Doctoral Studies

Milestone Agreement

• Milestone Agreement Form: A timeline illustration for Ph.D. students, indicating the required milestone and expected time of achievement. These are handled at the department level.
• Milestones Agreement Form--Written Annual Feedback: This form indicates student progress toward required milestones.

Program of Study

• Interim Program of Study: This form should be obtained from the department, as the form length and structure will vary from program to program. The Interim Program of Study is required and is to be established very early in the student's doctoral career. The student's advisor completes this form. Degree Works is to take place of this in the future.
• Program of Study (Final): Completed in the final semester of your doctoral career by your advisor or department administrator.

Forms Available from the Graduate School

Doctoral Committee Forms

• Application for Candidacy: This form must be filled out with your advisor to establish that you are ready to begin work on the dissertation.
• Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation Committee: This form establishes your dissertation committee.
• Certification of Completion of Dissertation Requirements: The department will complete this form and route it to The Graduate School for approval once you have met all requirements to graduate.
• Completion of the Qualifying Exam: This form must be completed after you complete all parts of the qualifying exam.
• Dissertation Proposal Approval: Submit to the advisor, dissertation committee and The Graduate School for approval.

Access Doctoral Forms

Petitions and Other Forms

• Leave of Absence Request: If you require a leave of absence, you must complete this form, obtain the required signatures and route it to The Graduate School for approval.
• Leave of Absence Extension Request: Required to request an extension to a leave of absence with required signatures and routed to The Graduate School for approval.

Access Petitions and Other Forms

Apply for Graduation

Apply for graduation online through One Stop: https://onestop.utsa.edu/graduation

Doctoral Degree Regulations

Confirm your degree regulations in UTSA’s graduate catalog: https://catalog.utsa.edu/graduate/doctoraldegreeregulations/completingthedegree

Helpful Links for Graduating Students

–https://www.utsa.edu/commencement/ 

Commencement Brochure

Provide the following information to the Graduation Coordination Office for inclusion in the commencement brochure: name, degree awarded, major and dissertation title and major professor(s). Note: Summer graduations are reflected in the fall commencement brochure.

Required Doctoral Forms

Be sure you are not missing any required documents that should have been filed earlier in your program, such as:

• Application for Admission to Candidacy
• Course Substitutions
• Dissertation Committee
• Dissertation Proposal
• Qualifying Exam

Doctoral candidates must complete all required doctoral forms and the Survey of Earned Doctorates to be cleared for graduation. These items are found on The Graduate School website: https://graduateschool.utsa.edu/current-students/final-submission-requirements

Final Documents

Final Program of Study and Certification of Completion of Dissertation Forms are due before graduation, along with the final submission of your dissertation. Please turn in these documents to your Ph.D. Advisor who will route accordingly for approval. Ensure your final Program of Study has been audited in advance.

Set Date for Final Defense

A two-week notice is required by The Graduate School for your final defense. The Dissertation Defense Announcements will be placed on the Graduate School’s website. Please post your announcement throughout the college and send it to your faculty and current doctoral students.

Preliminary Draft Review

Final copies must meet the required formatting standards. Incorrectly formatted final copies cannot be accepted. As this may affect graduation plans, students are strongly encouraged to set up a preliminary draft review before the final submission deadline. UTSA Libraries oversees the thesis and dissertation formatting preliminary draft reviews. To set up an appointment for a draft review email circulation@utsa.edu or call 210-458-4574.

Final Submission Guidance

Visit The Graduate School’s website at https://graduateschool.utsa.edu/current-students/final-submission-requirements for further information and related workshops.

Final Defense

Both your final Program of Study must be up to date with the graduating semester and the Certification of Completion of Dissertation Form. Fill out your forms and take them to your final defense to obtain signatures there. Turn in to the Associate Dean immediately. Once the Dean of the Graduate School signs your final forms, your degree audit will be performed.

Procedure to Withdraw Application for Graduation

If you believe you will not be graduating, please withdraw your application: https://utsa.edu/registrar/forms.html#graduation

Continuous doctoral enrollment is a program requirement. Consult with your Ph.D. Advisor on which course(s) to register for and enroll in the appropriate course(s) if not restricted.

For More Information

Please reference the Graduate Catalog, Doctoral Degree Regulations (https://catalog.utsa.edu/graduate/doctoraldegreeregulations/).

Is your course registration restricted?

Contact Don.Carrington@utsa.edu, assistant director, Doctoral Programs & Fiscal Administration.

Registration FAQs For Holds

Students must clear the hold with the office that placed the hold to register.

For Non-Funded Ph.D. Students

See payment deadlines on the UTSA Academic Calendar. A $100.00 late fee will be assessed if payment is not made on time.

For International Ph.D. Students

Ensure you take care of your required health insurance payment and familiarize yourself with International Programs requirements (https://global.utsa.edu/), so you do not encounter any issues and are not in violation of your status.

Ph.D. Excellence Fund

Submit research or travel proposals for the current academic year. You are encouraged to submit proposals early, as awards are contingent upon the availability of funds. If your proposal involves travel, submit it at least two weeks in advance for review and approval.

UTSA Graduate School Funding

See funding opportunities offered by the UTSA Graduate School including, but not limited to, grants and loans, assistantships, fellowships and scholarships.

Visit Tuition and Funding Webpage

The Carlos Alvarez College of Business requires computer access for course-related activities, which may include, but are not limited to, assignment write-ups, web resource access, Canvas access, video conferencing and online exams. All doctoral students are required to possess a personal laptop.

View Technology Requirements