phd completion certificate

Doctoral Students

What You Need to Submit Online to LGS

Your dissertation  should be submitted through the  ETD Repository .

Aside from your dissertation, you will need to submit several distinct items.

A. You will need to collect two items that are not available in the LC Hub. You will need have these available when you complete the forms in the Hub.

• When the form has been signed by all, save it as a pdf. You will need a completed approval page before you start the completion form in the Laney Connect Hub.
• The link above takes you to the Exit Survey.  When you complete the Exit Survey, there will be a link to the SED Survey.  Certificates are available at the end of each survey; save them as pdf files or screen shots to attach to your Laney Connect form. 

B.  You will need to complete three or four items available in the Laney Connect Hub .  Log in and click on “Degree Completion” to see links and instructions.

• An Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository Submission Agreement (ETD FORM) -- to confirm how your thesis or dissertation will be available in the ETD system.  Your advisor will review and confirm this form in the Laney Connect system.  You should discuss how you intend to complete it with your advisor before you submit it.  To understand the decisions you need to make, you can look at { the old pdf version of the form }. 
• A Doctoral Completion Form  -- for your program to affirm that you have completed all program degree requirements.  Your Director of Graduate Studies will review this form in the Laney Connect system.  Your completed Distribution Agreement and Approval Page will be uploaded here.
• A  Certificate Completion Form  (if applicable) -- for a certificate director to affirm that you have completed all requirements for a certificate (if you are completing one).  The certificate director will review this form in the Laney Connect system.
• An Apply to Graduate Form .  This is the form that ties all the items together and allows us to review and process your full set of documentation. Your completed Distribution Agreement and Approval Page will be uploaded here, as will the Survey of Earned Doctorate and Exit Survey.

All completion items are expected to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. of the Degree Completion Deadline. If you need an extension to submit your dissertation and forms after the posted deadline, see instructions below . 

Guidelines, Checklist and Templates

Read this document, " Submitting Your Thesis or Dissertation. " It has a helpful submission checklist and details about each item to be submitted. You will also find templates for items such as the dissertation cover page, the approval sheet, and more.

Electronic Theses and Dissertation Repository

Before you submit your forms and related materials, you need to submit electronically to the Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository, or ETD. Read more on our  Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository page .  

Your ETD record should be submitted online   before   you turn in your forms and paperwork.

Required Surveys

The Laney Graduate School  requires  doctoral students to complete two online surveys: the PhD Graduation Education Exit Survey and the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). Both surveys are confidential and are essential for producing aggregate data that helps Emory and the national higher education community understand how graduate students progress through their programs and view their educational experiences.

• Complete the surveys   before   you upload your forms to LGS. 
• Be sure to upload the   required   certificates to demonstrate that you have completed the surveys. Each certificate is available at the end of the survey.

Submission Deadline Extension

In certain circumstances students may need an extension to submit a dissertation or thesis and associated forms after the posted deadline. These request are reviewed by the Laney Graduate School, and must be for an approved reason:

• advisor, committee member or DGS/Program Director is unavailable
• illness or other personal emergency
• I need more time for writing or corrections
• defense date is on or near the posted submission deadline and I need more time
• defense date is after the posted submission deadline

If you seek an extension for another reason, you can explain and the Dean may approve. 

To request an extension, visit the Laney Connect Hub  to submit the "Request for an Extension of the Deadline to submit Graduation Documents" form.

Graduate School

Doctoral certificates.

• Academics & Research
• Distinctive Opportunities

Doctoral certificate programs are open to enrolled PhD students. These programs are designed to extend expertise into interdisciplinary areas and to certify training beyond the home Ph.D. discipline. They promise to advance student careers as well as promote intellectual exchange and community in these academic areas.

To pursue a certificate program, a student must have the support of the department in which they are pursuing the doctoral degree and the program offering the certificate. Certificates typically require three to five courses and sometimes require a substantial piece of written work, internship, practicum, or other project. The programs are offered at no charge to eligible doctoral students.

Successful completion of the requirements of the certificate program will be recognized on the Brown University transcript with a notation indicating the field of this advanced study. Although approved programs may be informally described as “certificates,” no separate document will be awarded by the Registrar.

Doctoral Certificate Programs

Archaeology of the ancient world.

Department/Unit:  Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World Director of Certificate Program:  Andrew Scherer

Africana Studies

Department/Unit:  Department of Africana Studies Director of Certificate Program:  Francoise Hamlin

Collaborative Humanities

Department/Unit:  Cogut Institute for the Humanities Director of Certificate Program:  Amanda Anderson

Data Science

Department/Unit:  Data Science Institute  (Division of Applied Mathematics and the Departments of Biostatistics, Computer Science, and Mathematics) Directors of Certificate Program: Andras Zsom (Graduate Program Director),  Alden Bumstead (Associate Director)  

Digital Humanities  

Department/Unit: Brown University Library  Center for Digital Scholarship  and  Cogut Institute for the Humanities Director of the Certificate Program:  Ashley Champagne  and  Tara Nummedal

Early Cultures

Department/Unit:  Program in Early Cultures Director of Certificate Program:  Amy Russell

Gender and Sexuality Studies

Department/Unit: Pembroke Center Director of Certificate Program:  Denise Davis

Hispanic Studies

Department/Unit: Hispanic Studies Director of Certificate Program:  Felipe Martinez-Pinzon

Language Pedagogy and Academic Engagement

Department/Unit: Center for Language Studies Director of Certificate Program:   Jane Sokolosky  and  Jeremy Lehnen

Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Department/Unit:  Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies , Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs  Director of Certificate Program:  Neil Safier

Portuguese and Brazilian Studies

Department/Unit: Portuguese and Brazilian Studies Director of Certificate Program:  Luiz F. Valente

Science, Technology and Society

Department/Unit: Program in Science, Technology and Society Director of Certificate Program:  Lukas Rieppel

Spatial Analysis

Department/Unit: Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4) Director of Certificate Program:  Kevin Mwenda

Translation Studies

Department/Unit: Comparative Literature Director of the Certificate Program:  Marc Redfield

Proposing a Program

Programs interested in proposing a certificate program are invited to read  guidelines for doctoral certificates  and to contact  William Wittels , Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. 

Completing Your Doctoral Degree

This webpage describes steps to completing a PhD degree at UW–Madison, which include:

• Meet the degree requirements
• Complete your preliminary examinations
• Defend and deposit your dissertation

See all doctoral degree completion deadlines >>

Looking for master's degree requirements?

Click here for guidelines for completing your master's degree.

Want to track your academic progress?

Check your academic progress using the Graduate Student Tracking System (GSTS).

Need support completing your dissertation?

We can help. Campus offers dissertator support groups, dissertation writing camps, writing guides, and other resources.

Steps to Completing the Degree

You must meet both the program and the Graduate School requirements for graduation. You should be aware that some programs may have more rigorous requirements than the Graduate School’s minimum requirements. You should visit your program’s website for specific requirements and contact your graduate program coordinator for further information.

Note: The Graduate School does not use honors titles (e.g., Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s List, etc.). Graduate students are not eligible to take courses designated for undergraduate honors students.

Minimum graduate degree credit requirement

51 credits (before or after dissertator status)

A student’s program may decide to accept graduate coursework completed at another institution (earned post-baccalaureate) toward fulfillment of degree credit requirements. To learn more, see Minimum Graduate Degree Credit Requirement and Prior Coursework .

Minimum graduate residence credit requirement

32 credits (completed prior to achieving dissertator status)

The doctoral degree minimum residence credit requirement can be satisfied only with courses numbered 300 and above taken as a graduate student at UW–Madison. To learn more about this requirement, see Minimum Graduate Residence Credit Requirement .

Minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement

At least 50% of credits applied toward the program’s graduate degree credit requirement must be courses designed for graduate work, including but not limited to online, thesis/research, independent study, and practicum/internship credits. To learn more about this requirement, see Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement .

Breadth requirement

Breadth is a required component of doctoral training at UW–Madison. Given there are multiple paths to breadth, the Graduate School leaves the choice of whether students achieve breadth through a doctoral minor, Graduate/Professional certificate, or other means up to the student’s doctoral major program.

To learn more about meeting this requirement, see  Policy on Breadth Requirement in Doctoral Training .

Grade point average (GPA) requirement

The Graduate School requires that students maintain a GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all graduate courses (excluding research) to receive a degree (though many programs impose higher standards). All incomplete grades must be resolved before a degree is granted. To learn more, see Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement and Probation .

Preliminary examinations assess knowledge of areas within the academic discipline. The student must obtain approval of the minor if the major program requires it and complete all the major courses.

Your program should arrange a preliminary committee and a dissertation committee with appropriate expertise to afford the breadth and depth needed in degree examinations. These committees may be composed of different members. The executive committee (or its equivalent) of a program/department is responsible for approving the composition of the preliminary exam and the dissertation committee. You should consult your advisor and your program’s student handbook for the specific function of degree committees (preliminary exam and dissertation) in your program.

To learn more about the functions and criteria of doctoral dissertation committees, see Committees . Use this online committee requirements tool to help you determine whether your proposed committee would meet the Graduate School’s minimum requirements for committee members.

Preliminary examinations

Your program determines your eligibility to take the prelim examination(s). The program must notifies the Graduate School of a student’s admission to candidacy and requests the preliminary warrant a minimum of three weeks prior to the exam date.

After passing the preliminary examination, students have 5 years to take the final examination (i.e. defend) and deposit their dissertation.  The 5 year clock starts on the first day of instruction of the term (Fall, Spring, or Summer) immediately following the completion of the preliminary examination.  Failure to complete their degree within this period may result in students having to retake the preliminary examination and be re-admitted to candidacy.

Time limit extension for dissertators impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

To offer flexibility amidst the major disruption that COVID-19 may have had on doctoral candidates’ research and scholarship progress, students who achieved dissertator status by the end of the 2020 summer term have automatically had the 5-year time limit extended by 8 months. Dissertators given this 8-month extension who need more time due to continued COVID-related disruption to their progress may request a further extension from the Graduate School. Decisions to extend the deadline beyond the additional 8 months are made on a case-by-case basis upon request of the student and their advisor. Students requesting an extension need to submit the request, along with a letter of support from their advisor, to [email protected] .

Doctoral Student Experience Survey (DSES)

The Doctoral Student Experience Survey (DSES) collects information at the time students make the transition to dissertator status. The survey covers career aspirations, academic experiences, and academic challenges, among other topics. Complete the Doctoral Student Experience Survey online. The Graduate School will use survey data to help identify strategies to improve student services.

After your program requests the preliminary exam warrant, you will receive an email with the link to the survey. All research doctoral students should complete the survey prior to submitting their signed preliminary examination warrant to the Graduate School.

Dissertator status

Dissertator status is a unique fee status and is effective at the start of the semester following completion of all dissertator requirements for the doctoral degree except for the dissertation. The Graduate School requires all dissertators to maintain continuous enrollment of exactly three credits (exceptions may apply during the summer). In rare circumstances where this is not possible, a degree completion fee is assessed to recognize the inevitable use of university facilities up to and including the successful defense and submission of the dissertation. To learn more, see Dissertator Status and the Degree Completion Fee .

Step 0: Pre-checks (optional)

Pre-checks are used to answer formatting questions (e.g., use of tables, graphs, and charts), embargo/delayed release questions, or questions related to the degree granting process.

To request a pre-check, you may email a PDF of your entire dissertation to degree coordinator [email protected] . If you would prefer to meet in person, email [email protected] to arrange a time.

