Dates & Deadlines
DATES
DATES
AND DEADLINES
Mark Your Calendars
Review the dates below for key academic dates, including dissertation and commencement deadlines, exam schedules and more. Dates may be subject to change.
For other important dates during the semester, not included in the calendars below, refer to the:
- Schedule of Classes to see when classes are offered
- Course Registration Deadlines
- GW Events Calendar and GSEHD Event Calendar to learn about upcoming events and activities
- University-Wide Academic Calendar for a comprehensive list of dates
GSEHD Academic Calendar
- Summer 2025
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Summer Course Registration Opens Session 1: March 15-May 19
Session 2: March 15-June 30Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* April 28 - June 21 First Day of Classes: Session I (6-week courses) and Full-Term May 19 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) May 19 Memorial Day (No Classes) May 26 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due June 1 SU '25 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '25 Graduate Eligibility June 18 Juneteenth (No Classes) June 19 Last day to drop a course on GWeb Session 1: June 16
Session 2: July 28Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* June 23 - August 16 Last Day of Session I (6-week courses) June 28 First Day of Classes: Session II (6-week courses) June 30 Independence Day (No Classes) July 4 SU '25 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due July 15 SU '25 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations July 18 Last Day of Session II (6-week courses) August 9 SU '25 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) August 15, 5 pm FA '25 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the summer semester August 15 Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '25 Defense while Enrolled in CE August 15 Last Day of Classes: Full-Term August 16 Summer Degree Conferral August 31
EdD in Higher Education Administration Students: See Detailed Cohort Weekend Calendar >*For more information, please contact Marcia Brightman at mbright
gwu [dot] edu (mbright[at]gwu[dot]edu).- Fall 2025
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Fall Course Registration March 27 - Aug 24 In-Person New Student Orientation August 22 First Day of Classes August 25 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) August 25 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* August 25 - October 19 Labor Day (No Classes) September 1 Last day to drop a course on GWeb September 21 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due October 1 Fall Break (No Classes) October 9-10 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* October 20 - December 14 FA '25 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '25 Graduate Eligibility October 22 FA '25 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due November 15 FA '25 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations November 21 Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) November 24-29 Last Day of Classes December 8 Make-Up Day** December 11 FA '25 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) December 12, 5 pm SP '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester December 15 Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '26 Defense while Enrolled in CE December 15 Fall Degree Conferral January 9, 2026
EdD in Human and Organizational Learning Students: See Detailed Residency/Synchronous Saturday Calendar >EdD in Higher Education Administration Students: See Detailed Cohort Weekend Calendar >
*ELA Students: For more information, please contact Marcia Brightman at mbright
gwu [dot] edu (mbright[at]gwu[dot]edu).**Make-Up Day: This day is held to allow the university and/or an individual faculty member to offer a make-up class for any unanticipated class cancelations or disruptions related to weather, emergencies, or a change to the class schedule. The Provost Office and/or the instructor will provide an update prior to Thanksgiving break.
- Spring 2026
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Spring Course Registration TBD (Nov-Jan) Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* January 5 - March 1 First Day of Classes January 12 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) January 12 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No Classes) January 19 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due February 1 Last day to drop a course on GWeb TBD SP '26 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '26 Graduate Eligibility TBD President's Day (No Classes) February 16 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* March 2 - April 26 Spring Break (No Classes) March 9-14 SP '26 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due TBD SP '26 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations TBD SP '26 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) TBD, 5 pm Last Day of Classes April 27 Make-Up Day** April 28 SU '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester TBD Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '26 Defense while Enrolled in CE TBD GSEHD Commencement Celebration May 16 Spring Degree Conferral + Commencement May 17 *For more information, please contact Marcia Brightman at mbright
gwu [dot] edu (mbright[at]gwu[dot]edu).**Make-Up Day: This day is held to allow the university and/or an individual faculty member to offer a make-up class for any unanticipated class cancelations or disruptions related to weather, emergencies, or a change to the class schedule. The Provost Office and/or the instructor will provide an update prior to March 30.
Appeals Committee Meetings
- Master's Appeals Committee (MAC)
- All meetings will be held Tuesdays, 12-2pm – ONLINE
- September 2
- September 30
- October 28
- December 2
- January 20
- February 17
- March 17
- April 14
- May 5
(Note: in order for your appeal to be heard by MAC, it must be submitted to your Student Success Representative two weeks prior to the Committee meeting. For instructions on formulating an appeal, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.)
- All meetings will be held Tuesdays, 12-2pm – ONLINE
- Post-Master's Appeals Committee (PMAC)
- September 10, 10am-12pm
(Note: in order for your appeal to be heard by PMAC, it must be submitted to docgsehd
gwu [dot] edu (docgsehd[at]gwu[dot]edu) two weeks prior to the Committee meeting. For instructions on formulating an appeal, please review the Doctoral Student Handbook.)
Key Dissertation Dates
- Summer 2025
May 19 First Day to Defend Dissertation June 18 SU '25 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office July 18 SU '25 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations August 15, 5 pm SU '25 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) August 15 FA '25 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the summer semester August 15 Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in FA '25 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option) - Fall 2025
August 25 First Day to Defend Dissertation October 22 FA '25 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office November 21 FA '25 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations December 12, 5 pm FA '25 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) December 15 SP '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester December 15 Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SP '26 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option) - Spring 2026
January 12 First Day to Defend Dissertation TBD SP '25 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office TBD SP '25 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations TBD at 5 pm SP '25 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) TBD SU '25 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester TBD Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SU '25 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)
Comprehensive Exam Schedule
Learn more about comprehensive exams: Master's/EdS/Certificate Students | Doctoral Students
- Summer 2025
June 1 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due August 1 PRAXIS Deadline for SU '25 Grads - Fall 2025
October 1 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due January 1 PRAXIS Deadline for FA '25 Grads - Spring 2026
February 1 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due May 1 PRAXIS Deadline for SP '26 Grads
Graduation Dates & Deadlines
- Summer 2025 Graduates
July 15 Applications for SU '25 Graduation Due August 31 Summer Degree Conferral - Fall 2025 Graduates
TBD Applications for FA '25 Graduation Due January 9, 2026 Fall Degree Conferral - Spring 2026 Graduates
TBD Applications for SP '26 Graduation Due May 16 GSEHD School Celebration May 17 GW Commencement on the National Mall