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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

School of Graduate Studies
Committed to your personal and professional growth.  

Culminating Project

Please keep this checklist to assist you in your countdown to graduation!

The School of Graduate Studies must certify that all requirements for graduation have been satisfied before your degree can be officially awarded. It is your responsibility to determine that all requirements for the degree have been met.

Please review the following list to determine that the requirements pertaining to your program have been fulfilled.

Checklist for All Graduate Students

  • Be sure that all the courses on your Approved Program Form were completed within the seven-year time limit for completion of the program.
  • Print your transcript online. Check your transcript to determine that all completed course work is included. If transfer credits do not appear on your transcript and they have been approved as a part of your official program, contact the School of Graduate Studies at once.
  • Complete all courses on your Approved Program Form. ALL COURSE CHANGES MUST BE APPROVED BY PETITION: verbal approval by your adviser is not sufficient. Forms are available online at www.stcloudstate.edu/graduatestudies/forms/current.asp or in the School of Graduate Studies, room AS-121
  • All incompletes must be completed and grades submitted by the instructor. Remind your professor to submit a grade change for all incompletes or IP grades. This includes field studies, theses, creative works, and starred papers. Check your transcript to determine if the necessary changes have been made.
  • A 3.0 grade point average in the major, the total program, and overall graduate courses attempted must be recorded on your transcript. A 3.25 grade point average is required for the Specialist degree in Education Administration. Students who have not achieved the required grade point average are not eligible to take either the oral or written final examinations.
  • A grade of C- or lower or a grade of “U” cannot be used toward a graduate program.
  • Fulfill the residence requirement. Candidates for the specialist degree and master’s degree must earn a minimum of 20 semester hours in on-campus classes (day and night combined).
    • Courses offered at graduate study centers or through cohort groups established by the University are considered on-campus credit.
    • Established ITV and web-based programs are also considered on-campus credit.
    • Individual departments may establish residence policies requiring a period of full-time study. Students should consult with their adviser to determine specific departmental requirements
  • Some departments require a final written comprehensive examination for Plans A, B, or C. Check with your adviser.

Additional Checklist for Plan A: Field Study and Thesis

  • It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the Final Oral Examination with committee members selected prior to the preliminary conference. The final oral cannot be held in the same semester as the preliminary conference. Final orals generally are not scheduled during the final examination week. Once scheduled, the student or her/his adviser must notify the School of Graduate Studies to allow the paperwork for the conference to be prepared.
  • One complete copy of your work must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for format review prior to submission for binding. This is not a final copy.
  • After approval by your committee and the format reviewer, submit a minimum of three final copies or your field study or thesis by the appropriate deadline (see below).
    • Signatures of committee members are required on each approval page.
    • The thesis or field study is then registered in the School of Graduate Studies for binding and fee payment.
    • If the student desires a bound copy of the field study or thesis, one additional copy must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
    • Two additional signed copies of the abstract are required for further distribution by the School of Graduate Studies.
    • An abstract IS required for field study and thesis.
  • All final copies must be submitted on 100% cotton paper for binding.
  • The student is responsible for the binding fee of $10 per copy plus a one-time $10 microfilm fee. Please make check payable to St. Cloud State University. Submit payment to the School of Graduate Studies. If you wish to use a credit card you must contact Ann E. Anderson at 320.308.2114 or aeanderson@stcloudstate.edu to enter charges before payment can be made.
  • Remind you adviser to submit a grade/change of grade for the field study/thesis. A mark of “S” is recorded for an approved field study or theses.

Additional Checklist for Plan A: Creative Work

  • It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the Final Oral Examination with committee members selected prior to the preliminary conference. The final oral cannot be held in the same semester as the preliminary conference. Final orals generally are not scheduled during the final examination week. Once scheduled, the student or her/his adviser must notify the School of Graduate Studies to allow the paperwork for the conference to be prepared.
  • After your final oral, submit a minimum of three final copies of your creative work by the appropriate deadline (see below).
    • Signatures of committee members are required on each approval page.
    • The creative work is then registered in the School of Graduate Studies for binding and fee paid. If the student desires a bound copy of the creative work, one additional copy must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
    • No abstract is required.
  • All final copies must be submitted on 100% cotton paper for binding.
  • The student is responsible for the binding fee of $10 per copy plus a one-time $10 microfilm fee. Please make checks payable to St. Cloud State University. Submit    payment to the School of Graduate Studies. If you wish to use a credit card you must contact Ann E. Anderson at 320.308.2114 or aeanderson@stcloudstate.edu to enter charges before payment can be made.
  • Remind your adviser to submit a grade/change of grade for the creative work. A mark of “S is recorded for an approved creative work.

Additional Checklist for Plan B: Starred Paper

  • It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the Final Oral Examination with the committee members selected prior to the preliminary conference. The final oral cannot be held in the same semester as the preliminary conference. Final orals generally are not scheduled during the final examination week. Once scheduled, the student or her/his adviser must notify the School of Graduate Studies to allow the paperwork for the conference to be prepared.
  • After your final oral, submit a minimum of three final copies of your starred paper by the appropriate deadline (see below).
    • Signatures of committee members are required on each approval page.
    • The starred paper is then registered in the School of Graduate Studies.
    • If the student desires a bound copy of the starred paper, one additional copy must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
    • No abstract is required.
  • All final copies must be submitted on 100% cotton paper for binding.
  • The student is responsible for the binding fee of $10 per copy plus a one-time $10 microfilm fee. Please make checks payable to St. Cloud State University. Submit payment to the School of Graduate Studies. If you wish to use a credit card you must contact Ann E. Anderson at 320.308.2114 or aeanderson@stcloudstate.edu to enter charges before payment can be made.

Additional Checklist for Plan B: Written Comprehensive Examination

  • During the first week of the semester you plan to graduate, arrange with your adviser to complete the final written comprehensive examination. The adviser will notify the School of Graduate Studies whether you pass or fail and will submit your examination to the School of Graduate Studies.

Additional Checklist for Plan C: Professional Project/Portfolio

  • Candidates are required to successfully complete a final oral and/or written examination covering the material developed for inclusion in the professional project/portfolio.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the Final Oral Examination with committee members selected prior to the preliminary conference. The final oral cannot be held in the same semester as the preliminary conference. Final orals generally are not scheduled during the final examination week. Once scheduled, the student or her/his adviser must notify the School of Graduate Studies to allow the paperwork for the conference to be prepared.
  • The final portfolio should be submitted to the department a minimum of two weeks prior to the date set for the final oral.

Deadlines for submission of the culminating project:

  FINAL COPIES   FINAL COPIES
Summer 2007: August 16 Summer 2008: August 14
Fall 2007: December 19 Fall 2008: December 19
Spring 2008: May 9    

If you have questions on your degree completion status, please call 320.308.2113.