Critical Dates

Skip to Calendar:
Comprehensive Overview
Appeals Committees
Dissertation Deadlines
Exam Schedule
Graduation Dates & Deadlines

Review the dates and deadlines below and mark your calendars for key academic dates, including dissertation and commencement deadlines, exam schedules and more. Some dates may be subject to change.

For other important dates during the semester, not included in the calendars below, refer to the:

 

  GSEHD Academic Calendar

Fall 2023
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
First Day of Classes August 24
Dissertation Defenses (First Day) August 24
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* August 28 - October 22
Labor Day (No Classes) September 4
Last day to drop a course on GWeb September 24
Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due October 1
Fall Break (No Classes) October 12-13
FA '23 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '23 Graduate Eligibility October 18
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* October 23
SP '24 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due to Defend in FA '23 November 15
FA '23 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due November 15
FA '23 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations November 17
Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) November 20-25
FA '23 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) December 8
Last Day of Classes December 11
Make-Up Day** December 12
SP '24 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester December 15
Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '24 Defense while Enrolled in CE December 15
Fall Degree Conferral January 5, 2024

*For more information, please contact Marcia Brightman at mbright@gwu.edu.

**Make-Up Day: Reserved for any unanticipated class cancelations/disruptions.

 

 

  Appeals Committee Meetings

Master's Appeals Committee (MAC)
  • Fall 2023
    • October 3
    • November 7
    • December 5
  • Spring 2024
    • January 16
    • February 13
    • March 19
    • April 16
    • May 7

(Note: in order for your appeal to be heard by MAC, it must be submitted to your Student Services Representative two weeks prior to the Committee meeting. For instructions on formulating an appeal, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.)

Post-Master's Appeals Committee (PMAC)
  • November 15, 2023
  • February 7, 2024
  • (Additional dates to follow)

(Note: in order for your appeal to be heard by PMAC, it must be submitted to docgsehd@gwu.edu two weeks prior to the Committee meeting. For instructions on formulating an appeal, please review the Doctoral Student Handbook.)

 

  Key Dissertation Dates

Fall 2023
August 24 First Day to Defend Dissertation
October 18 FA '23 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office
November 15 SP '24 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean’s Office to defend in FA '23
November 17 FA '23 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations
December 8 FA '23 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library)
December 15 SP '24 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester
December 15 Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SP '24 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation 

 

  Comprehensive Exam Schedule

Fall 2023
October 1 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due
TBD Master's Comprehensive Exams
TBD On-campus Doctoral Comprehensive Exams
TBD PRAXIS Deadline for FA '23 Grads

 

  Graduation Dates & Deadlines

Fall 2023 Graduates
November 15 Applications for FA '23 Graduation Due
January 5, 2024 Fall Degree Conferral
Spring 2024 Graduates
Date TBA Applications for SP '24 Graduation Due
May 18, 2024 GSEHD School Celebration
May 19, 2024 GW Commencement on the National Mall