culminating experience

All students have some form of culminating experience as a step in completing their degree. You may have one or more of the following culminating experiences listed on your approved iPOS:

• Written exam
• Oral exam
• Portfolio
• Applied project
• Capstone course
• Foreign Language Exam (FLE)
• Master's thesis
• Doctoral dissertation

non-thesis master's students

Your culminating experience results must be approved by the academic unit and reported to the Graduate College via the iPOS system.

thesis master’s students

The results of your thesis defense must be signed by your program committee and the head of your academic unit. If revisions are required, a copy of the Pass/Fail form must be submitted to the Graduate College reporting that the defense was held. Upon completion of all revisions, the original signed form is submitted to the ASU Graduate College for final processing. It is recommended that you keep a copy for yourself prior to delivering the form to the Graduate College. Please note that submission to UMI/ProQuest does not complete the process – you must obtain final format approval from the Graduate College before the Graduation Office will process your degree..

PhD/DMA/EdD/AuD/DNP students

Prior to defending your dissertation, all milestone events must be completed and the results approved by the academic unit and reported via the iPOS system to the Graduate College ( written exam, oral exam, foreign language exam, and/or prospectus defense). Once all required milestone events have been reported, you have achieved candidacy and are eligible to hold a defense. After the results have been recorded by the Graduate College, you will receive a candidacy letter indicating your new graduation deadline and any relevant requirements.

If applicable, the results of your dissertation defense (or equivalent) must be signed by your program committee and the head of your academic unit. If revisions are required, a copy of the Pass/Fail form must be submitted to the Graduate College reporting that the defense was held. Upon completion of all revisions, the original signed form is submitted to the ASU Graduate College for final processing. It is recommended that you keep a copy for yourself prior to delivering the form to the Graduate College. Please note that submission to UMI/ProQuest does not complete the process – you must obtain final format approval from the Graduate College before the Graduation Office will process your degree.

All culminating experiences must be submitted by the date listed on the Graduation Deadlines and Graduation Procedures pages. If you must complete an FLE, this exam must be completed and the results submitted before you complete any other culminating experience. All culminating experience results must be reported before you schedule your defense (if applicable).