Step 1: Request your final warrant and defend your dissertation

Notify your graduate program coordinator to have them request your doctoral degree warrant from the Graduate School at least three weeks before the anticipated date of your final dissertation defense. You must be enrolled during the semester that you defend and deposit; if you want to defend and/or submit your dissertation to the Graduate School in the summer term, you must register for three credits of research for the eight-week summer session.  Be very aware of two deadline options for depositing your dissertation.  Depositing before the first deadline will result in the degree being awarded at the end of that term.  The second deadline, often called the “window period” deadline, provides a little extra time to deposit after a term ends.  Dissertations deposited during the window period will result in the degree being awarded at the end of the following term, but will not require enrollment in that term.  The deadlines for both are very strict and occur at midnight Central Time.  Be aware that failure to submit by the end of the “window” period at the end of each term will require enrollment in the following term in order for a degree to be awarded.

After your graduate program coordinator submits the doctoral degree warrant request, the Graduate School will review this request. The approved warrant will be available in the Grad Portal. If you pass the defense, your program will let you know how and when to collect electronic signatures on the warrant. When signing your warrant electronically, your committee members thereby approve the dissertation.  (Note: Advisors no longer have to sign the abstract separately.)

Once the final warrant has been signed, you must upload an electronic copy in the administrative documents section of the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.  Your graduate coordinator will also submit the warrant to the Graduate School in the Graduate Portal.

Step 2: Pay the dissertation deposit fee

Go to Grad Portal to pay the required $90 dissertation deposit fee, which covers the cost of processing the dissertation and publishing the abstract by ProQuest. The fee must be paid before submitting your dissertation electronically. The fee payment site provides an email confirmation with your fee payment receipt. Save this payment receipt as a PDF for the electronic dissertation deposit process. You also have the option to log in to the fee payment site and download a PDF of the receipt once you have paid. The receipt will be uploaded in the administrative documents section of the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.

Step 3: Complete the doctoral exit surveys

You must complete the following doctoral exit surveys before submitting your dissertation electronically. Each individual survey will provide a certificate of completion once you have submitted the survey. Save the individual certificates of completion as PDF documents to upload in the administrative documents section of the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.

• Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) : To complete the online Survey of Earned Doctorates you will first provide basic information including your email address. You will then receive an e-mail with a unique PIN and password. Access the SED survey site using the URL, PIN, and password sent to you in this email, and complete the survey. You must advance past the certificate of completion screen in order to submit the survey.
• Graduate School’s Doctoral Exit Survey (DES) : The DES obtains information on your academic experience (e.g., program quality, support, advising) in your doctoral program and information about your postdoctoral plans. To complete the Doctoral Exit Survey online , enter your name as it appears in university records and your student ID number (10 digits). At the end of the survey, there is a survey completion screen. If you have problems accessing the survey, contact [email protected] and include your name and student ID number.

Step 4: Electronic deposit of your dissertation

After you complete Steps 1 to 3, you can submit your dissertation electronically to the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website.

ATTENTION: Your submission of the dissertation is final and you are not allowed to make changes once it has been approved by the Graduate School Degree Coordinator. Your submission is not completed until you receive the confirmation email from the Graduate School Degree Coordinator.

Submitting your dissertation electronically has four steps:

• Prepare for submission
• Submit dissertation on ProQuest/UMI ETD
• Submit administrative documents
• Complete the final submit step

Read this section for detailed instructions for each step.

Before you begin the submission steps, decide whether or not you want to delay release of your dissertation. See the Guide to Preparing your Doctoral Dissertation, below, for more information on embargo/delayed release.

Then, be sure you have the following:

• Full text of your dissertation in PDF format. This must be one file. Fonts must be embedded. Security settings must be set to “no security.” Encrypted files cannot be processed for publishing. The maximum file size that can be uploaded is 1000 MB. The PDF file name cannot contain periods (except for the .pdf extension). Instructions for PDF conversion are available at the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator site under the “Resources and Guidelines” tab.
• UMI abstract text. This abstract, preferably not more than 350 words, must be in English. You will be asked to copy and paste this text during the electronic submission steps.
• Optional supplementary files. These images, data, etc. are an integral part of the dissertation, but not part of the full text.
• Advisor’s and other committee members’ names. These usually are listed as they appear on your approved warrant.
• Subject category. Choose one to three subject categories from the Subject Category list that best describe your dissertation subject area.
• Receipt confirming payment of the dissertation deposit fee. After you have paid the required $90 dissertation deposit fee, you will receive an e-mail receipt confirming payment.
• An electronic copy of the signed final warrant.

Go to the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator site and choose “Submitting Your Dissertation/Thesis.” Select University of Wisconsin-Madison from the list provided. Create an account or login using an existing account.

The ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website will walk you through a simple process of accepting the publishing agreement and uploading the files and information about your submission. If you need to finish your submission later, you can save your information and come back to finish.

At the submission step called Dissertation/Thesis Details, you will need to enter the following important information about your dissertation. Accuracy is essential.

• Title: Enter the full title of your dissertation, as it appears on the title page. Only some special characters can be used in this field. The title field does not accept subscript, superscript, or Greek letters; instead, you will need to spell these out. Select the year in which you completed your manuscript.
• Degree/Department Information: Select the year in which your degree will be conferred. If you are depositing during the window period and are uncertain, contact the Graduate School. Select the degree you will receive and your program.
• Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair: Enter your primary advisor’s name exactly as it appears on your warrant. Do not repeat your advisor in the list of committee members.
• Committee Members: Enter your committee members’ names exactly as they appear on your warrant.
• Description of Dissertation/Thesis: Select categories and keywords that identify your work.
• Abstract: Enter the text of your UMI abstract exactly as it was approved by your faculty advisor, preferably no more than 350 words.

At the submission step called Administrative Documents, you will need to upload the following items:

• Dissertation deposit confirmation receipt: Upload a PDF of the email receipt you received from the UW–Madison Graduate School fee payment website.
• The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) certificate of completion: Upload the survey receipt as a PDF.
• The Graduate School’s Doctoral Exit Survey (DES) certificate of completion: Upload the survey receipt as a PDF.
• Signed PhD warrant: Upload your final signed PhD warrant as a PDF.

At the submission step called Notes to Administrator, indicate if you plan to attend the optional Graduate School final review.

You may choose to order additional copies of your dissertation and register the copyright of your dissertation – both of these items are optional. To learn more, see Copyright Resources .

Be certain to complete the final submit step at the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website. You MUST submit your dissertation to the ProQuest/UMI ETD Administrator website by 11:59 pm CST on the degree deadline date in order to receive your degree in a given term. Keep in mind that submissions are reviewed by the Graduate School Degree Coordinator in the order they were received. After you complete the final submit step, you will receive an email confirming the submission. When you submit your dissertation, it will be reviewed by a Graduate School Degree Coordinator to ensure that you have followed all formatting requirements.

The Graduate School Degree Coordinator will approve and deliver your dissertation to ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing for microfilming and binding. The UW–Madison Library will receive a bound copy and an electronic version of your dissertation shortly thereafter. You will receive an official email notification when the Graduate School has approved your dissertation for publication.

Step 4.0 Graduate School email confirmation

After you have successfully completed steps 1 – 4, please check your email at the address that you entered when you created an account on the ProQuest website. Look for a message from the ETD administrator. If formatting changes are requested, please complete them and re-upload your dissertation as soon as possible, as instructed in the email. If your dissertation has been accepted, the email will confirm this fact. Next please make sure that your instructor has or will submit a final grade, which should be S for satisfactory if you are enrolled for 990. Please be aware that no degrees are posted before the degree deadline and it may take 4-6 weeks for your degree to be posted after the degree deadline.

Commencement – December and May

If you want your name to be printed in the commencement program, you must submit an Apply to Graduate application through your MyUW Student Center. This is in addition to contacting your program to request your degree warrant from the Graduate School. You may attend the ceremony even if your name is not included in the commencement program. August does not have a commencement ceremony. If you plan to graduate in August, you may attend either the May or December ceremony by submitting the Apply to Graduate application through MyUW Student Center. Cap and gown rentals are at University Bookstore. Guests can attend without tickets.

Degree completion letter

The Registrar’s Office handles degree completion letters . If you have completed all degree requirements and deposited your thesis or dissertation and are waiting until the next degree conferral date to receive your degree, you may request and receive a letter indicating that all requirements have been completed. All grades from the semester in which you are depositing your dissertation (and all other outstanding grades) must be reported to the Graduate School before you can receive a completion letter.  Allow five business days for the processing of your degree completion letter request.

The Registrar’s Office will send your diploma to your diploma address approximately 12 to 14 weeks after degree conferral. Update your diploma address via the MyUW Student Center prior to the end of the semester in which you are graduating. Students with holds will not receive their diploma until those holds are cleared.

A student’s name will be printed on the diploma as it appears on the student’s official university record. Changes to legal personal information  including names can be requested online. For a student’s name change to appear on the diploma, the change must be made before the degree deadline in the semester the student will graduate.

Students who graduated after December 2015 may also access a Certified Electronic Diploma at no cost. A Certified Electronic Diploma is an official, portable, secure PDF version of the diploma that can be shared with anyone.

Transcripts

The Registrar’s Office posts degrees on official transcripts approximately four to six weeks after the end of the semester. You can order your official transcripts online .

Students may also request a campus copy of transcripts of their student record from MyUW Student Center. A campus copy student record is not an official transcript but it does indicate all internal university memoranda. The Registrar’s Office also provides more details on how to request a campus copy student record .

Guide to Preparing your Doctoral Dissertation

Formatting requirements.

We encourage you to read through these requirements before you start writing.  These guidelines will help you prepare your dissertation to ensure that it constitutes a permanent document of quality appropriate for a major graduate institution. Your dissertation is required to conform to these standards. It will be fully corrected, complete, and submitted electronically as a single PDF file.

Keep in mind that the formatting must be consistent throughout the dissertation with the exception of the Appendix.  Previously published articles can be placed in the Appendix in their published format.  If previously published work is included in a chapter, its format must conform to the formatting guidelines.

Dissertations must acknowledge contributions from other individuals, including co-authors of published material that appears in the document, such as designing the research, executing the research, analyzing the data, interpreting the research/data, or writing, proofing, copyediting the manuscript.  Contributions can be recognized in an acknowledgements section or at the beginning of a chapter where the contributed material is used.

Electronic and paper copies of approved dissertations are sent to the UW–Madison Memorial Library. They can be found electronically on MadCat and the ProQuest database. ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing archives all accepted dissertations.

View the Formatting Requirements for your Doctoral Dissertation as a PDF checklist.

Dissertation help

In addition to support and feedback that your faculty advisor, mentor, and committee members will provide, be sure to take full advantage of the dissertation support opportunities at UW–Madison.

For more information

Alexandra Walter Doctoral Degree Coordinator [email protected] 608-262-2433

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You may put unusual or supplementary materials (such as questionnaires or photos) into appendices. Number the appendices consecutively with the text of the dissertation. The formatting of the appendices must meet the standards for the rest of the dissertation. However, the text in the appendices can be single-spaced.

Bibliography

The bibliography should meet your major program’s style requirements, which often conform to the leading journals or book series of the field. They may be single-spaced with an additional space between entries.

Equations, superscripts, and subscripts

Equations, superscripts, and subscripts are acceptable in your dissertation provided they are legible when microfilmed. Generally, superscripts and subscripts may be one size smaller than the text. To identify each equation clearly, please isolate it with double spacing.

Footnotes and endnotes

Footnotes and endnotes may be single-spaced with an extra space between notes. The font size can be one size smaller but must be legible. Please follow the preference of your major program when deciding where footnotes or endnotes should be placed in your text.

Figures and graphs must meet the same standards as the rest of the dissertation. Headings, keys, and all other identifying information must be of the same quality and format as the text. The font size can be one size smaller but must be legible. If graphics, tables, or figures are in landscape mode, orient the top of the printed page at the dissertation binding edge (left side of the paper) with the page number in the upper right-hand corner in the portrait page setup. Images may be submitted in black and white or color.

