The University of St. Thomas

Degree Candidacy

Students advance to degree candidacy after successfully completing:

  • the performance assessment hearing;
  • all coursework with a minimum 3.0 GPA;
  • entrance and exit reviews of the DVD teaching demonstration;
  • the oral comprehensive examination; and
  • a thesis proposal.

Graduation Planning

As a general rule, plan four months out from the intended semester of graduation. Master of Arts in Music Education degree program deadlines are as follows:

For a diploma dated May:

  • File for graduation by March 1 with the program coordinator.
  • Schedule thesis defense by March 31 with thesis supervisor and committee members.
  • Report defense date and time to the program coordinator.
  • Submit final thesis draft to committee members at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense.
  • Defend thesis by April 15.
  • Complete thesis corrections and revisions by May 1.

For a diploma dated July:

  • File for graduation by June 1 with the program coordinator.
  • Schedule thesis defense by June 30 with thesis supervisor and committee members.
  • Report defense date and time to the program coordinator.
  • Submit final thesis draft to committee members at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense.
  • Defend thesis by July 15.
  • Complete thesis corrections and revisions by August 1.

For a diploma dated December:

  • File for graduation by Oct. 1 with the program coordinator.
  • Schedule thesis defense by Oct. 31 with thesis supervisor and committee members.
  • Report defense date and time to the program coordinator.
  • Submit final thesis draft to committee members at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense.
  • Defend thesis by Nov. 15.
  • Complete thesis corrections and revisions by Dec. 1.

Commencement

The University of St. Thomas conducts two commencement ceremonies each year; one in May, and one in December. Students who complete all requirements for the Master of Arts degree by May 1 will receive a diploma dated May. Students who complete all requirements for the degree by Aug. 1 will receive a diploma dated July. Students who complete all requirements for the degree by Dec. 1 will receive a diploma dated December. Students must apply for graduation and if, for any reason, they do not graduate in the month originally selected, they must reapply.

Diplomas are mailed to graduates after all requirements are verified as being completed, usually six to eight weeks following the respective semester's commencement ceremony. Diplomas will not be released to graduates who have unsatisfactory financial accounts with the university.