Graduate School - Thesis Deadlines

Graduate students and graduate advisory committees should be in close communication during the thesis and publishable paper preparation and defense period. Graduate product defense scheduling needs to be completed with the student's committee members. Good planning early in the term will alleviate last minute difficulties by allowing the committee members to review the thesis or publishable paper draft and to plan the defense, paper presentation or examination to suit the student and committee’s schedule. It is important to arrange for the defense or presentation in a timely manner to avoid the risk of committee members being unavailable due to finals and other obligations.

Students are encouraged to submit theses and hold defenses as early as possible. The student is responsible for finding a time where all committee members are able to attend.  Keep in mind that faculty members have many responsibilities and obligations, especially during the period approaching the end of any term and/or in the summer term. Faculty members have no obligation to accommodate students who fail to meet these deadlines, and thus, the student should schedule the thesis defense well in advance and give the committee members sufficient time to read material in advance.

The thesis defense is a public announcement. It must be scheduled and announced no later than two weeks prior to the defense date. Defense Location, Date and Time needs to be sent to the graduate school to announce defense.

Thesis Defense Extensions:

If you cannot meet the thesis defense deadline a Petition to the Graduate Dean form needs to be submitted to the Graduate School via gradschool@mtech.edu. Extensions will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.

• Petition to Graduate Dean

The dates below are final deadlines.

Missing the defense deadline or the final checkout deadline will require the student to register for at least one thesis credit in the following term.