Language use

You may include quotations in languages other than English in your dissertation. However, the dissertation itself must be in English unless your program certifies that one or both of the following conditions have been met: the foreign language is that of the readers to whom the work is addressed; or translation into English would make the study obscure and imprecise. Dissertations submitted by students from a language program are acceptable in the language of that program.

Minimum required

• Use a minimum of 1″ margin on all four sides.
• Page numbers must be in the  upper right-hand corner at least a half inch from the top and one inch from the side of the page.
• Page headers:  Do NOT use page headers (except for page numbers) or decorative borders.

Page numbering

The title page and copyright page (if you are retaining and registering copyright) are not counted in the numbering of pages. The other pages are counted in the numbering of pages.

• Number the preliminary pages (for example, dedication page, acknowledgments page, table of contents, and abstract) that precede the main text with  lower case Roman numerals beginning with i . Put page numbers in the right-hand corner one inch from both top and side of the page. Page numbers half an inch from the top of the page are also acceptable.
• Number the main text consecutively beginning with  Arabic numeral 1  in the upper right-hand corner one inch from both top and side of the page. Check your dissertation to ensure that  all pages are present and in numerical order.
• If you are using Microsoft Word, find directions about how to start page numbering later in your document .
• Number appendices consecutively with the text, continuing the Arabic numeral sequence.
• Landscaped pages must have page numbers in portrait position and the top of the page must be on the left-hand, binding side of the page when it is rotated. If the page is *not* rotated, then the page numbers must be on the bottom, right-hand side of the page and sideways, so that when the pages are rotated, the page numbers are in portrait position. There are a number of ways to do this. For methods using Microsoft Word, such as text boxes, see instructions and examples of rotating page numbers . Note that if you do not rotate the landscaped pages, you want page numbers to appear in the same position as the highlighted number 3 in the second row of examples.

Production of document

• Use 10 to 12 point type.
• Double-space the main text of the dissertation.
• Lengthy quotations, footnotes, and bibliographies may be single-spaced with a double space between entries or paragraphs.
• Maps, charts, etc. are acceptable.

The title page is the very first page of your dissertation. Do not number the title page. At the bottom of the title page, you must indicate the date you passed your final defense (final oral examination) and list your committee members’ names, titles, and programs. Follow this  sample title page  format exactly.

If you are depositing your thesis in the window period then your title page should reflect the year in which your degree will be granted.

Additional guidelines

UMI abstract When you deposit your dissertation electronically, ProQuest/UMI will require you to provide the text of your UMI abstract. Please have this text ready when you begin the online submission process. The abstract must be in English and should preferably be no more than 350 words. When your advisor signs the warrant, they approve the dissertation and the abstract.

Abstract within dissertation Your program may require an abstract to be part of the dissertation. Please follow your program’s style requirements, and number all of these pages as part of the preliminary material (use lower case Roman numerals). This abstract must be included in the table of contents.

Copyright page (optional) You may include a copyright page; if you do, insert it directly after the title page. Do not number the copyright page. View a sample copyright page . Center the text in the bottom third of the page within the dissertation margins.

Registration of copyright (optional) You are automatically protected by copyright law, and you do not have to pay in order to retain copyright.

There is an additional fee of $75 for registering your copyright, which is a public record, and is payable to ProQuest/UMI at the time of electronic submission.  If you register your copyright, ProQuest/UMI will send a digital copy of your dissertation to the Library of Congress. You are not required to register your copyright through ProQuest/UMI; you may choose to do it on your own. More information is available online at www.copyright.gov and from UW Libraries .

Corrections After you submit the PDF of your dissertation electronically, you will not be permitted to make any additional corrections. Therefore, make sure the PDF is completely accurate before you submit.

Reprints and use of copyrighted material You are responsible for appropriate use of copyrighted materials in your thesis. Some material may be available for use without restriction while other material may require written permission from the rights holder. Other material may be appropriately used without written permission under the “fair use” provisions of the copyright law. General guidance regarding use of copyrighted materials is available from ProQuest/ UMI or from the UW–Madison Libraries .

• Fair Use: Read general information regarding how to determine if your use of copyrighted materials constitutes fair use.  Additionally, your own professional or disciplinary societies may have fair use statements to help you negotiate disciplinary specialties.
• Written Permission: If written permission is required, you are responsible for obtaining such permission and maintaining records of the written permission to use the copyrighted material in your thesis. You can usually get permission by sending a letter of request to the copyright holder. Normally, your letter will be returned with an approval stamp or signature. Some copyright holders require a specific form of acknowledgment. A sample permission request letter is offered by ProQuest/UMI .  Note that obtaining written permission can be a lengthy process. Plan ahead and budget ample time to obtain all required permissions.

Producing copies of your dissertation (optional) There are many options available in terms of producing copies of your dissertation. You do NOT have to order copies through the UMI/ProQuest ETD Administrator site but that option is available. Some other ways to produce copies of your dissertation include:

• UMI/ProQuest ETD Administrator site: order copies
• Printing shop (FedEx Office, Bob’s Copy Shop, etc.)
• Local book bindery (Grimm Book Bindery, Mc Ginn Bindery, etc.)

Embargo/delayed release

As a public research university, the University of Wisconsin–Madison considers the commitment to research a central part of its mission. As such, there is an expectation that research conducted by graduate students is made available to the public. Therefore, dissertations are normally open and searchable online shortly after they are deposited with ProQuest.

However, if a publication or a patent is pending, an embargo, or delayed release, may be requested during the submission process, in which case the citation and abstract will be available in ProQuest while the full text is under an embargo.

Please decide whether or not to delay release before you submit your dissertation. All decisions are final. Once your dissertation has been delivered to ProQuest, it is too late to delay release.

The only way to delay release is to make the appropriate selection during the submission process. You will have the option to select “No” to the Publishing Options question: “I want my work to be available in ProQuest as soon as it is published.” Next you will choose a time period of 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years for embargo. If you would like to select 3 years, select “other” and then write a note to the administrator in the text box below your selection, explaining that you would like 3 years. These options do not require special permission, but you should have discussed this with your advisor in advance.

Any request for more than a 3-year embargo or an extension of the original embargo request will be reviewed by the Graduate School Associate Dean. Such a request requires a letter to be signed by the student and the advisor in advance.

In order to qualify for an embargo extension, you are required to contact the degree coordinator prior to the expiration date of your embargo. Again, it is your responsibility to contact the Graduate School before your dissertation is released. Once a dissertation embargo has been lifted, it will not be reinstated.

Steps to prepare for commencement

Once you have met your degree requirements, you may choose to attend a commencement ceremony. Commencement occurs in May and December each year and is coordinated by the Office of the Chancellor. There is no summer commencement ceremony. If you plan to graduate in August, you may attend either the May or the December ceremony. If you want your name to be printed in the commencement program, you must apply to graduate through your MyUW Student Center by the deadline each semester in addition to contacting your major program to request a degree warrant from the Graduate School. The deadline to request your warrant can be found in the Degree Deadlines, below. You may attend the commencement ceremony even if your name is not included in the commencement program. Academic attire is required to participate in the commencement ceremony. Attire can be purchase or rented from the University Book Store . Your school/college or program may also have its own commencement activities.

Doctoral degree deadlines

• June 14 Graduate School Summer 2024: Dissertator eligibility for summer 4:00 PM
• June 16 Graduate School Summer 2024: Summer degree window period deadline for doctoral students 11:55 PM
• August 2 Graduate School Summer 2024: Request for all Master's and Doctoral Degree Warrants 4:30 PM
• August 25 Graduate School Summer 2024: Doctoral degree deadline 11:55 PM
• August 26 Graduate School Fall 2024: Fall Degree Window Period begins 12:00 AM

View all Graduate School 2023-24 degree deadlines as a printable PDF >>

PhD completion: an evidence-based guide for students, supervisors and universities

Senior Lecturer in Management, Fellow of the APS College of Organisational Psychologists, Swinburne University of Technology

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Timothy Colin Bednall does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Many students enrol in a Master or PhD postgraduate research degree, but few complete them. From 2010-2016 , 437,030 domestic and international students enrolled in postgraduate research programs in Australian public universities. Only 65,101 completed within the same six year period.

This discrepancy does not necessarily mean postgraduate research students “failed” their degree. Common reasons not completing a degree include changes of career goals, work-family conflicts, poor health or financial strain. Alternatively, some students remain enrolled in their degree for long periods without making significant progress.

Even so, the discrepancy is large enough for universities to be concerned. Nobody wants a student to suffer through years of hard work and frustration without achieving their goal.

What does research say about completion rates?

Research has identified several factors that make students more likely to persist with their degrees. These factors are related to the students themselves, their supervisor, and the university environment.

Psychological studies of postgraduate students find the more successful ones tend to perceive themselves as competent and be intrinsically motivated . These are students who enjoy their topic area, perceive their postgraduate studies as a valuable learning experience, and who strongly identify with being a career researcher. Students who are motivated by external factors (such as pursuing a prestigious academic role) are more likely to say they want to quit.

Scholarship holders are more likely to complete their degrees. This is likely because they are academically stronger than non-scholarship holders and are less vulnerable to financial strain. Students can support themselves financially through teaching, research assistant roles or other work, but this must be balanced carefully. Part-time students are less likely to complete their degrees.

Students’ field of study also affects completion rates. A higher proportion of students in sciences tend to complete their degrees than those in arts and humanities. This is likely because students working in the sciences are more often involved in laboratory-based work in teams, where there is greater social support and knowledge exchange. People studying humanities more often work on their research alone.

A positive student-supervisor working relationship is critical. A good supervisor should be an expert in the student’s subject of choice and a supportive mentor. They should help the student navigate through the frustrations and uncertainties of writing a thesis, and help students adjust to the world of academia.

Students are also more likely to finish their research degrees if they have strong connections with their peers . Such connections help students develop their professional identity as researchers, as well as providing opportunities for social support and informal learning .

The quality of associated coursework is also important. Ideally, postgraduate programs should provide students with a sound foundation of research skills and content knowledge, and facilitate ongoing communication with their faculty.

Involvement in formal and informal professional activities is also important. Students who complete tend to participate in departmental events, such as research seminars and professional development workshops. They also tend to participate in academic conferences. These events allow students to learn and expand their networks.

What students and their supervisors should do

First, given the importance of the student-supervisor relationship, universities can provide advice to students about locating and approaching a suitable supervisor. Specifically, students should consider the research area they wish to work in and locate a supervisor with relevant expertise. They should approach supervisors with an openness to negotiating a research topic.

Read more: Ten types of PhD supervisor relationships – which is yours?

Both students and supervisors should be upfront about their expectations about how the supervision will work. An excellent starting point for discussion is the Expectations in Supervision questionnaire. Students and supervisors sometimes have mismatched expectations about how often they should meet, the amount of feedback the supervisor should provide on drafts, and how much counselling and emotional support the supervisor should provide.

Supervisors have an important role in providing a realistic preview of academic life. One useful exercise is to review an academic competency model, such as the Vitae Researcher Development Framework , to discuss which skills academics need. In addition to knowledge of their topic area and research methods, academics increasingly need to be good at managing complex projects, working in multidisciplinary teams, and engaging with industry and media.

This discussion should enable supervisors and students to plan how students will develop their capabilities. Alternatively, it could prompt some students to opt out of a research degree if they think an academic role is not compatible with their goals.

What universities should do

As well as providing research training, universities can also increase the capabilities of students by helping them understand self-handicapping patterns. These include busyness, procrastination and disorganisation.

Students can be guided to replace these with more helpful actions such as scheduling dedicated writing time, reframing difficult tasks as learning opportunities, and developing a work routine. This could be done as part of a workshop or supervisory relationship.

