Completion of a Degree

Visit the Plan I Student Lifecycle page for a step-by-step overview of key milestones. 

Faculty Advisor

Upon admission to a UAB graduate program, each degree-seeking student must be assigned a faculty advisor from that program. This assignment may be temporary. If no advisor is designated, the program director will serve in that role. The student and advisor should meet to decide between Plan I and Plan II, discuss coursework, and review other requirements based on the student’s prior experience and the program’s expectations.

Plan I (Thesis) requires the completion, in good academic standing, of at least 24 semester hours of appropriate graduate work and 6 semester hours of thesis research for a total of at least 30 semester hours, with the presentation of an acceptable thesis embodying the results of original research work.

Plan II (Non-Thesis) may not require research and does not require a formal thesis. A minimum of 30 semester hours of appropriate graduate work must be completed in good academic standing. Although thesis research is not required as part of a Plan II course of study, the student is often expected to gain insight into the techniques of problem posing and problem solving and to use these insights to prepare a written report.

A change in choice of plans requires the approval of the program director.

Thesis Committee

Traditionally, graduate study is highly flexible and individualized. A specific plan of study should be developed as soon as possible upon matriculation. Thesis committees, often chaired by the student's advisor, are appointed to guide the student toward their degree.

The Thesis Committee must consist of at least three faculty members, each of whom must have:

• Have credentials equal to or exceeding that of the degree that the student is pursuing,
• Have Graduate Faculty status through the Graduate School, and
• Relevant insight and expertise to guide the student.

Thesis committees cannot be comprised of faculty who are related to each other, the student, or otherwise fall under the Family or Household Member designation as defined in UAB's policy on nepotism.

Students will complete the Committee Form, which requires the approval of the graduate program director. Graduate Faculty Status requests must be approved by the Graduate School Dean prior to submission of the Committee Form. Changes to a student’s committee must be submitted on the Change of Graduate Study Committee form. Visit the Graduate School's website for additional information and submission instructions.

Minimum Course Credit Requirements

The Graduate School requires a minimum of 30 semester hours for students in master’s programs. Program requirements for coursework may exceed the Graduate School minimum but may not be less than the Graduate School minimum.

Plan I requires the completion of at least 24 semester hours of appropriate graduate work, of which a maximum of 9 hours of non-thesis research (i.e. 698) can be applied, and 6 semester hours of thesis research (i.e. 699) over a minimum of one semester in candidacy.

Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

The Graduate School requires that students be in good academic standing to graduate. All master’s students must have a 3.0 graduate-level GPA, as well as a 3.0 in their individual program in order to graduate. Program GPA requirements for coursework may exceed the Graduate School minimum but may not be less than the Graduate School minimum.

Additional Program Requirements

In consultation with the faculty, the director of each graduate program will specify any additional requirements, such as a reading knowledge of a foreign language or a working knowledge of statistics, which are considered essential to mastery of the academic discipline. Such requirements become conditions for the completion of the degree. It is the student’s responsibility to know their program’s requirements for degree completion.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy is a formal step forward in the student's pursuit of the master's degree. The recommendation for admission to candidacy from the thesis committee and program director acknowledges that the student has been performing well and is likely to complete the degree. Application for admission to candidacy should be submitted when the student has obtained an adequate background and has provided the committee with an acceptable proposal for thesis research.

In addition, the Vice President for Research requires all students who are engaged in research complete the applicable Responsible Conduct in Research requirements. Responsible Conduct in Research requirements must be completed within four (4) years prior to applying for candidacy as they expire after that time.

Students do not have to complete all coursework prior to admission to candidacy if the graduate study committee ascertains that the student has an adequate foundation in the discipline.

Students must be in good academic standing to be eligible for admission to candidacy, and admission must take place no later than one semester before the expected graduation. 

Students must submit a Candidacy Application and be notified of admission before registering for thesis research hours (i.e., 699). 

