Sequence for Submission of Paperwork

Begin this process approximately one month before you defend your dissertation or thesis. (See also the Graduation Paperwork Checklist on this page.)

Step 1

Download the appropriate thesis/dissertation Submission Packet.
It will contain manuscript formatting guidelines and the following forms:

Approval to Submit Defended & Final Copy of Doctoral (or Master's) Work;
Verification of Completion of the Requirements for the Doctoral (or Master's) Degree;
Signature Page of the manuscript;
Survey of Earned Doctorates (Doctoral students only); and
The Graduate School Documentation Review form.

Step 2

Successfully defend your dissertation or thesis.

Step 3

Pay the Publication and Processing Fee at the University Cashier's office.

Step 4

Present all items listed in Step One to your Graduate Advisor, who will review the paperwork, sign The Graduate School Documentation Review form, and process the Verification of Completion of the Requirements for the Doctoral (or Master's) Degree form.

Step 5

In the semester in which you anticipate submitting your manuscript, create a dissertation or thesis submission profile on The Graduate School website.

Step 6

Submit the following items to The Graduate School by the appropriate deadline
(see Thesis/Dissertation Submission Deadlines):

Copy of Approval to Submit Defended & Final Copy of Doctoral (or Master's) Work
Original Signature Page of the manuscript, signed by your committee, which will be forwarded to the USC Libraries upon final approval by The Graduate School
Original or copy of your Publication and Processing Fee receipt
Original or copy of the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Doctoral students only)
Copy of latest Appointment of Committee form or Change of Committee form (for all Ph.D. students and Master's students whose degree is under the jurisdiction of The Graduate School)
Original Graduate School Documentation Review form, signed by you and your Graduate Advisor

Step 7

The thesis editing staff will inspect the above paperwork and clear you to upload your manuscript.

Step 8

Once you have been cleared to upload the manuscript, your Graduate Advisor will receive an e-mail requesting submission of the Verification of Completion of the Requirements for the Doctoral (or Master's) Degree form within three weeks. (This form can be included with all other graduation documents if it is completed by the time you are ready to submit your paperwork.)

Step 9

Before the appropriate deadline date and time, upload your manuscript for editing as a single PDF file.

Step 10

The thesis editing staff will review your manuscript and notify you via e-mail that corrections are available. You can view the corrections on the Thesis and Dissertation Online Processing website.

Step 11

Make all requested corrections and upload the final corrected version (approved by the thesis editing staff) of the manuscript.

Step 12

Once your manuscript has been approved by the thesis editing staff, you must upload an exact copy of the final approved PDF version of your manuscript to the USC Libraries.

Step 13

The Thesis Editor signs the Verification of Completion of the Requirements for the Doctoral (or Master's) Degree form (received from your Graduate Advisor) and enters the completion date on SIS, which indicates that your degree can be posted. (Your degree can be posted by the USC Office of Degree Progress only if your Graduate Advisor has accurately verified completion of all requirements.)

Thesis/Dissertation Checklist

Copy of the Approval to Submit Defended and Final Copy of Doctoral Work form or Approval to Submit Final Copy of Master's Thesis form (signed by the entire committee and dated by the committee chairperson)
Original Signature Page (signed by the entire committee)
Documentation Review form (signed and dated by student and department staff advisor)
Receipt for Paid Publication/Binding Fee ($115 for doctorate; $105 for M.A./M.S.; payable at the Cashier's Office)
Original Survey of Earned Doctorates form (doctoral students only; completed by the student)
Copy of the latest Appointment of Committee form or Change of Committee form (signed by the student, Dean, Department Chair, or Director and Dean of the conferring unit). For students whose degree falls under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. (See Guidelines, Appendix G)
Copy of the Verification of Completion of the Requirements for the Doctoral (Master's) Degree form (completed and signed/dated by the Graduate Advisor and Dean, Department Chair, or Director).