Universities should also encourage greater connectedness between research students to build social support. This could be accomplished through team-based activities or face-to-face events.

For instance, some universities offer Three Minute Thesis , a research communication competition where students present their work in under 180 seconds.

Some universities organise Shut Up and Write sessions, which turns writing into a social experience and limits distractions. These activities can be complemented by encouraging students to become involved in supportive online communities and blogging .

Read more: The rise of writing events gives PhD students the support often lacking in universities

Finally, universities should be dedicated to helping academics develop as supervisors through ongoing training and coaching. Departments could consider tracking the progression of students and ensuring supervisors have the time and skills to take on new students.

Completing a dissertation can be richly rewarding, but it’s the endpoint of a process that’s often long, frustrating and uncertain. Helping students achieve their research aspirations makes academic life a better experience for all involved.

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Doctoral Completion Programs: How to Finish Your Doctorate Degree

Doctoral programs are extremely rigorous. Unlike master’s degree programs, doctorate programs are heavily self-driven and require the highest level of scholarly research and writing. For some students who are balancing work and life priorities with a doctoral degree, this can seem overwhelming.

If you started a doctoral program but didn’t finish, you aren’t alone. Nearly 50% of people who start doctorate degrees never complete their program. 

There are many reasons doctorate students stop their studies. Maybe you took time off for personal, financial or professional reasons. Maybe the doctorate program you attended previously wasn’t the right fit. Whatever the reason you decided to pause your doctoral studies, you may still be able to complete the terminal degree you started.

Doctoral completion programs are specifically designed for students who have some doctoral credit, but didn’t meet the requirements to graduate. Let’s dive into what these programs offer to see if a doctoral completion program is right for you.

What is a Doctoral Completion Program?

A doctoral completion program is not a specific doctorate program in and of itself. In reality, doctoral completion programs are another name for transfer-friendly doctoral programs that offer dedicated support for transfer students.

Doctoral completion programs are designed to meet the needs of students who are restarting their doctoral studies in an effort to accelerate their completion of their degree. These programs are unique because many universities will not accept transfer credit at the doctoral level. 

Let’s look at two of the common pathways you can take when completing your doctoral program. 

Doctoral Completion Programs: Choosing The Right Pathway

There are two stages of doctoral study—the required coursework and the dissertation. If you’re looking to complete your doctorate degree, you need to consider which requirements you still need to meet. 

If you still need to complete coursework and pass your comprehensive exam: Look for a university that accepts significant transfer credit and can help you complete your remaining coursework. Make sure you understand:

• How many credits will transfer: Most doctorate programs require around 58 credit hours total to graduate. Some transfer-friendly universities, like Franklin University, will accept up to 24 credits, which is about 40% of the total required.
• Will your credits qualify to be transferred: Doctoral programs typically require credits to be applied directly to the degree, meaning the previous course has to be substantially similar to the required course at the new university. If your previous studies don’t align, you may need to retake coursework. You may also need to meet specific passing grade requirements or time requirements (often credits more than 7-10 years old won’t transfer).

If you’ve reached ABD (all but dissertation) status: Consider a dissertation completion pathway. Some universities will allow you to restart your doctorate degree at the dissertation stage. However, before committing, make sure you understand:

• You may still need to take coursework: Many advertised ABD programs will still require you to take prerequisites, focus area courses or research and writing foundations courses to complete your dissertation at their university.
• Admission requirements may be extensive: Universities that offer dissertation-only completion pathways usually require more than just graduate transcripts. Expect to submit additional documentation, including previous doctoral candidacy, portfolio or work samples, resume, letters of reference or other support materials.
• You need to feel confident about your dissertation topic: Since you will start directly at the dissertation stage, you will need to declare a topic. Some of these programs will require a learning agreement contract to establish milestones for completing your dissertation.

Accelerate your completion time and lower your total tuition cost at every academic level. Download this free guide for tips on maximizing your transfer credit.

How doctoral completion programs work.

Applying to a doctoral program to complete your degree is often very similar to regular doctoral admissions. Here are the steps you will need to take: 

• Research transfer-friendly universities that accept doctorate transfer credit. Based on your previous educational experience, find the best-fit university that will also accept the most transfer credit.
• Apply to the university’s doctoral program. Submit an application and all support materials. Most applications can be submitted online and may or may not require an application fee. 
• Submit official graduate transcripts for the university. You will need to submit official transcripts for all graduate level coursework. It can also be helpful to submit information on the courses you’ve previously taken, including syllabi or course descriptions. These materials can help a university determine whether courses are similar enough to reward transfer credit.
• Receive transfer credit evaluation. You will receive a determination that shows how many credits you received, what courses they apply to and how many credits still need to be completed.
• Get started! Meet with your academic and/or faculty advisors to determine your schedule and complete your doctorate. 

5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Doctoral Completion Program

If you chose to stop your doctorate studies, there was likely a compelling reason. For some, the original doctorate program they chose wasn't a good fit for their needs as a student. You want to make sure that if you return to doctoral studies, the program you choose will set you up for success.

Make sure you ask these questions before choosing a doctoral completion program:

• How many credits will transfer into the doctoral completion program? You want to ensure as many credits as possible transfer into a new doctoral program, especially if you’re at the ABD stage.
• How will this program support you in completing your doctorate? Look for programs that offer dedicated faculty advisors, active student associations and extensive online library systems. All of these resources will help you complete your doctorate.
• Do you feel confident about the dissertation process? Many people fear the dissertation process. It’s why ABD has become a de facto designation for those who stop their doctoral studies before they complete their dissertation. Make sure you understand how dissertation committees work, how to establish milestones and how to defend a dissertation. Knowing all of this in advance can help you formulate a clear plan to finish your dissertation and earn your degree.
• Will this doctorate program work with your schedule? Some doctoral completion programs have a required in-person component. Others are conducted entirely online. The structure and flexibility of the program you choose will ultimately determine if you can successfully complete it or not.
• Are you excited and motivated to complete your doctorate degree? Personal drive and determination are two of the top factors in the successful completion of a doctorate degree. If you put your mind to it, you can achieve what you set out to do.

Finish What You Started: Complete Your Doctorate Degree

In the United States, only 2% of the population holds a doctoral degree. Franklin University is here to help you achieve this lifetime accomplishment. 

Our transfer-friendly, online doctoral programs are designed to support students from all backgrounds to complete their doctorate. From start to finish, a doctorate can be completed in as few as three years. If you maximize your transfer credit , it can be completed even quicker. Our no-fear dissertation process, faculty mentorship and peer support will help you stay on track to graduation.

Explore all of our doctoral programs to see if we offer a doctorate that aligns with your goals.

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Certificate of Completion Request for PhD Students

Grs phd request for certificate of completion.

By submitting this form, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences will produce a Certificate of Completion verifying that you have completed all requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Certificates will be sent by email as a PDF. These documents can be produced approximately one month prior to the official date of your graduation.

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How the PhD Program Works

Program Overview

Completing your doctorate at Wharton requires 5 years of full-time study. The first 2 years in the program prepare you for admission to candidacy by taking courses, qualifying exams, and starting research projects. In the last few years, you are primarily conducting research full-time including writing and defending your doctoral dissertation.

Admission to candidacy.

You begin by taking courses required for your program of study. All programs requires a preliminary exam, which may be either oral or written.

Some programs may have further requirements, such as an additional exam or research paper. If you enter with a master’s degree or other transfer credit, you may satisfy the formal course requirements more quickly.

Beginning the Wharton PhD Curriculum How the first two years of the Wharton program helped students discover their interests, learn the tools of the profession, and fuel their passion for teaching.

The Doctoral Dissertation

Upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, you are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies.

Your doctoral dissertation should contain original research that meets standards for published scholarship in your field. You are expected to be an expert in the topic you choose to research.

You are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, but you can start thinking about and working on research of relevance at any time.

The dissertation process culminates with a “defense,” in which you defend the proposal orally before your dissertation committee.

While working on your dissertation, you interact extensively with Wharton faculty. Together with interested faculty, you create your own research community that includes your dissertation advisor and dissertation committee.

Policies and Procedures

Get more detailed explanation of course requirements, academic standards, the Teacher Development Program, time limits, and dissertation procedures and requirements.

Sample Program Sequence

Years 1 & 2.

Coursework Examination Research Papers Research Activities Field-Specific Requirements

Directed Reading & Research Admission to Candidacy Formulation of Research Topic

Years 4 & 5

Continued Research Oral Examination Dissertation

Hear From Our Doctoral Community

Faculty expertise in housing economics attracted this phd student to wharton, from research consumer to research producer, why i chose academic research instead of consulting.

Andrea Contigiani

PhD Completion Process

Congratulations!

As a PhD student, you have spent spend significant time at the University of Rochester taking courses, completing research in your field, completing milestones and are now ready to complete your degree.

The final requirement in earning a PhD degree is the completion and defense of the doctoral dissertation. Understanding the steps and associated deadlines in the dissertation submission and degree conferral process is necessary to establish a successful plan. For complete descriptions of the process, please review the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students .

The page below is organized by before, during and post-oral defense. Please read the page in it’s entirety and email questions you have to [email protected]

Doctoral Qualifying Exam / Admission to Candidacy

All PhD programs must administer a qualifying examination as part of the PhD program requirements. The qualifying examination may be either written or oral or both, at the discretion of the department/program, and must be passed at least six months before the final examination may be taken.

The associate dean of a school certifies that a student has passed the qualifying examinations and is recommended for candidacy.

For more details, please review page 12 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students .

Planning for the Final Oral Exam / Dissertation Defense

At least six months before you plan to defend your dissertation, you should contact the graduate coordinator of your program for details regarding the submitting the defense. During the months leading up to the anticipated defense, your graduate coordinator will walk you through the process and explain any department specific nuances.

Pay careful attention to the five PhD degree cycle deadlines. In each degree cycle, there is a deadline for the last day to complete your degree requirements.  There are no exceptions to the deadlines. If a deadline is missed, your name cannot be approved by the Council on Graduate Education and presented to the Board of Trustees until the following degree date.

The oral exam/defense/dissertation is approved at multiple levels of the University. Starting with the program, oral exam/defense/dissertation committee, school graduate deans and the University Dean of Graduate Education. You will receive emails a few days before your defense confirming that the approvals for the defense have all been received.

PhD academic calendar

PhD students can reference their specific academic calendar in the drop-downs below.

To enable review by the Graduate Education Offices in the Schools and University Graduate Education, online dissertation committee and program director approvals must be completed the following number of working days before the defense:

• SMD and SON: At least 10 working days before the defense
• AS&E, Warner and Simon: At least 15 working days before the defense
• ESM: At least 20 working days before the defense

A minimum of five working days must elapse between the approval of the candidate’s School Dean to advance the record to University Graduate Education and the day of the defense. This time has been included in the schools’ lead times listed above.

Defenses may be held during regular business hours on any University working day with the exceptions listed below. See calendar below for additional non-working days.

Monday, May 27:  The University is closed in observance of Memorial Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Wednesday, June 19: The University is closed in observance of Juneteenth. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Thursday, July 4: The University is closed in observance of Independence Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Friday, August 23, 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for an August 2024 degree conferral.

Monday, August 26: Fall semester begins.

Saturday, August 31: August 2024 PhD date.

Wednesday, August 28, 4 p.m.: Last day for students who have completed defenses to submit final corrected dissertation for October 2024 degree to the ProQuest website without having to register for Fall 2024. AFTER THIS DATE, SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS FOR DEGREE COMPLETION REQUIRES REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.

Monday, September 2: The University is closed in observance of Labor Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day

Thursday, September 26, 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for an October 2024 degree. NOTE: Students must be registered for the Fall 2024 Semester if submitting documents after August 28.