IRB (Institutional Review Board) and IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) Approval

When a student’s research involves human or animal subjects, the project must be approved by IRB/IACUC or the student must be added to the mentor’s approved IRB/IACUC protocol. Students may be admitted to candidacy with contingency by providing documentation that application for IRB or IACUC approval has been submitted. Students admitted with this contingency will have one semester to provide documentation of IRB or IACUC approval. Once documentation has been received by the Graduate School, the contingency will be removed. If documentation of final approval is not submitted before the end of the semester, a hold will be placed on the student’s record preventing registration in future terms until such documentation is submitted to the Graduate School.

It is the responsibility of the mentor to ensure complete approval is received.

Research involving human or animal subjects cannot be conducted without approval of the protocols by the IRB or IACUC, as applicable. Thus, students with contingent admission to candidacy can conduct literature reviews or similar activities, but they cannot work with animals or human subjects or with human data. Expeditious approval of protocols is critical for research progress and is the collective responsibility of the student and their research mentor(s).

Certain programs may have national accrediting or curricular requirements that necessitate admission into candidacy prior to seeking IRB/IACUC approval. For these students, IRB or IACUC approval must be submitted in order to register in a subsequent semester. IRB/IACUC approvals must be kept current until the research is completed and published.

For ways in which students can be added to a protocol, refer to the Tip Sheet for Students Involved in Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects. The IACUC form must display the appropriate research protocol number.

Application for Degree

Candidates for a master’s degree must notify their program and the Graduate School of their intent to graduate by submitting the Application for Degree by the appropriate deadline. Note that some programs may have an earlier submission deadline than the Graduate School. It is the student's responsibility to know their program's deadlines.

Upon receipt of the Application for Degree, both the graduate program and the Graduate School will audit the students’ requirements to ensure the degree can be awarded. UAB’s Graduation Planning System (GPS) contains a personalized degree audit that includes all courses required to earn the degree and will display completed, in-progress, and outstanding requirements. GPS is accessible through BlazerNET by clicking the GPS button in the menu on the right side of the page. 

Plan I master’s students must be registered for at least one (1) hour of 699 research credit during the semester in which the degree will be conferred. If degree candidates are covered by the student health insurance policy, hold an assistantship, or have student loans, it may be necessary to register for a prescribed minimum number of credit hours to retain these benefits. Students should check with the appropriate office(s) if retention of these benefits is a concern. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure

Students are required to disclose use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their research and/or writing of the thesis/dissertation. Failure to accurately and completely disclose this information will result in an Academic Misconduct inquiry through the student’s home School/College. 

Thesis

The thesis required under Plan I must present the results of the candidate’s original research and the interpretation of those results. The document must also demonstrate the candidate’s acquaintance with the literature of the field and the proper selection and execution of research methodology.

The final approved version of the thesis must be submitted as a single PDF for final review no later than 10 business days following the public defense. Master’s students must submit the Public Defense Approval Form, signed by each committee member and the program director. Signatures of committee members and program directors on the approval form indicate their assurance that they have examined the document and have found that it is of professional quality from all standpoints, including writing, technical correctness, and competency, and the document conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation. Once submitted, the Graduate School ensures that the final version of the thesis meets the physical standards required of a permanent, published document and for adherence to the requirements stated in the UAB Format Manual.

Thesis Defense

A Plan I student’s final examination is a presentation and public defense of the thesis, followed by an examination of the candidate’s comprehensive knowledge of the field. The time, date, and location of this examination is reported to the Graduate School via the online Request for Public Defense Approval form and must be submitted at least 10 business days before the public defense. The meeting must be appropriately announced on campus, must be open to all interested parties, and must take place before the semester Thesis or Dissertation defense deadline. In addition, candidates must be registered for at least 1 hour of thesis research at the time of the defense and final examination.

