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
Jump To Section:
GSEHD Academic Calendar
- Summer 2024
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Summer Course Registration Session 1: March 15-May 19
Session 2: March 15-June 30Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* April 29-June 22 First Day of Classes: Session I (6-week courses) and Full-Term May 20 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) May 20 Memorial Day (No Classes) May 27 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due June 1 Juneteenth (No Classes) June 19 SU '24 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '24 Graduate Eligibility June 19 Last day to drop a course on GWeb Session 1: June 16
Session 2: July 28Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* June 24-August 17 Last Day of Session I (6-week courses) June 29 First Day of Classes: Session II (6-week courses) July 1 Independence Day (No Classes) July 4 SU '24 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due July 15 SU '24 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations July 19 Last Day of Session II (6-week courses) August 10 SU '24 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) August 15 FA '24 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the summer semester August 15 Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '24 Defense while Enrolled in CE August 15 Last Day of Classes: Full-Term August 17 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.edu.
- Fall 2024
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Fall Course Registration Mar 28 - Aug 21 Virtual New Student Orientation – Introduction to the Doctoral Student Journey August 12 Foggy Bottom Campus New Student Orientation - General August 15 Virtual New Student Orientation – General August 20 First Day of Classes August 22 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) August 22 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* Date TBA Labor Day (No Classes) September 2 Last day to drop a course on GWeb September 22 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due October 1 Fall Break (No Classes) October 10-11 Election Day (No Classes) November 5 FA '24 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '24 Graduate Eligibility Date TBA Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* Date TBA FA '24 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due Date TBA FA '24 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations Date TBA Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) November 25-30 FA '24 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) Date TBA Last Day of Classes December 10 Make-Up Day** December 11 SP '25 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester Date TBA Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '25 Defense while Enrolled in CE Date TBA Fall Degree Conferral January 10, 2025
EdD in Human and Organizational Learning Students: See Detailed Residency/Synchronous Saturday Calendar >EdD in Higher Education Administration Students: See Detailed Cohort Weekend Calendar >
*For more information, please contact Marcia Brightman at mbright@gwu.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 2025
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Spring Course Registration Date TBA (Early November) Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* Date TBA First Day of Classes January 13 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) January 13 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day / Inauguration Day (No Classes) January 20 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due February 1 Last day to drop a course on GWeb Date TBA SP '24 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '24 Graduate Eligibility Date TBA President's Day (No Classes) February 17 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* Date TBA Spring Break (No Classes) March 10-15 SP '24 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations Date TBA SP '24 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due Date TBA SP '24 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) Date TBA Last Day of Classes April 28 Make-Up Day** April 29 SU '24 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester Date TBA Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '24 Defense while Enrolled in CE Date TBA GSEHD Commencement Celebration May 17 Spring Degree Conferral May 18 *For more information, please contact Marcia Brightman at mbright@gwu.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)
- 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 Success Representative two weeks prior to the Committee meeting. For instructions on formulating an appeal, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.)
- Spring 2024
- Post-Master's Appeals Committee (PMAC)
- 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
- Summer 2024
May 20 First Day to Defend Dissertation June 19 SU '24 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office July 19 SU '24 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations August 15 SU '24 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) August 15 FA '24 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the summer semester August 15 Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in FA '24 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option) - Fall 2024
August 22 First Day to Defend Dissertation October 22 FA '24 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office November 22 FA '24 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations December 13 at 5pm FA '24 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) December 15 SP '25 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester December 15 Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SP '25 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option) - Spring 2025
January 13 First Day to Defend Dissertation Date TBA SP '24 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office Date TBA SP '24 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations Date TBA SP '24 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) Date TBA SU '24 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester Date TBA Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SU '24 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)
Comprehensive Exam Schedule
Learn more about comprehensive exams: Master's/EdS/Certificate Students | Doctoral Students
- Summer 2024
June 1 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due August 1 PRAXIS Deadline for SU '24 Grads - Fall 2024
October 1 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due January 1 PRAXIS Deadline for FA '24 Grads - Spring 2025
February 1 Applications for Comprehensive Exams Due May 1 PRAXIS Deadline for SP '24 Grads
Graduation Dates & Deadlines
- Summer 2024 Graduates
July 15 Applications for SU '24 Graduation Due August 31 Summer Degree Conferral - Fall 2024 Graduates
Date TBA Applications for FA '24 Graduation Due January 10, 2025 Fall Degree Conferral - Spring 2025 Graduates
Date TBA Applications for SP '25 Graduation Due May 17 GSEHD School Celebration May 18 GW Commencement on the National Mall