Friday, October 4: October 2024 PhD conferral date.

Monday, September 2:  The University is closed in observance of Labor Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29: The University is closed in observance of Thanksgiving. These three days cannot be counted as working days.

Monday, December 16 at 4 p.m.:  Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for a December degree. NOTE: Students must be registered for the Fall 2024 Semester if submitting final documents after August 28.

Friday, December 13: Last day for dissertation defense registration approval by University Dean of Graduate Education for defenses scheduled January 2, 2025.

Thursday, December 19 through Friday, December 31:  Due to recess and holidays, no dissertation registrations will be completed in the University Graduate Education office. No PhD defenses may be held during this time period.

December 31: December 2024 PhD conferral date.

The March 2025 PhD conferral date will be updated in late spring 2024.

Friday, April 26 , 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for a May 2024 degree.

Friday, May 17:  University Doctoral Commencement

Additional Information about Planning for your Defense

Writing your dissertation.

The dissertation process webpage offers several writing resources to help you get started, meet your goals, and complete your thesis/dissertation on time.

You also will want to take full advantage of internal reviews of the dissertation before uploading the thesis for defense registration, in order to minimize the number of errors in the registration version.

Final Oral Examination Committee

Page 11 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students (“Redbook”) goes into detail about the make-up of the committee.

PhD Committee Matrix

Approval Process for Non-Standard Committee Membership

Approval must be obtained in writing, based on a petition that includes a rationale for the request and a CV of the proposed nonstandard member.

Contact your Graduate Coordinator to start the petition process.

Page 12 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students (“Redbook”) goes into detail.

Scheduling your Defense

Contact the graduate coordinator of your program for details regarding the scheduling the defense.

Click here to Download a checklist of information needed to schedule defense

Rubric for Oral Defense

Click here to download the Oral Defense Rubric.

After the final oral exam / defense

Submitting your final dissertation.

Approximately, 24 hours after oral exam, an email is sent that details out the next steps. Including uploading the final abstract and dissertation to ProQuest®, submitting a UR Research authorization form, and completing two required surveys.

UR Research Form

The libraries at  University of Rochester, electronically store and publish the dissertations based on a students embargo restrictions.

You can access our database of dissertations on the UR Research page hosted by the library.

Survey Completion

There are two required survey’s for completion of the PhD Process. The University of Rochester PhD Survey and the national Survey of Earned Doctorates. The links to completing these surveys will be included in the completion memo sent post-defense.

We use a service called ProQuest to administer the electronic final thesis/dissertation (ETD) submission. ProQuest provides services that enable strategic acquisition, management and discovery of information collections. Once you have made any necessary revisions and the thesis/dissertation is final, you are ready to begin the submission process.

PhD Completion Confirmation

Once you have completed the steps above, you will receive an email the confirms that all of the requirements have been completed and will include a PhD Completion memo.

We offer both an electronic diploma and a paper copy diploma to students after their graduation date. Information on ordering replacement diplomas is located on the registrar’s webpage .

Commencement

The University holds one doctoral commencement ceremony each year in May. Eligibility to walk in the May ceremony includes students that graduated between August of the previous year through August of the current year. As an example, the May 2023 ceremony is for students who graduated August 2022, October 2022, December 2022, February 2023, May 2023 and August 2023. Doctoral students are only eligible to walk once.

You will receive information about the ceremony that your are eligible to walk in during the Spring semester.

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Students transfer into our doctoral programs from a variety of fields, psychology, education, and leadership studies, to name just a few. Within in the School of Leadership studies, students can choose to enter two different programs:

Contact us  to discuss your interests and previous education, and how they can match up to your chosen Fielding doctoral program.

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We understand life can get in the way of achieving personal goals. We’re ready to help. For 48 years, Fielding Graduate University has been helping adult students achieve their graduate degree goals. In fact, many successful Fielding alumni started their graduate education somewhere else but chose to finish at Fielding.

Choose to finish your doctoral education at Fielding. Thrive in your desired profession and become a part of the Fielding international alumni network.

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Certificates are the fastest-growing post-secondary credential in the United States because learning is a lifelong pursuit.

To stand out from the competition, you need to continue to update your skill set to land that next promotion or navigate a successful career change.

To support your aspirations, we offer several undergraduate certificates and 40+ graduate certificates in the most sought after professional fields:

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Our certificates prepare you for long-term career success by offering you critical technical skills and the theoretical context behind those skills, providing both breadth and depth. This is a winning combination with nearly 90% of our certificate earners reporting that they are confident their certificate has prepared them for their next step!

You don’t have to wait to complete the certificate to gain immediate benefits. What you learn in class today, you’ll apply on the job tomorrow. Indeed, many certificate students report receiving a promotion or a new job while pursuing their certificate.

Who are certificate students?

• Most —78% — are working full time while pursuing a certificate.
• The average age of a certificate student is 36.
• Fifty-three percent of certificate students have a master’s, PhD, or other advanced degree.
• Most pursue a certificate for professional reasons, but many are exploring personal interests or preparing for further studies.

Read on to learn how to get started , track your progress , and successfully earn a certificate from Harvard Extension School.

Getting Started

No formal application is required to pursue a certificate, but you can track your progress each semester by using our online Certificate Course Tracker (see below). Once you’ve completed all required courses with satisfactory grades, you can request the certificate .

Follow these three steps to get started: 

• Find one of our  undergraduate  or graduate  certificates that interests you.
• Under Search Classes , scroll to Browse by Degree, Certificate, or Premedical Program .
• Select Undergraduate Certificates or select Graduate Certificates . 
• Choose the specific certificate to explore program courses.
• Register during one of our enrollment periods (fall, January, spring, or summer). When you register, be sure to select the appropriate credit status: undergraduate credit (UN) for our undergraduate certificates and graduate credit (GR) for graduate certificates.

NOTE : Graduate certificates are not available at the undergraduate level. You must take all your certificate courses for graduate credit to earn a graduate certificate.

Can I earn a certificate online? View More

Most of our certificates can be completed online. But a few certificates have more limited online options.

I’m an international student. Can I take courses on campus? View More

Most of our certificates can be earned completely online. However, if you would like to study on campus, you may request an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for full-time study in the summer at the Harvard Summer School.

See the  international student guidelines for Summer School  for more details.

Note:  I-20 Certificates of Eligibility for the F-1 student visa are not available for on-campus study during the fall and spring semesters, because of the part-time nature of the Harvard Extension School. If you obtain an I-20 from Harvard Summer School for an F-1 visa, it is not possible to continue studying on the F-1 at Harvard Extension School.

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of B, B+, A-, or A in a certificate course in order to have it count toward the certificate. Courses in which a student has earned a grade of B- or below cannot be counted toward a certificate.

Repeat Courses

Repeat courses are identified by their subject and course number (for example, MGMT E-4000 Organizational Behavior and MGMT S-4000 Organizational Behavior are the same courses) and occasionally by a notation in the course description (for example, “Students may not take both ECON E-1600 and ECON S-1615 for degree or certificate credit”).

Because repeating course content has limited educational value, certificate credit is not awarded for the same Harvard course for which undergraduate or graduate credit has already been received.

Therefore, you must choose an alternative course to fulfill a certificate requirement if:

• you earned a grade below the minimum B required for your certificate,
• you completed a certificate course outside of your three-year certificate timeframe, or
• you completed a course at the undergraduate level with us here at Harvard, even if you earned a passing grade.

If you find yourself needing to fulfill a specific certificate requirement that has no alternative course options, please reach out to the Certificates Office to discuss your options: [email protected] or [email protected]. We will work with you to find an alternative course or, in rare cases, may make an exception to our repeat policy.

If you choose to repeat a course, it will appear on your official transcript, but will not count toward the certificate.

If you are earning your certificate as part of your degree studies, please also pay attention to the degree-specific repeat policies for the ALM or ALB degrees.

Three-Year Requirement

Students must complete courses within three years from the first day they start taking applicable courses towards their certificate. See chart below for specific start and completion semester information. 

Medical Leave of Absence View More

If you have documented health or medical issues that require a modification of, or reasonable accommodation to, our three-year completion requirement, then you should proactively work with the Accessibility Services Office (ASO) to request a medical leave.

The ASO will help make appropriate arrangements for the duration of the leave as well as plans to return and ensure compliance with all academic rules. The ASO will engage in an individualized and interactive assessment, which may require consultation with others at the University, as appropriate. With prior permission, the ASO may also require consultation with your health care providers.

You should contact the ASO as soon as a health or medical issues arises, as HES does not ordinarily alter academic policies after the fact.

Extensions to the three-year requirement are not ordinarily granted beyond one additional year, as successful completion of courses within a certain period is a fundamental academic requirement.

Returning from a Medical Leave of Absence

To return from a medical leave of absence, the ASO will require documentation that the circumstances that led to your leave have been satisfactorily addressed and you are ready to resume your studies.

The ASO will engage in an individualized and interactive assessment, which may require consultation with others at the University, as appropriate. With prior permission, the ASO may also require consultation with your health care providers.

The ASO will make the decision whether to allow you to return and determine the conditions for your return based on (1) the best available objective medical evidence and (2) consultation with others at the University, which may include the Harvard University Health Services, the Dean of Student Policy and Governance, or the Administrative Board, as appropriate.

Medical Leave Registration Policies

If you request a medical leave while currently registered for courses, the Accessibility Services Office will work with the Registrar’s Office to determine a fair and equitable resolution to your registration status, which may include a drop for a refund, if early in the term, or late withdrawal grade, if later in the term.

Tracking Your Certificate Progress

The Certificate Course Tracker and Request Form—available through  online services —will help you keep track of the courses you have taken that are eligible to count towards your certificate of interest.

Monitor your progress by logging in to  online services  and choosing the Certificate Course Tracker and Request Form. This form will confirm the courses that count toward the certificate, the courses for which you are currently registered, and the courses that you’ve completed.

Will all the courses listed be offered every year? View More

Certificate required courses are offered each year, but the elective offerings do change slightly because of new offerings and instructor availability.

Can I substitute a course that is not listed on the certificate course search? View More

No. Only those courses specifically listed in the certificate course search can be counted toward the certificate. We do not accept course substitutions or transfer credit.

Continuing on to Earn a Bachelor’s View More

Undergraduate certificates are stand-alone academic credentials that allow you to broaden your knowledge, update your professional profile, and explore new fields of interest. Earning a certificate can be a great first step to exploring a new field of study. Undergraduate certificates stack to our Bachelor of Liberal Arts (ALB) degree—that is, your certificate courses may also meet degree requirements.

If you think you want to pursue this path, make sure to do your research. You will need to plan ahead to ensure your certificate courses count toward your specific degree requirements. If you know you would like to pursue an ALB degree, we encourage you to apply to the degree program first and earn your certificate along the way.

It’s important to keep the following in mind:

• ALB degree students must hold a high school diploma or equivalent earned at least five years prior to enrolling in any ALB degree-applicable courses. If you do not meet this requirement,  your undergraduate certificate coursework will not stack toward our bachelor’s degree .
• Prospective ALB students may not be enrolled as an undergraduate, degree-seeking student at another institution at the time of admission or during your Extension School degree candidacy.
• Use both the certificate course search and degree course search to see which requirements your courses meet for each credential.
• If you already possess a bachelor’s degree, you are not able to pursue another at Harvard Extension School.

For more information please see the  ALB degree requirements website .

Continuing on to Earn a Master’s View More

Graduate certificates are stand-alone academic credentials that allow you to broaden your knowledge, update your professional profile, and advance your career.

Earning a certificate can also be a great first step to exploring a new field of study. Most of our certificates stack toward at least one Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) degree. The courses you take to earn a certificate may count toward a graduate degree.