If, in the opinion of more than one member of the thesis committee, the student has failed the thesis defense, there is no consensus to pass. The chair of the committee shall notify the student in writing that the thesis fails to meet the requirements of the program and will share the reason(s) for failure. If the student resubmits or submits a new thesis for consideration by their graduate program, at least two members of the new examining committee shall be drawn from the original committee. If the modified or new thesis also fails to meet the requirements of the program, the student shall be dismissed from the graduate program.

If only one of the three committee members dissent, that individual must submit a letter outlining the reasons for their dissent to the student’s advisor. The advisor and student may then prepare a rebuttal statement that is submitted, along with the letter of dissent, to the advisory or executive committee of the program for review. The advisory committee can then decide to accept or reject the rebuttal statement. If the rebuttal is accepted, the student is passed on their thesis defense. If the rebuttal is rejected, the advisory committee can recommend to the student or advisor potential steps necessary to remediate the thesis and potentially also the work therein, or the committee can recommend that the student be dismissed from the program.

Commencement

UAB holds a commencement ceremony at the conclusion of each Fall, Spring, and Summer semester. Students may participate in the ceremony that corresponds to their graduation term. Requests to attend a ceremony outside of a student’s graduation term must be submitted to the Graduate School by email gradschool@uab.edu and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Commencement information is available here and students may indicate their attendance in BlazerNET.

Award of Degree

Upon approval by the Graduate School Dean and payment of any outstanding financial obligations to the university, the President confers students’ degrees by authority of the Board of Trustees. UAB does not determine the official degree type awarded as this is governed by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and the Board of Trustees after receiving a program proposal. Students’ majors will be reflected on the official transcript after conferral.

Faculty Advisor

Upon admission to a UAB graduate program, each degree-seeking student must be assigned a faculty advisor from that program. This assignment may be temporary. If no advisor is designated, the program director will serve in that role. The student and advisor should meet to decide between Plan I and Plan II, discuss coursework, and review other requirements based on the student’s prior experience and the program’s expectations.

Plan I (Thesis) requires the completion, in good academic standing, of at least 24 semester hours of appropriate graduate work and 6 semester hours of thesis research for a total of at least 30 semester hours, with the presentation of an acceptable thesis embodying the results of original research work.

Plan II (Non-Thesis) may not require research and does not require a formal thesis. A minimum of 30 semester hours of appropriate graduate work must be completed in good academic standing. Although thesis research is not required as part of a Plan II course of study, the student is often expected to gain insight into the techniques of problem posing and problem solving and to use these insights to prepare a written report. 

A change in choice of plans requires the approval of the program director.

Steps Toward Earning a Master's Degree: Plan II

1. Admission to master’s degree program
2. Selection of faculty advisor
3. Maintenance of academic good standing
4. Application for Degree (click here for deadlines)
5. Award of degree

Graduate Committee

Some graduate programs do not use a graduate committee for Plan II students, particularly when flexibility in the course of study is limited by accreditation and other external constraints.

If the program requires a Graduate Committee for Plan II students, the committee must consist of at least three faculty members, each of whom must have:

• Have credentials equal to or exceeding that of the degree that the student is pursuing,
• Have Graduate Faculty status through the Graduate School, and
• Relevant insight and expertise to guide the student.

Graduate committees cannot be comprised of faculty who are related to each other, the student, or otherwise fall under the Family or Household Member designation as defined in UAB's policy on nepotism.

Students will complete the Committee Form, which requires the approval of the graduate program director. Graduate Faculty Status requests must be approved by the Graduate School Dean prior to submission of the Committee Form. Changes to a student’s committee must be submitted on the Change of Graduate Study Committee form. Visit the Graduate School's website for additional information and submission instructions.

Minimum Course Credit Requirements

The Graduate School requires a minimum of 30 semester hours for students in master’s programs. Program requirements for coursework may exceed the Graduate School minimum but may not be less than the Graduate School minimum.

Plan II requires the completion of 30 semester hours of core graduate coursework directly related to the discipline. A maximum of 9 semester hours of non-thesis research (i.e. 698) may be applied.

Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

The Graduate School requires that students be in good academic standing to graduate. All master’s students must have a 3.0 graduate-level GPA, as well as a 3.0 in their individual program in order to graduate. Program GPA requirements may exceed the Graduate School minimum but may not be less than the Graduate School minimum.

Additional Program Requirements

In consultation with the faculty, each graduate program will specify any additional requirements, such as a reading knowledge of a foreign language or a working knowledge of statistics, which are considered essential to mastery of the academic discipline. Such requirements become conditions for the completion of the degree. It is the student’s responsibility to know their program’s requirements for degree completion.

Application for Degree

Candidates for a master’s degree must notify their program and the Graduate School of their intent to graduate by submitting the Application for Degree by the appropriate deadline. Note that some programs may have an earlier submission deadline than the Graduate School. It is the student's responsibility to know their program's deadlines.

Upon receipt of the Application for Degree, both the graduate program and the Graduate School will audit the students’ requirements to ensure the degree can be awarded. UAB’s Graduation Planning System (GPS) contains a personalized degree audit that includes all courses required to earn the degree and will display completed, in-progress, and outstanding requirements. GPS is accessible through BlazerNET by clicking the GPS button in the menu on the right side of the page. 

Commencement

UAB holds a commencement ceremony at the conclusion of each Fall, Spring, and Summer semester. Students may participate in the ceremony that corresponds to their graduation term. Requests to attend a ceremony outside of a student’s graduation term must be submitted to the Graduate School by email gradschool@uab.edu and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Commencement information is available here and students may indicate their attendance in BlazerNET.

Award of Degree

Upon approval by the Graduate School Dean and payment of any outstanding financial obligations to the university, the President confers students’ degrees by authority of the Board of Trustees. UAB does not determine the official degree type awarded as this is governed by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and the Board of Trustees after receiving a program proposal. Students’ majors will be reflected on the official transcript after conferral.

Visit the Plan I Student Lifecycle page for a step-by-step overview of key milestones.

Doctoral Degree Overview

The doctoral degree is granted in recognition of scholarly proficiency and distinctive achievement in a specific discipline. The first component is demonstrated by successful completion of advanced coursework of both a didactic and an unstructured nature as well as by adequate performance on the comprehensive examination. Traditionally, the student demonstrates the second component by independently performing original research. In certain doctoral programs, performing a major project may be acceptable even though it may not consist of traditional research. However, in all programs, with the exception of DPT and DNP, a dissertation presenting the results of the student’s independent study is required.

The Graduate School also recognizes professional doctorates awarded in preparation for the autonomous practice of a profession. Professional doctorates are accredited programs of study usually designed to prepare students for the delivery of clinical services or to assume specific types of administrative responsibilities. Students in professional doctorate programs must demonstrate competence in clinical practice and/or scholarship but are not required to conduct and defend original independent research. In lieu of a dissertation, students in programs designated as professional doctorate programs are required to demonstrate that they can evaluate existing research, apply it to their professional practice, and expand the body of knowledge on which their professional practice is based. This requirement is often met by the design and completion of a research or scholarly project submitted in writing and presented formally before the faculty in the program.

Faculty Advisor

Upon admission to a UAB graduate program, each degree-seeking student must be assigned a faculty advisor from that program. This assignment may be temporary. If no advisor is designated, the program director will serve in that role. The student and advisor should meet to decide between Plan I and Plan II, discuss coursework, and review other requirements based on the student’s prior experience and the program’s expectations.

Dissertation Committee

A dissertation committee should be formed as soon as possible after admission to guide the student in a program of courses, seminars, and independent study designed to meet the student’s needs and to satisfy program and Graduate School requirements.

The dissertation committee must consist of at least five graduate faculty members, each of whom must have:

• Have credentials equal to or exceeding that of the degree that the student is pursuing,
• Have Graduate Faculty status through the Graduate School, and
• Relevant insight and expertise to guide the student.

Dissertation committees cannot be comprised of faculty who are related to each other, the student, or otherwise fall under the Family or Household Member designation as defined in UAB's policy on nepotism.

