" tile.

• Any deviations from the posted curriculum must be approved and submitted by your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
• Transfer credits: To add transfer credits to your transcript and degree progress, the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm. Ensure all transfer transcripts are on file with the Graduate School before submitting this form.

To receive approval on your supervisory committee, submit the Request to Form of Change Supervisory Committee form at least one semester before your final examination.

Preliminary (Comprehensive) Examination

Once you complete the majority of your coursework, prepare for and complete your preliminary examination. This exam includes both a written and an oral portion. Passing it formally admits you to candidacy for your doctoral degree.

Only the oral preliminary examination must be documented with the Graduate School. Submit the Notification of Comprehensive Examination form to the Graduate School a minimum of seven calendar days before your scheduled exam date. Forms received less than seven calendar days prior to the defense date will not be processed. A new defense date must be scheduled, and a new notification form filed by the seven-calendar day deadline.

A preliminary Graduation Audit is completed when the notification form is received. Review the audit as it will indicate any remaining coursework or grade issues that may keep your degree from posting. Contact your Academic Support Specialist if you have questions or concerns.

After Your Oral Preliminary Examination

Submit the Report of Comprehensive Examination within 14 calendar days after your examination date. If the Graduate School has no approved Notification of Comprehensive Examination form on file, your report will not be processed, and you'll need to repeat the examination.

Before Your Final Recital

Review your Academic Progress in Campus Connection. If there are any changes to your approved coursework or supervisory committee membership, you will need to make updates before you defend the master’s paper, thesis, or dissertation.

• For Plan of Study or degree curriculum changes, work your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
• For committee changes, submit the online Request to Change Supervisory Committee form.

The Notification of Final Recital form must be received by the Graduate School a minimum of seven calendar days prior to the scheduled defense date. Forms received less than seven calendar days prior to the defense date will not be processed. A new defense date must be scheduled, and a new notification form filed by the seven-calendar day deadline.

A preliminary Graduation Audit is completed when the notification form is received. Review the audit as it will indicate any remaining coursework or grade issues that may keep your degree from posting. Contact your Academic Support Specialist if you have questions or concerns.

The Graduate School requires students to provide a copy of your disquisition to your supervisory committee for review a minimum of seven days prior to the defense.

After Your Final Recital

• Submit the Report of Final Recital within 14 calendar days after the examination date or by the Post-Defense Submission for Format Review deadline, whichever comes first.
  • Report forms received with no approved Notification of Scheduled Examination on file, will not be processed and the examination must be repeated.
• Submit the IRB/IACUC/IBC Compliance Notification, even if your research does not involve human subjects, live vertebrate animals, or biohazards. The Graduate School is not responsible for obtaining supporting documents or determining if approval is required for the research conducted for the disquisition.
• Complete all the revisions to your disquisition required by your committee.
• Obtain the signed Approval Page (Copy 1) from your committee and department chair (program coordinator if your program is not within a department). A typed copy (Copy 2) of the Approval page must be included in the disquisition submitted to the Graduate School for review.
• Pay the required $175 processing fee.
• Submit your disquisition to the Graduate School for format review.

All items must be received (with all required signatures)by the Graduate School prior to submitting your disquisition for format review. If the fee and/or forms are not received by the submission deadline, your submission date is considered to be the date on which the last item is received.

Complete the Disquisition Format Review Process

All dissertations must be submitted for the disquisition format review process and publication. The Graduate School conducts a format review of your disquisition (master's thesis, paper, or dissertation) to ensure it meets the Graduate School's formatting guidelines before your degree can be officially posted.

This review is the final step before your work is published. Therefore, submit your document to the Graduate School only after you have completed all preceding steps and all written content is in its final form.

The format guidelines cover every aspect of your disquisition, from the title page and preliminary materials to your chapters, references, and appendices. Please note, this review focuses solely on formatting; it is not a copy edit of your content.

The student will have one year from the date of the final examination to complete the Graduate College format review process and any other outstanding degree requirements.

During your graduate program:

• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require a higher CGPA. Check your program’s student handbook for more information.
• Maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until all degree requirements are completed, including the final defense and disquisition format review process.

Plan of Study and Supervisory Committee:

D.N.P. students are not required to submit the Plan of Study and Supervisory Committee form. Your curriculum requirements will be available in Campus Connection under the "Academic Progress" tile.

• Any deviations from the posted curriculum must be approved and submitted by your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
• Transfer credits: To add transfer credits to your transcript and degree progress, the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm. Ensure all transfer transcripts are on file with the Graduate School before submitting this form.

To receive approval on your supervisory committee, submit the Request to Form of Change Supervisory Committee form at least one semester before your final examination.

Before Your Final Defense

Review your approved Plan of Study form or Academic Progress in Campus Connection. If there are any changes to your approved coursework or supervisory committee membership, you will need to make updates before you defend the master’s paper, thesis, or dissertation.

• For Plan of Study or degree curriculum changes, work your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
• For committee changes, submit the online Request to Change Supervisory Committee form.

The Notification of Scheduled Examination form must be received by the Graduate School a minimum of seven calendar days prior to the scheduled defense date. Forms received less than seven calendar days prior to the defense date will not be processed. A new defense date must be scheduled, and a new notification form filed by the seven-calendar day deadline.

A preliminary Graduation Audit is completed when the notification form is received. Review the audit as it will indicate any remaining coursework or grade issues that may keep your degree from posting. Contact your Academic Support Specialist if you have questions or concerns.

The Graduate School requires students to provide a copy of your disquisition to your supervisory committee for review a minimum of seven days prior to the defense.

After Your Final Defense

• Submit the Report of Final Defense within 14 calendar days after the examination date or by the Post-Defense Submission for Format Review deadline, whichever comes first.
  • Report forms received with no approved Notification of Scheduled Examination on file, will not be processed and the examination must be repeated.
• Submit the IRB/IACUC/IBC Compliance Notification, even if your research does not involve human subjects, live vertebrate animals, or biohazards. The Graduate School is not responsible for obtaining supporting documents or determining if approval is required for the research conducted for the disquisition.
• Complete all the revisions to your disquisition required by your committee.
• Obtain the signed Approval Page (Copy 1) from your committee and department chair (program coordinator if your program is not within a department). A typed copy (Copy 2) of the Approval page must be included in the disquisition submitted to the Graduate School for review.
• Pay the required $175 processing fee.
• Submit your disquisition to the Graduate School for format review.

All items must be received (with all required signatures)by the Graduate School prior to submitting your disquisition for format review. If the fee and/or forms are not received by the submission deadline, your submission date is considered to be the date on which the last item is received.

Complete the Disquisition Format Review Process

All dissertations must be submitted for the disquisition format review process and publication. The Graduate School conducts a format review of your disquisition (master's thesis, paper, or dissertation) to ensure it meets the Graduate School's formatting guidelines before your degree can be officially posted.

This review is the final step before your work is published. Therefore, submit your document to the Graduate School only after you have completed all preceding steps and all written content is in its final form.

The format guidelines cover every aspect of your disquisition, from the title page and preliminary materials to your chapters, references, and appendices. Please note, this review focuses solely on formatting; it is not a copy edit of your content.

The student will have one year from the date of the final examination to complete the Graduate College format review process and any other outstanding degree requirements.