If you think you want to pursue this path, make sure to do your research. You will need to plan ahead to ensure your certificate courses count toward your specific degree requirements.

If you know you would like to pursue a degree program, we encourage you to apply to the degree program first and earn your certificate along the way.

• ALM degree students must hold a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a degree conferral date that precedes enrollment in graduate-level courses taken at Harvard Extension School. If you do not meet this requirement,  your graduate certificate coursework will  not  stack toward one of our master’s degrees .
• Not every certificate course counts toward a degree. Use both the certificate course search and degree course search to see which requirements are met through your courses.
• We recommend you complete the degree pre-admission courses, if they are part of your certificate.
• Have five-year completion deadlines
• Require a Harvard On-Campus Experience
• May require a certain number of courses to be taught by instructors with a current Harvard University teaching appointment
• Undergraduate certificates do  not  stack to our ALM Degrees.

For more information please see your specific degree requirements website.

How do certificates differ from degrees? View More

Certificates offer concentrated academic pathways—3 to 5 courses to complete—for students looking to enhance a specific set of skills or fill a knowledge gap. Earning a certificate demonstrates to employers your proficiency in a topic, as well as your determination and discipline to succeed academically. You are awarded a certificate upon completion.

Our  ALB  and  graduate degrees  are a more comprehensive, long-term academic commitment. You must complete specific admissions requirements and application to pursue a degree.

How do certificates differ from certifications? View More

A graduate certificate is not a certification. Certification is usually awarded by an industry-recognized party or organization to recognize an individual’s specialized knowledge or skill. It indicates mastery as measured against industry standards and is usually listed as a credential on a business card. Harvard Extension School does not offer certification in any field.

In contrast, certificates are awarded by educational institutions for completion of coursework in a certain body of knowledge. This award is usually listed on one’s resume as part of their education.

Earning Multiple Certificates

If you plan to pursue multiple certificates, keep in mind that your courses can only count toward one certificate. Each certificate is carefully designed to include a distinct set of courses to ensure its academic and professional value.

Financing Your Certificate

You may be eligible for  scholarship funds , including Lowell Scholarships for Boston-area middle and high school teachers, community scholarships, and private student loans. Federal or state aid is only available to students who have been admitted to a degree program.

Resources for Certificate Students

As a certificate student you gain access to numerous resources to aid in your success.

Certificate Advising View More

When you have questions about the process of earning your graduate certificate, know we are here. We offer weekly  Open Virtual Office Hours  where students can drop in and ask questions. Visit the site for dates and more information, or email us at  [email protected]  for graduate certificate questions or  [email protected]  for undergraduate certificate questions.

Career Resources View More

We are here for you and your success. Certificate students have access to the  Career and Academic Resource Center (CARC) , where you can participate in online webinars on career planning and academic skills. CARC offers monthly call-in career counseling for all certificate students. You can also participate in our annual virtual Harvard Extension School Career Fair, held during the spring semester.

Library Access View More

As a certificate student, if you have complied with Harvard University’s COVID-19 immunization policy , you are eligible for a class participant library card that allows you on-campus access and borrowing privileges at Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) libraries during the terms in which you are registered. Class participant library cards provide privileges only at FAS libraries; they do not provide access to other Harvard University facilities or resources.

Visit our  Library Resources page  for more information.

Additional Student Resources View More

Visit our  Support and Services page for additional resources such as computer labs, writing center, and the Math Question Center.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

University of South Florida

Office of Graduate Studies

Main navigation, how to complete, certificate completion.

To receive your completed graduate certificate, you must first fill out the Graduate Certificate Completion Form  with your contact and course information before submitting the paperwork to to the Office of Graduate Studies: Graduate Certificates at [email protected] . To qualify for completion, students must meet the following requirements:

• Must have gained acceptance and submitted all necessary admissions requirements, including the submission of your official bachelor’s degree transcripts.
• Must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA in all referenced graduate certificate coursework.
• Completed coursework must match the required/elective coursework referenced in the USF Graduate Catalog for the referenced graduate certificate program.

Graduate Certificate students should submit their Completion Form to  [email protected]  no later than the last day of the semester in which they will complete the final course(s) for their Graduate Certificate.  Refer to the academic calendar for the final day of classes. For Graduate Certificate students concurrently enrolled in a Graduate Degree , the student must be admitted into the Graduate Certificate prior to conferring their concurrent Graduate Degree. For Graduate Certificate students NOT  concurrently enrolled in a Graduate Degree , a Completion Form must be submitted no later than five years after starting the first course applied to the Graduate Certificate. All students must be currently active at the time the Completion Form is submitted. Once the Office of Graduate Certificates has received the Graduate Certificate Completion Form, we will route the paperwork to the appropriate department/college signatories and submit the paperwork for final processing once signed – usually within 2 to 4 weeks of submission. Students will be notified of receipt and final processing via email by our university printer once an order for the printed graduate certificate has been placed in the mail. A printed copy of the completed graduate certificate will subsequently be mailed to the student within 2 to 3 weeks from that point.

Forms & Applications

Applications for candidacy.

• Application for Candidacy for the Master’s Degree (Thesis Plan)  – part of the Higher Degree Committee eForm in CalCentral
• Application for Doctoral Candidacy – part of the Higher Degree Committee eForm in CalCentral

Other Degrees Forms

• Filing Fee Application –Special Enrollment Petition eForm in CalCentral
• In absentia Form — Special Enrollment Petition eForm in CalCentral
• Petition for Internship Leave — Special Enrollment Petition eForm in CalCentral
• Doctoral Candidacy Review for Doctoral Students — Must be completed each year by doctoral students advanced to candidacy. Available as an eForm in CalCentral.
• Application for Qualifying Examination – part of the Higher Degree Committee eForm in CalCentral . Completed application must be received by the Graduate Division at least 3 weeks before the proposed examination date.
• Request for Certificate of Degree Completion  — Certificates are automatically generated by our system and emailed to students as soon as all steps in the filing process have been completed AND all requirements have been met on the student’s Academic Progress Report (APR).
• Survey of Doctoral Student Opinions — Submitted electronically when dissertation is filed. Available as a checklist task in CalCentral.
• Dissertation Release Form  — Part of the Final Signature eForm when dissertation is filed.
• Masters Thesis Release Form  — Part of the Final Signature eForm when thesis is filed.

Petitions, Appeals and Readmission

• Application for Re-Enrollment — eForm in Campus Solutions (initiated by department staff)
• Petition for Parenting Leave  — Special Enrollment Petition eForm in CalCentral
• Petition to Change Class Schedule — Available as an eForm in CalCentral
• Graduate Appeal Procedure  |  Form  (PDF)

Forms Submitted by Faculty or Staff

• Graduate Petition for Change of Degree Goal — Grad Change of Major eForm in CalCentral.
• Request for Change in Higher Degree Committee – Also known as “Reconstitution” – part of the Higher Degree Committee eForm in CalCentral
• Report on the Qualifying Examination — eForm in Campus Solutions. Must be submitted to the Graduate Division no later than 2 weeks after the exam.
• Request to add non-UCB committee members to the database for eForm submission (Google Form) — required if external members are not found in committee search.
• Faculty Nomination and Confirmation — updatable using the “Manage Advisor Roles” tool on the Campus Solutions GSAO Homepage.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

• All previous cycle years

The SED is an annual census of research doctorate recipients from U.S. academic institutions that collects information on educational history, demographic characteristics, graduate funding source and educational debts, and postgraduation plans.

Survey Info

• tag for use when URL is provided --> Methodology
• tag for use when URL is provided --> Data
• tag for use when URL is provided --> Analysis

The Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual census conducted since 1957 of all individuals receiving a research doctorate from an accredited U.S. institution in a given academic year. The SED is sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) and by three other federal agencies: the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education, and National Endowment for the Humanities. The SED collects information on the doctoral recipient’s educational history, demographic characteristics, and postgraduation plans. Results are used to assess characteristics of the doctoral population and trends in doctoral education and degrees.

Areas of Interest

• STEM Education
• Science and Engineering Workforce

Survey Administration

The 2022 survey was conducted by RTI International under contract to NCSES.

Survey Details

Featured survey analysis.

Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2022

SED Overview

Data highlights, the number of research doctorates conferred by u.s. institutions, which began a sharp 15-month decline in spring 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, rebounded in 2022 with the highest number of research doctorates awarded in any academic year to date.

Over the past 20 years, most of the growth in the number of doctorates earned by both men and women has been in science and engineering (S&E) fields 

Methodology

Survey description, technical notes, technical tables, questionnaires, view archived questionnaires, featured analysis.

Research Doctorate Conferrals Rebound, Leading to Record Number of U.S. Doctorate Recipients in 2022

Related content, related collections, survey contact.

For additional information about this survey or the methodology, contact

Get e-mail updates from NCSES

NCSES is an official statistical agency. Subscribe below to receive our latest news and announcements.

• Requirements for Degree Completion
• Admission and Financial Aid

Program Learning Objectives

The Program Learning Objectives for the PhD program in Health Economics are available  here.

Academic Content

The doctoral program in Health Economics requires coursework in economics, preventive medicine, policy research and epidemiology. Additionally, specialized courses in pharmaceutical economics, including pharmaceutical policy, health economics, economic assessment methods, applied health econometrics and welfare theory are part of the core curriculum taught within the department. A limited number of electives in public administration, biostatistics, comparative analysis of health systems, gerontology, marketing, pricing, psychology and other related disciplines are considered on an individual basis. From the beginning of the academic program, students are encouraged to work closely with faculty on collaborative research projects.

The following areas of specialization are recommended for PhD candidates in the Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy track:

Methodology of Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Analyses

Industrial Organization of Pharmaceutical Markets

Quantitative Methods in Pharmaceutical Economics

Government Policy and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals

International Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy

Grade Requirements

A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 and typically considerably higher (on a scale of 4.0) must have been achieved on all graduate work at USC for the passing of the screening procedure. The Graduate School requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 on all coursework taken as a graduate student at USC. A grade of “B” (3.0) or higher must be attained in at least one graduate-level course in econometrics.

Course Requirements

The PhD in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy requires 24 units of graduate-level courses numbered 500 or higher (excluding 794) and a minimum of 4 units of 794. Normally, a full-time graduate student course load is three full courses or their equivalent per semester, with a four-course maximum. Students must complete the following course sequence:

Year 1 – Fall PMEP 509 Research Design PMEP 547 Programming Methods for Empirical Analysis of Health Data PMEP 510 Foundations of Health Economics

Year 1 – Spring PMEP 535 Behavioral Science and Policy in Healthcare PMEP 539 Economic Assessment of Medical Care PMEP 551 Introduction to Health Econometrics

Year 2 – Fall PMEP 525 Pharmacoeconomics I PMEP 534 Health Economics I PMEP 552 Advanced Health Econometrics I

Year 2 – Spring PMEP 526 Pharmacoeconomics II PMEP 544 Health Economics II PMEP 553 Advanced Health Econometrics II

Exceptions to this course sequence will be considered on an individual basis.

Additional Requirements

Foreign language/research tool requirements.

There is no foreign language requirement. However, competence in the use of one computer programming language is required for the degree. Such competence can be demonstrated either by course work, research activities or examination. Students in the PhD program must complete the requirement before taking the qualifying exams.

Seminar Participation

Every student is required to take and satisfactorily complete a four-unit research seminar (PMEP 698). Before completing the dissertation, the student must present at least one original research paper in a seminar. This paper should normally consist of original results contained in the student’s dissertation. It becomes part of the student’s permanent file.

