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Degree Conferral Checklist for HSC Graduate Students

Step-by-step guide to conferring your degree: Everything you need to know

Step 1: Apply for Graduation

Apply for graduation in LOCUS for one of the following conferral time periods. Once you have determined your conferral month, email the Graduate School office at hscdegreeconferral@luc.edu with your graduation plans. How to apply: Instructions for applying for graduation through LOCUS.

  • Spring Conferral (May) - Apply for graduation by December 1
  • Summer Conferral (August) - Apply for graduation by February 1
  • Fall Conferral (December) - Apply for graduation by August 1

Step 2: Pick a Defense Date

Meet with your PI and committee members to decide on a date and time for your defense. Once agreed upon, email the Graduate School office at hscdegreeconferral@luc.edu with your date. It is strongly recommended to book CTRE 152 A and B or the CTRE Auditorium for your defense in order to accommodate student, faculty, and family/friend attendance.

Two weeks before you defend, the graduate office requires a copy of your brochure for your public defense announcement (see further description under “Documents needed to confer my degree” section below).

  • Spring Conferral (May) - Defense date deadline: April 15
  • Summer Conferral (August) - Defense date deadline: July 15
  • Fall Conferral (December) - Defense date deadline: November 15

Step 3: Begin Writing Your Thesis or Dissertation

How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation

The Formatting Manual for Theses and Dissertations provides information on all of the necessary formatting requirements for your thesis and dissertation.

Format Checks

Format checks are drafts of your thesis/dissertation that are emailed to the format check administrators at hscdegreeconferral@luc.edu. The administrators will review your document and provide revisions in accordance with the rules outlined in the formatting manual. Please note that the initial format check does not need to be on your completed thesis/dissertation. Only a representative sample of each required section of your thesis or dissertation (please see manual for required sections).

After your defense, the graduate school requires a second format check with all revisions incorporated from your first format check, and any notes given from your committee members.

First Format Check Deadlines

  • Spring Conferral (May) - March 1
  • Summer Conferral (August) - June 1
  • Fall Conferral (December) - October 1

Step 4: Submit Thesis or Dissertation to ProQuest

After all revisions have been made to your thesis/dissertation, your format check administrators will provide you access to submit your thesis/dissertation to ProQuest.

Documents Needed to Confer Your Degree

Each document links to the template or form required for submission.

Brochure Template.doc (DOC)

This is included in your public defense announcement, which is sent to all faculty and students two weeks before you defend. Please fill in the information provided within the template.

Approval Sheet (DOC)

You must prepare an Approval Sheet for your dissertation/thesis director to sign and date. The Approval Sheet confirms that the document you are submitting to the Graduate School as the final copy is the final text.

Ballot For the text and oral defense of a thesis (DOC)

A public oral defense is required of all PhD dissertations and MS theses. The results of the committee’s evaluation of the text and oral defense are noted on the ballot, which will be signed by the student’s committee members and uploaded to GSPS by the student's Graduate Program Director as soon as possible after the defense.

Extra Abstract Example (PDF)

You do not need to include an abstract in your thesis/dissertation, but you are required to upload one to ProQuest, and the Graduate School office also needs an abstract for alumni files.

Check Out Form (DOC)

A form detailing your future plans after graduation.

Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) - PhD’s ONLY

PhD graduates are required to complete the certificate of completion using the link above. Once completed, save the certificate as a PDF and email it to the Graduate Office at hscdegreeconferral@luc.edu.