Administering Graduate Degree Programs

Steps for a Non-Thesis Master's Degree

  1. Meet all admissions conditions that apply.
  2. Meet with advisor each semester to determine appropriate course enrollment. Enroll in CE 69100 – Grad Student Orientation in the first semester.
  3. Request the appointment of an advisory committee.
  4. Submit a Plan of Study by the end of second semester of study. If a student intends to graduate in two semesters, POS should be submitted by the end of the first semester.
  5. Register for an appropriate candidate course, alert the CE Graduate Office of candidacy, and attend the Candidate Workshop during the semester of planned graduation.
  6. Arrange for Civil Engineering Exit Interview.
  7. Respond to inquiries by Commencement Activities (Office of the Registrar) to arrange for participation in graduation.
  8. Additional requirements may be imposed by the individual groups of specialization.

Steps for a Thesis Master's Degree

  1. Meet all admissions conditions that apply.
  2. Meet with advisor each semester to determine appropriate course enrollment. Enroll in CE 69100 – Grad Student Orientation in the first semester.
  3. Request the appointment of an advisory committee
  4. Submit a Plan of Study by the end of second semester of study.
  5. Thesis preparation.  Determine a format check timeline with your Area Secretary.
  6. Register for an appropriate candidate course, alert the CE Graduate Office of candidacy, and attend Candidate Workshop/Thesis Preparation Seminar during the semester of planned graduation.
  7. Request the final examining committee and exam date by submitting a Form 8 online via the myPurdue Academic Tab at least three weeks before exam date.  Submit a pdf copy of abstract to cegrad@purdue.edu.
  8. Submit final thesis draft to committee three weeks before exam date.
  9. Respond to inquiries by Commencement Activities (Office of the Registrar) to arrange for participation in graduation.
  10. Take and pass the Final Exam. Students should check that their advisor has submitted the approved Exam Form online and submitted rubrics to the CE Graduate Office.
  11. Initiate the Graduate School Thesis Acceptance (Form 9) online.
  12. Coordinate iThenticate check with advisor.
  13. Arrange for CE Exit Interview with CE Grad Chair. Upload a copy of thesis to the CE Grad Chair via dropbox.
  14. Coordinate final format check.  Final draft must be to format check advisor at least three business days before exit interview with CE Grad Chair.
  15. Deposit thesis by appropriate semester deadline. No more that two semesters can pass between the semester the defense is held and the deposit semester. 
  16. Pay $90 deposit fee.
  17. Additional requirements may be placed by the individual groups of specialization.
  18. Note: if a thesis option student wishes to switch to non-thesis, they must speak to their thesis option committee to determine if the switch is acceptable and the advisor should notify the CE Grad Office of the arrangement before any change is made to the plan of study.

Steps for the PhD Degree

  1. Meet all admissions conditions that apply.
  2. Meet with advisor each semester to determine appropriate course enrollment. Enroll in CE 69100 – Grad Student Orientation in the first semester.
  3. Request the appointment of an advisory committee.
  4. Submit a Plan of Study by the end of third semester of study.
  5. Hold annual meetings with advisory committee and submit progress reports to CE Graduate Office.
  6. Request the preliminary examining committee and exam date by submitting a Form 8 online via the myPurdue Academic Tab at least three weeks before exam date.
  7. Successful completion of a preliminary examination. Students should check that their advisor has submitted the approved Prelim Form online and submitted completed rubrics to the CE Graduate Office.
  8. Thesis preparation. Determine a format check timeline with your Area Secretary.
  9. Register for an appropriate candidate course, alert the CE Graduate Office of candidacy and attend Candidate Workshop/Thesis Preparation Seminar during the semester of planned graduation.
  10. Request the final examining committee and exam date by submitting a Form 8 online via the myPurdue Academic Tab at least three weeks before exam date. Submit a pdf copy of abstract to cegrad@purdue.edu.
  11. Submit final dissertation draft to committee three weeks before exam date.
  12. Respond to inquiries by Commencement Activities (Office of the Registrar) to arrange for participation in graduation.
  13. Take and pass the Final Exam. Students should check that their advisor has submitted the approved Exam Form online and submitted completed rubrics to the CE Graduate Office.
  14. Initiate the Graduate School Thesis Acceptance (Form 9) online.
  15. Coordinate iThenticate check with advisor
  16. Arrange for CE Exit Interview with CE Grad Chair. Upload a copy of thesis to the CE Grad Chair via dropbox.
  17. Coordinate final format check.  Final draft must be given to format check advisor at least three business days before exit interview with CE Grad Chair.
  18. Deposit dissertation by appropriate semester deadline. No more that two semesters can pass between the semester the defense is held and the deposit semester. 
  19. Pay $125 deposit fee.
  20. Additional requirements may be imposed by the individual groups of specialization.

The Graduate School, Registrar and Bursar (with Board of Trustees approval) have implemented fee polices for candidate deadlines.

  • A $200 late fee will be charged to a student who submits their POS after the deadline during the semester they wish to be a graduation candidate.  A formal request must still be made of the graduate school to accept the POS after the deadline.  If the request is not approved, no fee will be charged.
  • A $200 late fee will be charged to a student who requests candidacy after the appropriate deadline for the semester.  A formal request must still be made of the graduate school to add the student to the graduation candidate roster.  If the request is not approved, no fee will be charged.
  • A $200 late fee will be charged to a student who has been on the graduation candidate roster for the same degree for more than two consecutive semesters. 
  • The student has the right to appeal any of these fees.