Critical Dates

The deadlines below do not include course registration deadlines. If you are looking for that information, please visit the Office of the Registrar. Information about graduation can be found on the GSEHD Graduation Page.

Fall 2019

8/26: First Day of Classes, Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1 starts**
8/26: First Day to Defend Dissertations
10/1: Applications for Graduation Due for fall graduates
10/1: Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due

10/21: Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2 Begins (ELA only)**
11/6: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office - Materials always due 30 days prior to defense
12/4: Master's Comprehensive Exams
12/5 - 12/6: On-campus Doctoral Comprehensive Exams
12/1: Application for Certificate Clearance Due
12/6: Last Day to Defend Dissertations
1/1: Last day to take PRAXIS for Fall 2019 grads
1/3*: ProQuest Approval Deadline
Master's Appeals Committee: TBD
Post-Master's Appeals Committee: TBD

Spring 2020

TBD: New Student Orientation
1/6: Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1 Begins (ELA only)**
1/13: First Day of Classes
1/13: First Day to Defend Dissertations
2/1: Applications for Graduation Due for spring graduates
2/1: Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due
2/14: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office (or 30 days prior to defense, if defense is earlier)
3/4: Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2 Begins (ELA only)**
3/13: Last day to defend dissertations
3/15: Applications for Graduation Due for students completing programs in summer but participating in spring 2019 graduation (Master's & EdS only - Doctoral students are not eligible)
4/1*: ProQuest Submission Deadline (submitted and approved)
4/1: Application for Certificate Clearance Due
4/1: On-campus Master's Comprehensive Exams
4/2 - 4/3: On-campus Doctoral Comprehensive Exams
5/1: Last day to take PRAXIS for Spring 2020 grads
5/15 - 5/17, GW Commencement Weekend
Master's Appeals Committee: TBD
Post-Master's Appeals Committee: TBD

Summer 2020 - Update in Progress

4/27: Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1 Begins (ELA only)**
5/18: First Day of Classes (summer session 1)
5/20: First Day to Defend Dissertations
6/1: Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due
6/22: Ed Leadership & Admin Summer Session 2 Begins (ELA only)**
7/1: Applications for Graduation Due
7/1: Application for Certificate Clearance Due
7/1: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office - Materials always due 30 days prior to defense
7/1: First Day of Classes (summer session 2)
7/15: On-campus Master's Comprehensive Exams
7/16-7/17: On-campus Doctoral Comprehensive Exams
8/1: Last day to defend dissertation
8/1: Last day to take PRAXIS for Summer 2020 grads
8/15*: ProQuest Approval Deadline

*Please Note: In order to be considered a graduate in the semester you defend your dissertation, final copies of your dissertation and supporting documents must be uploaded electronically and accepted by the Gelman Library and the Office of Student Services by the deadlines listed above. Although the Doctoral Handbook says you have 30 days to submit final documents to the Office of Student Services after your defense, if you defend your dissertation within 30 days of the ProQuest Submission deadline, you will have less than 30 days to submit final documents and have your dissertation accepted.

**For more info on add/drop dates for Ed Leadership & Admin, please contact Marcia Brightman at mbright@gwu.edu