Screening Examinations

A student must pass two written screening exams prior to presenting a dissertation proposal defense (see below). These exams cover research design (courses 509, 519, 529, 539) and econometric methods (ECON 414, 511, 615; PMEP 549). The two screening exams are taken following completion of the second year in the program. Each exam is graded independently, allowing a distinct grade on each one. If necessary, each student is allowed one retake of one exam should a passing grade not be achieved on the first attempt.

Qualifying Examination

Upon successful completion of the course and grade requirements and the core theory examination, the student presents and defends a detailed written dissertation proposal. After passing this examination, the student is admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree.

Doctoral Dissertation

After admission to candidacy, the student forms a dissertation committee composed of at least three faculty members, one of whom can be from an outside department (i.e., a department other than the school Program in Health Economics). The chair of this committee is the dissertation supervisor. The student is expected to register for PMEP 794 (doctoral dissertation) each semester, excluding summer sessions, until the dissertation and all other degree requirements are completed.

The dissertation is defended in an oral examination administered by the dissertation committee when the committee agrees that the student has completed the research and a satisfactory draft of the dissertation has been written. If the committee agrees to pass the student, all suggested extensions, modifications and corrections are incorporated into a final draft, which must be approved by all members of the committee.

Course Offerings

USC Course Catalogue

• For Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (PMEP) courses, see School of Pharmacy.
• For Economics (ECON) courses, see the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
• For Preventive Medicine (PM) courses, see Keck School of Medicine

Schedule of Classes

For course availability for the current year see the  Schedule of Classes . Most department courses are listed as TBA to facilitate scheduling course lectures around courses provided by other Departments.

The 117th USC Mann Commencement | Saturday, May 11, 2024

8-Week Online Course

Real Estate Investing & Analysis Certificate Program

May 13 - Jul 07, 2024

or $1,000/mo nth

Get the Brochure

View the full program syllabus as well as details on faculty, guest speakers and key learner benefits.

Get the brochure

Program overview, level up your real estate investing career, upon program completion, participants receive a digital certificate issued by wharton online.

The world's most recognized real estate investing certificate program

Learn to analyze real estate investments, blending investment theory, with real world financial modeling and analysis as it is done at the world’s leading real estate investment firms.

Learn institutional-grade real estate analysis

The barriers to entry in real estate are low but the barriers to success are high. Learn to approach real estate with an institutional lens that will differentiate you as both a professional and entrepreneur.

Learn from world renowned faculty and experienced real estate investors

You'll learn directly from legendary faculty, industry practitioners and executives at some of the world's leading real estate firms.

Gain a globally recognized certificate

At the conclusion of the 8-week program, participants receive a digital certificate from Wharton Online and program graduate access to lifelong career resources.

A unique collaboration with Wall Street Prep

Wharton Online has collaborated with Wall Street Prep, the real estate industry’s leading financial modeling training provider, to create a unique program that combines investing fundamentals taught by Wharton’s globally recognized faculty with rigorous, real-world skills taught by the industry’s top training provider. Wall Street Prep Real Estate clients include:

Wall Street Prep is a key part of the KKR Real Estate Analyst experience. One of the differentiating strengths of the WSP training program is its comprehensive real estate curriculum; spanning from the basics of real estate markets to real estate modeling across different industry segments. WSP instructors are seasoned real estate professionals with a wealth of practical knowledge.”

"We had an absolutely incredible experience working with Wall Street Prep. The Real Estate Financial Modeling training they offer is exceptional. WSP consistently delivers outstanding training, incorporating hands-on exercises and experienced instructors. We are thrilled about the chance to further collaborate and form partnerships with WSP in the future."

"Our experience with Wall Street Prep has been extremely positive. Their training provides a base that is essential in understanding the core skills of commercial real estate, and the fundamentals training lays the foundation for developing the technical capabilities needed to succeed in the industry."

Partnering with WSP has allowed us to provide our new hires with an immersive training experience that zeros in on the practical skills and concepts private equity professionals use every day. The instructors all have impressive PE backgrounds and truly understand the day-to-day roles of our analysts and associates.

Applicant profile

The Wharton & Wall Street Prep Real Estate Investing & Analysis Certificate Program is designed for finance professionals in their early to mid career seeking to understand institutional-grade real estate analysis.

Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Professionals

Early and mid career commercial real estate investors and operators seeking to develop their real estate investment expertise.

Investment Bankers

Investment banking analysts and associates seeking real estate roles or those that work closely with sponsors and operators.

Brokerage analysts and associates seeking real estate investment roles or those that work closely with sponsors and operators.

Professional Services

Consultants, lawyers, accountants and other advisors that work with real estate owners and support transactions.

Family Offices

Family offices and institutions looking to institutionalize their investment process, raise their first fund, or considering real estate investing.

Private Investors

Individuals investing personal capital or raising funds on a deal by deal basis who are looking to learn and apply institutional real estate best practices into their activities.

Private Lenders

Private lenders and credit professionals that work with real estate owners and operators.

Support Roles in Real Estate

Fund management, investor relations, custodial accounting and other support services for real estate.

Career Switchers

Early to mid career professionals seeking to transition into real estate.

Undergrad and graduate business, finance and accounting students applying for real estate internships and full time roles.

Support Roles

Applicant Career Levels

Applicant industry, countries represented, applicant employers include ....

Top Roles Applicants Hold

8-week program focusing on real estate, 8-10 hour weekly time commitment, self-paced online learning experience, learn by doing with real case studies, how you'll learn.

The Wharton & Wall Street Prep Real Estate Investing & Analysis Certificate Program is an immersive learning experience made up of self-paced video lectures, real-world exercises, industry case studies and full faculty support.

Learn Directly From Top Real Estate Investors

Tailored learning through electives, the same training used by top real estate firms, earn a certificate from wharton online upon successful completion.

Upon successful completion of the program, your Wharton Online-issued certificate will be emailed to you in a digital format you can use to demonstrate your achievement on your LinkedIn profile and resume.

Program curriculum

Over the course of eight weeks, you will learn the concepts and practical technical methods that real estate investment professionals deploy in analyzing and executing real estate transactions. Delivered in a weekly self-paced online format, the program culminates in a closing ceremony and the receipt of a Certificate from Wharton Online.

Introduction to the Real Estate Asset Class

Module 1 serves as the cornerstone of the learning journey, offering an in-depth exploration of real estate as an asset class, the operational dynamics of real estate investment firms, and how to create value in real estate.

• History & evolution of real estate as an asset class
• Common investment strategies & property types
• Various real estate stakeholders & their respective roles in investments
• Real estate within the private market and alternatives ecosystem

The Real Estate Investment Framework

Module 2 provides a comprehensive overview of essential components in real estate investment, focusing on the investment approach, valuation methods, and various frameworks utilized in the industry.

• Foundations of real estate finance: NOI, cap rates, value, and returns
• Introduction to valuation methods: income cap, DCF, comparables, and replacement cost
• What is a real estate pro forma
• Measuring investment returns

Financing and Taxation of Real Estate

Module 3 delves into the intricacies of real estate structuring and financial engineering, focusing on common capital structures, tax considerations, and performance incentives within cash flow waterfalls.

• Capital structures and leverage
• Tax benefits and depreciation
• Joint venture structure, management responsibilities, & the GP/LP relationship
• Cash flow waterfalls & performance incentives

The Real Estate Deal Process

Module 4 immerses participants in the real-world intricacies of the real estate deal process. The focus is on bringing to life the key stages of an investment, from sourcing to business plan execution to disposition.

• Anatomy of the deal process: stages, workstreams & responsibilities
• The role of third parties & their functions
• Deal docs: NDAs, teaser, OMs, LOIs, PSAs, & loan document
• Key terms, due diligence items, and points of negotiation in an acquisition

Real Estate Investment Analysis & Financial Modeling, Part 1

Module 5 begins participant’s deep dive into real estate financial modeling. This module explores how real estate professionals analyze and underwrite investment opportunities, with a specific focus on modeling property-related cash flow proformas.

• Property level financial modeling fundamentals & best practices
• Multifamily, industrial, retail, and office operating cash flow builds
• Capital expenditure & other non-operating cash flow builds
• Defining & calculating net operating income (NOI)
• Acquisition and disposition values (direct capitalization method)

Real Estate Investment Analysis & Financial Modeling, Part 2

Module 6 continues the focus on real estate financial modeling. Students deepen their understanding of investment underwriting, specifically focusing on financing and capital structures. Participants explore modeling debt structures and levered cash flows, gaining insights into the intricacies of financing and its impact on investment returns.

• Debt structures & levered cash flows
• Investment returns - internal rate of return, multiple on invested capital, cash-on-cash yield, yield-on-cost
• Joint venture waterfalls & promote structures
• Acquisition vs. development models
• Using an investment model to inform investment decisions

Analyzing Market Risk Factors

Module 7 delves into the strategic thinking processes employed by real estate professionals when evaluating investment opportunities, focusing on both macro and micro market analysis. Market dynamics are explored, including demand drivers, supply-side considerations, and the impact of volatility on investments.

• Supply & demand dynamics
• Analyzing economic data
• Market rents & forecasting growth
• Market analysis

Analyzing Property Level Risk Factors

Module 8 continues the focus on strategic thinking processes employed by real estate professionals when evaluating investment opportunities, focusing on property-level risks. Emphasis is placed on risk management and the concept of risk mitigation, utilizing leases and mortgages to align risk and return dynamics with investor requirements.

• Identifying & mitigating micro risk factors
• Identifying & mitigating macro risk factors
• Balancing risk & return

Capstone Project: Investment Case Study

In the final module, participants are immersed in the practical application of the entire real estate investment process, covering transaction structuring, investment underwriting, due diligence, and analysis.

• Partnership structure & execution plan
• Due diligence
• Underwriting & financial analysis (upside, base, and downside cases)
• Investment highlights & risks
• Investment recommendation

Faculty & speakers

Benjamin keys, jessie handbury, aaron hancock, daniel mann, aaliyah ameer, eric bergin.

Karine Blanc

Matan feldman, bruce kirsch, lindsay tsumpes, dr. peter linneman, joshua kahr.

Jeff T. Blau

Anar chudgar, deborah harmon.

Christopher Méndez

Alan ratner.

Attend an information session

Tuition & payment options, join a global network.

Enrollees access a large and highly engaged global network of peers who are committed to give us much as they get and to support one another. Connections built throughout the program are strengthen via in person and virtual meetups, discussion groups and networking events.

Invitation-Only Wharton/Wall Street Prep Group on LinkedIn

Upon completion of the program, graduates receive an invitation to join the Wharton Online / Wall Street Prep Real Estate Investing & Analysis Certificate Program Alumni Group on LinkedIn. Through this group, graduates can directly connect with the entire graduate network, seek advice and access graduate-only online events and resources.

Local Connection for a Global Certificate

Program graduates come from over 40 countries, so while the program is global, connection is often created locally. Graduates gain access to their Local Alumni Slack Channel, designed to facilitate local connection for a global certificate.

Cross-Program Networking Events

Enrolling in a Wharton Online & Wall Street Prep Certificate Program is a unique opportunity to expand your professional network beyond your specific industry. Enrollees attend cross-program events attended by other Certificate Program learners and graduates in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, asset management, venture capital, financial planning and analysis (FP&A) and other career tracks.

For Employers: Level up your professional development

Real estate private equity firms.

• Accelerate the new hire training timeline.
• Better compete for talent against large firms with extensive in-house training resources.

Owner/Operators & Developers

• Institutionalize your underwriting and diligence processes.
• Grow your portfolio by creating efficiencies in your execution processes.
• Better understand how your services and products fit into the real estate investment process.
• Equip your sales force to recognize opportunities to add value across your client’s investment processes.

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Earn 65 cpe credits with the real estate investing & analysis certificate program.

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The Wharton & Wall Street Prep will teach learners how to analyze private equity investments, blending investment theory with real world analysis as it is done at the world's leading private equity investment firms. For a complete curriculum, get the program brochure.