Students will complete the Committee Form, which requires the approval of the graduate program director. Graduate Faculty Status requests must be approved by the Graduate School Dean prior to submission of the Committee Form. Changes to a student’s committee must be submitted on the Change of Graduate Study Committee form. Visit the Graduate School's website for additional information and submission instructions.

Minimum Course Credit Requirements

The Graduate School has minimum course credit requirements for students in doctoral programs. Program requirements for coursework may exceed the Graduate School minimum but may not be less than the Graduate School minimum. 

Students entering with a baccalaureate degree are required to earn a minimum of 72 credit hours comprised of the following:

1. Completion of 48 semester hours of coursework prior to candidacy:
   • A minimum of 22 hours of core coursework directly related to the discipline
   • No more than 16 hours of non-dissertation research (i.e. 798) can be counted
   • No more than 10 hours of labs, seminars, or GRD and CIRTL courses can be counted
2. Completion of 24 semester hours of research-based work over a minimum of two semesters in candidacy which can be designated as either:
   • A minimum of 24 semester hours in 799 dissertation research OR
   • A minimum of 12 semester hours in 799 dissertation research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 semester hours in other appropriate research-based coursework which has been approved by the graduate student’s program

Students entering with a previously earned master’s degree appropriate to the doctoral degree field are required to earn a minimum of 51 credit hours comprised of the following.:

1. Completion of 27 semester hours of coursework prior to candidacy:
   • A minimum of 15 hours of core coursework directly related to the discipline
   • No more than 6 hours of non-dissertation research (i.e. 798) can be counted
   • No more than 6 hours of labs, seminars, or GRD and CIRTL courses can be counted
2. Completion of 24 semester hours of research-based work over a minimum of two semesters in candidacy which can be designated as either:
   • A minimum of 24 semester hours in 799 dissertation research OR
   • A minimum of 12 semester hours in 799 dissertation research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 semester hours in other appropriate research-based coursework which has been approved by the graduate student’s program

These requirements also apply to students with previously earned M.S., D.V.M., D.M.D., D.D.S., etc.

Minimum Doctoral Enrollment

The nature of doctoral study requires close contact between the student and the faculty of the graduate program, and the individual investigation or other special work leading to the dissertation must be performed directly under the guidance and supervision of a full member of the UAB graduate faculty. The Graduate School requires doctoral students to enroll for a minimum of nine semesters in their doctoral degree program at UAB. Individual graduate programs may require a longer period of residence. The Graduate School does not require these nine semesters to be consecutive (i.e. fall, spring, and summer of each year); however, many programs choose to do so and as such, students are responsible for being aware of program-specific requirements.  

Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

The Graduate School requires that students be in good academic standing to graduate. All master’s students must have a 3.0 graduate-level GPA, as well as a 3.0 in their individual program in order to graduate. Program GPA requirements for coursework may exceed the Graduate School minimum but may not be less than the Graduate School minimum.

Additional Program Requirements

In consultation with the faculty, the director of each graduate program will specify any additional requirements, such as a reading knowledge of a foreign language or a working knowledge of statistics, which are considered essential to mastery of the academic discipline. Such requirements become conditions for the completion of the degree. It is the student’s responsibility to know their program’s requirements for degree completion.

Comprehensive Examination

The scholarly proficiency of a doctoral student in the chosen field of study must be evaluated by comprehensive examination. The conduct of these examinations is the responsibility of the graduate program in which the student is enrolled and may consist of individual examinations in several appropriate areas or a single combined examination. When both written and oral examinations are given, the written examination should precede the oral so that there is an opportunity for the student to clarify any misunderstanding of the written examination questions. Comprehensive exams should be administered no later than the end of the third year of the student’s program.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy is a formal step forward in a student’s pursuit of the doctoral degree. The recommendation for admission to candidacy from the dissertation committee and program director acknowledges that the student has been performing well and is likely to complete the degree. When the student has passed their comprehensive examination, satisfied any additional program requirements, and presented an acceptable proposal for dissertation research or special study, the committee will recommend to the Graduate School Dean that the student be admitted to degree candidacy.

