Dates & Deadlines

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 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 30
Ed 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 28
Ed 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
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 9
Make-Up Day**	December 10
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.)

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)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

Fall 2024

August 22	First Day to Defend Dissertation
Date TBA	FA '24 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office
Date TBA	FA '24 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations
Date TBA	FA '24 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library)
Date TBA	SP '25 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester
Date TBA	Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SP '25 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

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)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

  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