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The course is designed to run for eight weeks, with a recommended workload of 8-10 hours of lectures, live sessions, and assignments per week.

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Advert: Admission to Postgraduate Programmes 2024/2025

• May 16, 2024

The Academic Registrar,  Makerere University  invites applications for admission to Graduate Programmes (Postgraduate Diplomas,  Masters and Doctoral Degree Programmes) for the  2024/2025  Academic Year. Applicants should have obtained at least a first or second class degree (or its equivalent) from a  Chartered University  at the time of completion. Applicants should also possess a Uganda Certificate of Education (or its equivalent) and a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (or its equivalent).

Sponsorship:

All Graduate Programmes are  PRIVATELY-SPONSORED.  Therefore applicants seeking sponsorship should have their applications endorsed by their respective sponsors where applicable.  Applicants should note that the various fees payable to the University indicated for the various programmes  EXCLUDE  functional fees, accommodation,  books, research and other expenses.

P hD Degrees by Research Only:

All Colleges offer PhD degrees by Research. Applicants for PhD by research should have a Master’s degree in a field relevant to their area of fmther studies and should have obtained at least a first or second class degree (or its equivalent) from a  Chartered University  at the time of completion. Applicants for the PhDs by Research will be required to submit on-line applications and also submit four copies of the concept note in Office No. 410, Level 4, Senate Building.

How to Apply:

•  Visit the Makerere University’s  Admissions URL  https://apply.mak.ac. ug
• Sign up using full name, e-mail and Mobile No.  Please note that your name must be similar to the one on your suppmting  academic documents for your application to be considered valid.
•  A password will be sent to both your e-mail and mobile number.
• The system will prompt you to change the password to the one you can easily remember.
• To fill a form (all form sections must be filled) the applicant clicks on the APPLY NOW button (for first time applicants) or MY PORTAL button (for renewal of application)   displayed on the appropriate scheme i.e. Taught PhDs, Masters & Postgrad Diplomas OR PhD by Research.
• All academic  transcripts/certificates  and passport photos should be scanned and uploaded on the system.
• You can access the referees’ form by following the following link: https://rgt.mak.ac.ug/sites/default/files/file-attachments/Referee-Letter-of-Recommendation-forAdmission-to-Graduate-Programme.pdf.  These should be filled, scanned and uploaded.
•  Obtain a payment Reference No. by clicking on “Pay for Form” button
• Make payments at any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority. Application fee is UGX 50,000 (East African applicants) or  UGX 151,500 (International Applicants). For International applicants, application fees can be transferred either by EFT or any other means in UGX to a designated URA collection account in Bank of Uganda as follows:

Account Name: UGANDA REVENUE AUTHORITY COLLECTIONS Account No: 003410158000002 Swift Code: UGBAUGKAU Bank Name: BANK OF UGANDA Bank Address: KAMPALA, UGANDA Currency: UGANDA SHILLINGS

• Strictly observe the closing date of Friday, 31 st  May, 2024.
• All Applicants for Master of Laws (LLM) will do a Graduate Admission Test (GAT) consisting of an oral Interview and written test on dates and other requirements to be conm1Unicated by the School.
• All  Applicants  for  Master  of  Business  Administration  (College  of  Business  and  Management Sciences and Makerere University Business School) will do a GMAT test on dates to be communicated by College of Business and Management Sciences and Makerere University Business School respectively.
• In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants for Master of Public Infrastructure Management (MPIM) must have “Proven professional experience of at least 2 years at managerial/supervisory  level or policy-decision making position in a government, parastatal organ, international  organisation  or non-governmental  organisation” Applicants should attach a 2- page short CV and referee recommendations.

Further details of tuition fees and the available programmes open for admission can be accessed from the document below:

• Previous Advert: Admissions to Undergraduate Programmes 2024/25 AY
• Next Call For Scholarship Applications: Masters and PhDs in Climate Smart Agrifood Systems

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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• Saint Vincent College holds 178th Spring Commencement
• Saint Vincent College to partner with West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund to bring solar-powered charging station to campus
• Verostko Center announces new exhibition featuring members of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
• Saint Vincent College to celebrate Life in Christ Week
• December SVC grad commissioned as army officer
• SVC APB wins regional award for record fifth year in a row
• Student spotlight: Bridgette Gorg
• The European Journal of Physics accepts latest work by SVC emeritus professor
• SVC theology professor to present talk on women in the Bible
• SVC biology professor leads study of connection between alcohol and nicotine addictions
• New Bachelor of Science in “Aviation Management – Professional Pilot” takes flight at Saint Vincent College
• SVC students’ documentary “Don’t Count Us Out” wins Gold Viddy Award
• Somerset Trust donates to Saint Vincent Small Business Development Center
• National top-10 ranking for Saint Vincent’s M.S. in Criminology program
• Fall 2023 Dean's List
• SVC’s Monastery Run Improvement Project significantly improves water quality along Four Mile Run
• Saint Vincent College theology professor’s book takes a deeper look at Laudato Si’
• Alumni spotlight: Charles Farley inducted into a pair of high school coaching halls of fame
• SVC Announces 2024 Wimmer Scholarship Award recipients
• Alumni spotlight: At work and at home, Aubrey Marquis is driven by philanthropy
• SVC extends deadline for financial aid filing, Bearcat Advantage Program to May 1
• The SVC Players to present “The Sound of Music” Feb. 22-25
• Alumni Spotlight: Cameron Klos
• Pittsburgh native Dr. Ruth Langer to speak at SVC’s annual Rabbi Jason Edelstein Lecture for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue
• SVC alumnus who authored “Masters of the Air” explains backstory of his book and the Apple TV+ series
• Four students participate in mock Supreme Court argument
• Alumni spotlight: Former FBI analyst Paul Hodos discusses “Steel City Mafia,” his second nonfiction book
• Alumni Spotlight: Anne Darla Pamphile
• The Latrobe/Greensburg Homeschool Science Fair returns
• Student spotlight: Alissa Minerd
• SVC panel discussion with Federated Hermes emphasizes data science’s role in asset management
• Alumni Spotlight: Brianna Baum
• Student Spotlight: Maci Rogers
• U.S. News & World Report ranks SVC’s MS in Management: Operational Excellence a top online master’s in business program for seventh straight year
• SVC professor’s internship program aims to help continue gradual cleanup of local waterways
• SVC Concert Series to present traditional Chinese woodwind program March 15
• Education honor society welcomes new members
• SVC men’s hockey team heads to D3 national tournament after winning league championship
• Student spotlight: Julie Zhu
• Fred Rogers Institute to host Community Open House
• Expert to speak at Saint Vincent about the ethics of keeping partly rehabilitated birds in captivity
• 2024 Challenge Program registration now open
• SVC math professor enjoys “reunion” in Italy at program for commutative algebra research
• SVC physics department will conduct solar eclipse program and planetarium shows
• Student spotlight: Luca Rosato
• Alumni Spotlight: Meg Matich awarded National Endowment for the Arts Literary Translation Fellowship
• SVC holds quantum computing workshop for local STEM teachers and students
• SVC to host women in business panel discussion
• SVC hosts successful Heart of Teaching conference
• Student spotlight: Austin Slye
• SVC physics researchers search for possible effects of solar eclipse on cosmic showers
• Saint Vincent to host annual Summer Theatre gala on April 12
• Saint Vincent College to host eclipse viewing event April 8
• Saint Vincent College earns silver, bronze honors in annual Educational Advertising Awards
• Student spotlight: J’Shawn Taylor
• SVC to host presentation about Catholic Rural Ministry
• Student spotlight: Jacqueline Moon
• SVC to host 2024 senior art showcase
• Saint Vincent College announces updated plans for new athletic center
• Antique coverlet exhibit will open April 17 at Saint Vincent College’s McCarl Gallery
• SVC education department to host educator and author Dr. Todd Whitaker
• SVC welcomes Sr. Gabriele Vasiliauskaité as inaugural Stephans Family Visiting Benedictine Professor
• Saint Vincent College announces Susan Baker Shipley as Spring 2024 Commencement speaker
• Mr. Safin’s “From the Heart” captures filmmaking award
• Saint Vincent College extends new student commitment deadline to June 1
• SVC to host 21st annual Academic Conference
• SVC reveals finalists for 50th annual President’s Award
• SVC student will study in Wales as part of Fulbright Summer Institute program
• Saint Vincent College to build Rhodora and John Donahue Hall to house nursing program
• SVC Concert Series continues with “(S)Heroes” from the IonSound Project
• Saint Vincent College students, faculty recognized at 2024 Spring Honors Convocation
• Olivia Persin is named 2024 SVC President’s Award winner
• Dr. Sara Lindey receives Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award
• Dr. Lucas Briola receives Quentin Schaut Faculty Award
• Alumni spotlight: Chris Golias
• Attorney Daniel Lynch, C’89, delivers 2024 Spring Honors Convocation address
• Hiring event set for 2024 Steelers training camp at SVC
• SVC communication students query Bishop Zubik during mock press conference
• Auditor General Timothy DeFoor makes recruiting pitch to students during Saint Vincent College visit
• SVC students Cameron Walker and Lauren Brennan honored at Education Department’s annual senior send-off picnic
• ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’ kicks off Saint Vincent Summer Theatre’s 2024 season
• SVC professor receives $200,000 grant from National Science Foundation to study water desalination
• Seven SVC students participate in mock Supreme Court arguments
• Saint Vincent College students win for best statistical analysis at DataFest competition
• Spring 2024 commencement address by Ms. Susan Baker Shipley
• SVC engineering students cap Spring 2024 semester by presenting wind tunnel projects

Click here to watch a video replay of the 2024 Spring Commencement.

The Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government conferred 101 degrees in course. The Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing awarded 101 degrees. The School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) conferred 109 degrees.

Dr. John T. Delaney, vice president for academic affairs, delivered introductory remarks, followed by an invocation from Right Reverend Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., S’85, archabbot and chancellor.

Ms. Susan Baker Shipley, president of the Pennsylvania, Ohio Valley and Mahoning region for Huntington Bank, delivered the commencement address .

“This is a day of celebration,” Ms. Shipley said. “A day to celebrate your hard work and achievement. A day to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of Saint Vincent enrolling women. And a day to ponder a very big question: What will be your purpose in life? … Keep an open mind as you continue to reflect on the question. Keep an open heart as you answer your call, keep pressing forward and allow yourself grace along the way.”

“Today, we honor a woman whose impact has been felt deeply in Pittsburgh and the larger region,” Fr. Paul said. “Susie, from your childhood, you have followed your calling to make an impact. You have broken through barriers. You have followed your inner voice, which enables you to live your life in a way that is consistent with your beliefs. It is your personal impact and dedication to this area and this institution that makes you such a deserving recipient of this award.”

Dr. Michael Urick, C’04, dean of the McKenna School; Dr. Stephen Jodis, dean of the Boyer School; and Dr. Elaine Bennett, dean of AHSS, conferred the degrees in course for graduates from their respective schools. Posthumous degrees were conferred to Dominic A. Bottino and Hugh Grant Jeanjaquet.

Upon completion of degree conferral, senior class president Bridget G. Doyle, C’24, and alumni council president Alexandria Simmons, C’10, delivered brief remarks. “Our class defined Saint Vincent over the past four years,” Doyle said. “We have celebrated together and grown in community.”

Platform participants were Father Paul; Dr. Jeff Mallory, C’06, G’13, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Ms. Kimberly M. Colonna, Esq., C’94, Board of Directors vice chair; Fr. Maxwell; Dr. Timothy Kelly, professor of history and faculty council president; Archabbot Martin; Dr. Delaney; and Ms. Simmons.