Thesis Deadlines
Graduate students and graduate advisory committees should be in close communication during the thesis and publishable paper preparation and defense period. 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.
| THESIS DEADLINES | Fall | Spring | Summer** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft thesis due to committee chair (Suggested) | 4-weeks prior to defense | 4-weeks prior to defense | 4-weeks prior to defense |
| Draft thesis due to committee members (Suggested) | 3-weeks prior to defense | 3-weeks prior to defense | 3-weeks prior to defense |
| Final thesis due to committee members (Suggested) | 2-weeks prior to defense | 2-weeks prior to defense | 2-weeks prior to defense |
| Schedule and publicize defense: at least 2 weeks prior to defense* and submit draft of product to e-thesis manager | 3-weeks before last day of class | 3-weeks before last day of class | 3-weeks before last day of class |
| Absolute last day to defend* | 1-week before last day of class | 1-week before last day of class | 1-week before last day of class |
| Final thesis draft, approved by committee submitted to Grad Program Manager for final review & upload | 1-week before final exams | 1-week before final exams | 1-week before final exams |
| Final check-out list to Grad School* | Last day of classes | Last day of classes | Last day of classes |
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 dates above 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.
The thesis defense is a public seminar. It must be scheduled and announced no later than two weeks prior to the defense date. Any extensions require a Petition to Graduate Dean [PDF], submitted to gradschool@mtech.edu, and will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.
We can answer your questions and help you get started.
Current Students: (406) 496-4102
Prospective Students: (406) 496-4781
GradSchool@mtech.edu