In addition, the Vice President for Research requires that all students engaging in research complete the applicable Responsible Conduct in Research requirements. Doctoral students fulfill this requirement with the successful completion of  GRD 717, which must be completed within four (4) years prior to applying for candidacy as the course expires after that time. 

A student must be in good academic standing to be admitted to candidacy and admission to candidacy must take place at least two semesters before the expected completion of the doctoral program.  

Students must submit a Candidacy Application and be notified of admission before registering for dissertation research hours (i.e., 799).

IRB (Institutional Review Board) and IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) Approval

When a student’s research involves human or animal subjects, the project must be approved by IRB/IACUC or the student must be added to the mentor’s approved IRB/IACUC protocol. Students may be admitted to candidacy with contingency by providing documentation that application for IRB or IACUC approval has been submitted. Students admitted with this contingency will have one semester to provide documentation of IRB or IACUC approval. Once documentation has been received by the Graduate School, the contingency will be removed. If documentation of final approval is not submitted before the end of the semester, a hold will be placed on the student’s record preventing registration in future terms until such documentation is submitted to the Graduate School.

It is the responsibility of the mentor to ensure complete approval is received.

Research involving human or animal subjects cannot be conducted without approval of the protocols by the IRB or IACUC, as applicable. Thus, students with contingent admission to candidacy can conduct literature reviews or similar activities, but they cannot work with animals or human subjects or with human data. Expeditious approval of protocols is critical for research progress and is the collective responsibility of the student and their research mentor(s).

Certain programs may have national accrediting or curricular requirements that necessitate admission into candidacy prior to seeking IRB/IACUC approval. For these students, IRB or IACUC approval must be submitted in order to register in a subsequent semester. IRB/IACUC approvals must be kept current until the research is completed and published.

For ways in which students can be added to a protocol, refer to the Tip Sheet for Students Involved in Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects. The IACUC form must display the appropriate research protocol number.

Application for Degree

Candidates for a doctoral degree must notify their program and the Graduate School of their intent to graduate by submitting the Application for Degree by the appropriate deadline. Note that some programs may have an earlier submission deadline than the Graduate School. It is the student's responsibility to know their program's deadlines.

Upon receipt of the Application for Degree, both the graduate program and the Graduate School will audit the students’ requirements to ensure the degree can be awarded. UAB’s Graduation Planning System (GPS) contains a personalized degree audit that includes all courses required to earn the degree and will display completed, in-progress, and outstanding requirements. GPS is accessible through BlazerNET by clicking the GPS button in the menu on the right side of the page.

Doctoral students must be registered for at least one (1) hour of 799 research credit during the semester in which the degree will be conferred. If degree candidates are covered by the student health insurance policy, hold an assistantship, or have student loans, it may be necessary to register for a prescribed minimum number of credit hours to retain these benefits. Students should check with the appropriate office(s) if retention of these benefits is a concern.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure

Students are required to disclose use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their research and/or writing of the thesis/dissertation. Failure to accurately and completely disclose this information will result in an Academic Misconduct inquiry through the student’s home School/College. 

Dissertation

The dissertation required of doctoral students must present the results of the candidate’s original research and the interpretation of those results. The document must also demonstrate the candidate’s acquaintance with the literature of the field and the proper selection and execution of research methodology.

The final approved version of the dissertation must be submitted as a single PDF for final review no later than 10 business days following the public defense. Doctoral student must submit the Public Defense Approval Form, signed by each committee member and the program director. Signatures of committee members and program directors on the approval form indicate their assurance that they have examined the document and have found that it is of professional quality from all standpoints, including writing, technical correctness, and competency, and the document conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation. Once submitted, the Graduate School ensures that the final version of the thesis meets the physical standards required of a permanent, published document and for adherence to the requirements stated in the UAB Format Manual.

Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense is a presentation and defense of the dissertation work, followed by an examination of the candidate’s comprehensive knowledge of the field. The time, date, and location of this examination is reported to the Graduate School via the online Request for Public Defense Approval form and must be submitted at least 10 business days before the public defense. The meeting must be appropriately announced on campus, must be open to all interested parties, and must take place before the semester Thesis or Dissertation defense deadline. In addition, candidates must be registered for at least 1 hour of dissertation research at the time of the defense and final examination.

If, in the opinion of two or more of the five members of the dissertation committee, the student has failed the dissertation defense, there is no consensus to pass. The chair of the committee shall notify the student in writing that the dissertation fails to meet the requirements of the program and will share the reason(s) for failure. If the student resubmits or submits a revised dissertation for consideration by their graduate program, at least three members of the new examining committee shall be drawn from the original committee. If the revised dissertation also fails to meet the requirements of the program, the student shall be dismissed from the graduate program.

If only one of the five committee members dissent, that individual must submit a letter outlining the reason(s) for their dissent to the student’s advisor. The advisor and student may then prepare a rebuttal statement that is submitted, along with the letter of dissent, to the advisory or executive committee of the program for review. The advisory committee can then decide to accept or reject the rebuttal statement. If the rebuttal is accepted, the student is passed on their dissertation defense. If the rebuttal is rejected, the advisory committee can recommend to the student or advisor potential steps necessary to remediate the dissertation and potentially also the work therein, or the committee can recommend that the student be dismissed from the program.

Graduate Student Exit Survey

Collecting feedback from graduate students about their experience and program quality allows the Graduate School to improve program offerings and student services. To this end, doctoral graduates are required to complete the Doctoral Exit Survey, developed and administered by the Association of American Universities Data Exchange (AAUDE), before the degree is conferred. After submission of the final dissertation, students will receive an email with a secure link to the survey.

Commencement

UAB holds a commencement ceremony at the conclusion of each Fall, Spring, and Summer semester. Students may participate in the ceremony that corresponds to their graduation term. Requests to attend a ceremony outside of a student’s graduation term must be submitted to the Graduate School by email gradschool@uab.edu and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Commencement information is available here and students may indicate their attendance in BlazerNET.

Award of Degree

Upon approval by the Graduate School Dean and payment of any outstanding financial obligations to the university, the President confers students’ degrees by authority of the Board of Trustees. UAB does not determine the official degree type awarded as this is governed by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and the Board of Trustees after receiving a program proposal. Students’ majors will be reflected on the official transcript after conferral.

Graduate Level Postbaccalaureate or Post-Master’s Certificates

Several UAB graduate programs offer certificates which do not involve conferral of either a master's or doctoral degree. Earning a certificate usually involves taking a specific set of graduate level courses which are designed to provide the certificate holder expertise in a specialty area of a profession or practice. Certificate programs often consist of 12 or more credits of coursework. In some cases the nature of the coursework is specified by skill requirements, or may be mandated by State level requirements, for example, by the Alabama State Department of Education.

Certificate requirements vary by discipline. Students should contact the director of the certificate program. For a full listing of certificates as well as degree programs, visit UAB's Find Your Degree portal.

In general, financial aid is not available for certificate programs.

Application for Certificate 

Students pursuing state teacher certification do not need to complete this process.

Candidates for a graduate-level certificate must notify their program and the Graduate School of their intent to graduate by submitting the Application for Certificate by the appropriate deadline. Some programs may have an earlier submission deadline than the Graduate School. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of program requirements.

Upon receipt of the Application for Certificate, both the graduate program and the Graduate School will audit the students’ requirements to ensure the certificate can be awarded. UAB’s Graduation Planning System (GPS) contains a personalized audit which includes all courses required to earn the certificate and will display completed, in-progress, and outstanding requirements. GPS is accessible through BlazerNET by clicking the GPS button in the menu on the right side of the page.