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Finishing Your MS non-thesis Degree

Unofficial information for graduate students in the CEE department at Virginia Tech

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Glossary

• AFD – application for degree• DSS – defending student status• Final Exam – any final work such as an oral

exam, project presentation, or a thesis defense

• Final Form – Request Candidate to the Final Exam form

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Five Major Requirements

• You must have an approved Plan of Study• You must be registered for classes in the

semester you plan to take your final (research, class, or defending student status—DSS)

• You must apply for your degree (AFD form)• You must apply to be admitted to the final

(ONLINE form) • You must Email Jeny with date and time of exam

to reserve a room

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Registration – Two Kinds

• Regular – register for class online for three or more hours OR

• Special – also called Defending Student Status (DSS) • You do NOT register online for DSS• Fill out a Defending Student Status form:

http://graduateschool.vt.edu/sites/default/files/u12/forms/academics/Defending_Student_Status.pdf

• Caution: special deadlines and fees apply to DSS. See Graduate School website http://graduateschool.vt.edu/Commencement-Deadlines to see if you qualify

• DSS is more flexible during a summer semester

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DSS Registration, cont.

• International students may defend within the first 15 days of the semester OR any time during the semester using DSS, IF your principal activity is other than being an F-1/J-1 student enrolled full-time in pursuit of a degree (i.e., already on OPT or Academic Training). For more information, go to http://graduateschool.vt.edu/igss/academic_issues/index.html .

• International students should check with Ruth Athanson or Zelma Harris in the Immigration Office (540) 231-8486 about DSS registration.

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Application for Degree (AFD)

• In www.hokiespa.vt.edu, find AFD in the degree menu. Choose the correct semester

• PAY the $25.00 fee to the Bursar after completing the AFD. The fee is good for one year

• If you do not finish in the semester you applied for your degree, return to HOKIESPA and update your AFD to the correct semester

• The deadlines for AFD coordinate with your name appearing in the commencement bulletin. Your name can only appear in one semester’s bulletin

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Request Final Exam form• Complete ONLINE form “Request to Admit Candidate to the Final

Exam https://gradexam.stl.vt.edu/pages/login.php• You MUST submit the ONLINE exam form to the Graduate School

TWO WEEKS before your final—plan ahead to give committee members time to sign electronically. Use the form for EITHER DSS or Regular registration

• Schedule a room with Jeny• The Graduate School will send a confirmation email officially

scheduling your final exam. The exam card should be signed ONLINE immediately after your exam by your chairman and committee.

• Check your Graduate Student Requirement Checklist located in HokieSPA

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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND COMMENCEMENT DEADLINES

• DEADLINES—http://graduateschool.vt.edu/content/Academics-Dates-and-Deadlines

• Help is available—Jeny Beausoliel jeny15@vt.edu; (703) 538-8431