Graduation & Beyond

The academic requirements for all OUHSC graduate degrees are detailed in the Graduate College Bulletin and program handbooks. In brief, these include:

1. Current Enrollment. During the semester of graduation, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 hours of 6980 for the PhD, 5980 for the MS-thesis, and any graduate coursework for the MS-non-thesis. You must be in good academic standing (not on academic probation).
2. Coursework. All of your required courses must be complete or in progress, with passing grades. 
3. Ethics. Your training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) must be complete. RCR training differs for MS-non-thesis, MS-thesis, and PhD students.
4. MS Students must apply for candidacy by the deadline in the OUHSC Academic Calendar, under "Graduation and Related Requirements". The request for candidacy is available at the Graduate College Academics page. 
5. PhD students are admitted to candidacy after passing the general exam, and must complete a degree check with the Graduate College to be eligible for graduation ceremonies. You can request a degree check through iAdvise.
6. Mastery. All graduate degrees include a culminating mastery milestone that must be complete before the degree is conferred: the comprehensive exam for MS-non-thesis graduates, the thesis for MS-thesis graduates, and the dissertation for PhD graduates. These milestones must be complete by the deadlines provided in the OUHSC Academic Calendar, under "Graduation and Related Requirements". Some programs may have additional mastery requirements.  

To complete your degree you must: 

• Complete your coursework
• Pass the defense (or comprehensive exam, for a non-thesis MS)
• Submit your final thesis/dissertation and signature page to the Graduate College in ProQuest, and
• Your mentor must confirm the final copy with the Graduate College. 

The University confers all degrees on the final day of the semester, even if you complete the degree requirements early in the semester. Refer to the OUHSC Academic Calendar for the exact date.

Your final transcript and diploma will come from OU Health Sciences Recruitment and Admissions. Contact hscgraduation@ouhsc.edu with questions.

Before you receive your final transcript and diploma, the Graduate College can provide a letter stating your progress toward the degree requirements:

• If you have completed all coursework and passed the defense, but not submitted your final thesis/dissertation, the letter will state that you have passed the defense and the thesis/dissertation is the last remaining degree requirement.
• Please allow up to five (5) business days for your letter to be sent. 
• To request a letter, e-mail the Consent for Recommendation form to the Graduate College. 

Commencement schedules are posted at https://www.ou.edu/commencement 

Students can learn more about graduation events by visiting https://admissions.ouhsc.edu/Current-Students/Graduation or contacting hscgraduation@ouhsc.edu. 

Faculty should contact the OUHSC Provost's office with questions about Commencement.