• Registration for Thesis 594 & Dissertation 794
• Thesis/Dissertation Paperwork: Sequence for Submission & Checklist
• Thesis/Dissertation Submission Deadlines & Degree Conferral Dates
• Thesis/Dissertation Submission Packets
• Format and Presentation Guidelines
• Typists and Editors

Submission Deadlines

Please note that all submission deadlines (dates and times) are strictly enforced.
No exceptions are permitted.

Deadline dates are noted in the USC catalog. Be sure to schedule your defense and completion dates to allow sufficient time for manuscript editing and to obtain the required signatures.

You must submit your paperwork in person to the Graduate School before you are cleared to submit your manuscript. You will not be permitted to upload your manuscript to The Graduate School website if your documentation is delivered through the mail, or if your documentation is incomplete and/or lacking authorized signatures.

Allow time to make all changes and corrections and obtain all required signatures before the deadline. Please note that no exceptions will be made for professors or department chairs who are on vacation, on leave or otherwise unavailable to sign your forms by the deadline.

Degree Conferral Dates

Your degree will be awarded for the term in which all degree requirements have been met, including approval of the final version of your thesis or dissertation and submission of supporting documents. No degree will be awarded retroactively.

Submitting your manuscript by the semester deadline date and time makes you eligible for graduation in the corresponding semester. However, submission by this date does not guarantee that you will be awarded the degree in the same semester.

Your graduation will be advanced to a later semester if you have:

• failed to make all requested corrections in the time allotted;
• failed to make all corrections by the conferral date; or
• submitted incomplete paperwork, or paperwork lacking original and authorized signatures.

Paperwork is processed and manuscripts read in the order received. Students with new jobs or post-docs, and international students with visa concerns are strongly advised to plan their defense and submission dates accordingly.

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