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:

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

Spring 2023

Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1*	January 9-March 4
First Day of Classes	January 17
Dissertation Defenses (First Day)	January 17
Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due	February 1
SP '23 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '23 Graduate Eligibility	February 15
President's Day (No Classes)	February 20
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2*	March 6-April 29
Spring Break (No Classes)	March 13-18
SP '23 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due	March 15
SP '23 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations	March 17
Master's Comprehensive Exams	March 29
Doctoral Comprehensive Exams	March 30-31
SU '23 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due to Defend in SP '23	April 1
SU '23 Graduates: Application to Participate in SP '23 Graduation Ceremony Due (Must Register for Summer Courses Prior to Submission)	April 1
SP '23 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library)	April 12
SP '23 Graduates: Last day to take PRAXIS	April 15
Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '23 Defense while Enrolled in CE	May 1
Last Day of Classes	May 1
Make-Up Day**	May 2
GSEHD Doctoral Hooding	May 19
GSEHD School Commencement Celebration	May 20
GW Commencement on the National Mall	May 21

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

**Make-Up Day: Reserved for any unanticipated class cancelations/disruptions. The instructor will provide an update prior to March 30.

Summer 2023

Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1*	May 1
First Day of Classes (Summer Session 1)	May 22
Dissertation Defenses (First Day)	May 22
Memorial Day (No Classes)	May 29
Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due	June 1
SU '23 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due	June 15
Juneteenth (No Classes)	June 19
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2*	June 26
First Day of Classes (Summer Session 2)	July 3
Independence Day (No Classes)	July 4
Master's Comprehensive Exams (On-Campus)	July 12
Doctoral Comprehensive Exams (On-Campus)	July 13-14
SU '23 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations	July 14
SU '23 Graduates: Graduation Application Due	July 15
SU '23 Graduates: Last day to take PRAXIS	July 15
Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '23 Defense while Enrolled in CE	August 15
SU '23 Doctoral Graduates:& ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library)	August 15
FA '23 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertation during SU '23 Semester (Note: Defending after July 14 classifies you as a fall graduate and enrolls you in CE for FA '23)	August 18
Summer Degree Conferral	August 31

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

Appeals Committee Meetings

Master's Appeals Committee (MAC)

September 6, 2022
October 4, 2022
November 1, 2022
November 29, 2022
January 17, 2023
February 7, 2023
March 7, 2023
April 11, 2023
May 9, 2023

(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)

September 14, 2022
October 19, 2022
November 30, 2022
February 15, 2023
March 22, 2023
April 19, 2023

(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

Spring 2023

January 17	First Day to Defend Dissertation
February 15	SU '23 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office
March 17	SP '23 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations
April 1	SU '23 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean’s Office to defend in SP '23
April 12	SP '23 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library)
May 1	Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SU '23 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

Summer 2023

May 22	First Day to Defend Dissertations
June 15	SU '23 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office
July 14	SU '23 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations
August 15, 5 pm	SU '23 Graduates: ProQuest Approval Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library)
August 15	Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in FA '23 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)
August 18	FA '23 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertation during SU '23 Semester (Note: Defending after July 14 classifies you as a fall graduate and enrolls you in CE for FA '23)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

Comprehensive Exam Schedule

Spring 2023

February 1	Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due
March 29	Master's Comprehensive Exams
March 30-31	On-campus Doctoral Comprehensive Exams
April 15	PRAXIS Deadline for SP '23 Grads

Summer 2023

June 1	Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due
July 12	Master's Comprehensive Exams (On-Campus)
July 13-14	Doctoral Comprehensive Exams (On-Campus)
July 15	PRAXIS Deadline for SU '23 Grads

Graduation Dates & Deadlines

Spring 2023 Commencement

March 15	Applications for SP '23 Graduation Due
March 16-April 1	SU '23 Graduates: Submit Application to Participate in Spring 2023 Ceremony (Be sure to register for summer courses prior to submission)
May 19	GSEHD Doctoral Hooding
May 20	GSEHD School Commencement Celebration
May 21	GW Commencement on the National Mall

Summer 2023 Graduates

July 15	Applications for SU '23 Graduation Due