Milestones

Complete the required coursework for your degree. This varies by department. Keep in close communication with your GPD and your academic advisor to make sure you complete all the necessary coursework for your degree.

In addition to keeping up with coursework, graduate students should also attend professional development workshops or conferences offered by the Graduate School, their department, the University Library, the Career Center, or other professional organizations. We also encourage PhD students to start working on an Individual Development Plan Template that can help you set and meet your professional and career development goals.

Many programs require graduate students to conduct research as an essential component of their studies. In order to engage in research projects, students must complete all necessary compliance steps, including:

The Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship (RCRS) (UNIV 370) course - This free, 3-day course is presented by the Office of Research Services and takes place in January, May, and August of every year. Graduate students are required to complete this course before beginning any research projects. As a result, the Graduate School encourages all students who plan on engaging in research projects independently or with faculty members to complete the course as early as possible. Topics covered in RCRS include research misconduct, conflicts of interest, data management best practices, mentor/advisor relationships, peer review, protection of human subjects, and welfare of laboratory animals.

CITI Online Training - Students who plan to engage in human subject research or live vertebrate animal research that requires Internal Review Board approval must complete the CITI (Collaborative IRB Training Initiative) course before submitting their IRB application. The CITI course is comprised of various modules, not all of which will be relevant for all students. Students must pass each relevant module quiz with a score of 80%. Students can continue to take a given module quiz until they receive a passing score. Although all modules must be completed in sequnce, students do not have to complete them all at one time.

Internal Review Board - Students who plan to conduct human subject research must receive approval from Loyola's Institutional Review Board (IRB). Data collection can not begin without approval from the IRB. IRB applications can be built and submitted through Loyola's Compliance Approval Package or CAP system. Please note that Thesis or Dissertation Proposals must be successfully defended before seeking IRB approval, and you should submit a scanned copy of your signed proposal ballot with your application. Additionally, research conducted by students must have a faculty member who has also completed the CITI course as the Principal Investigator. For more information about student research and IRB approval, visit the Student Research section of the IRB website. Also note, if your research does not qualify for expedited or exempt review and requires full IRB approval, the Board only meets once every month. Students should note the monthly deadlines for having their project considered.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee - Students who plan to conduct live vertebrate animal research must receive approval from Loyola's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Data collection can not begin without approval from the IACUC. IACUC applications can be built and submitted through Loyola's Compliance Approval Package or CAP system. Please note that Thesis or Dissertation Proposals must be successfully defended before seeking IACUC approval, and you should submit a scanned copy of your signed proposal ballot with your application. Also note, the Committee only meets once every month. Students should note the monthly deadlines for having their project considered.

The order of operations for compliance approval is as follows: Students will defend their thesis or dissertation proposal and submit a Thesis/Dissertation Proposal form in GSPS. After the committee and Graduate Program Director approve the proposal form in GSPS, the student should submit any necessary research compliance protocol applications (to IRB or IACUC). After the appropriate approvals are secured from IRB or IACUC, the Graduate School will record final approval of the proposal form in GSPS and the student can begin research.

Many departments require or encourage graduate students to engage in research projects as a part of their program of study, while Master's and PhD students who are writing theses and dissertations conduct independent research to complete their projects. Graduate students may participate in independent or faculty-led research projects after completing all of the compliance requirements (see item 2 above). Talk to your GPD or academic advisor to learn more about research requirements specific to your program or to learn about research projects you can get involved with.

For more information about graduate student research, funding, and presentations, visit the our Research page.

At the end of a course of study, many programs require graduate students to demonstrate mastery of content through comprehensive exams. These exams can either be oral, written, or - in some cases - both. Written exams usually consist of an essay question that a student will complete over a given period of time (i.e. one week). Oral exams usually occur between the student and 1-3 faculty members, who will ask the student relevant questions based upon their coursework and research.

Exam requirements vary by program, and can occur at different times in a student's academic progress. Most exams for Master's students (if applicable) take place after or close to when a student completes their coursework requirements. For PhD students, exams often take place between the completion of coursework and before the dissertation proposal. Be sure to talk with your GPD and your academic advisor about the requirements specific to your degree path.

Each degree path requires a different deliverable: PhD students submit dissertations, some Master's students submit theses, and others who are not required to write a thesis often submit a Master's paper or a portfolio of representative work from their academic experience. This can include a resume/CV, essays, book or literature reviews, surveys, lab reports, internship reflections, and other relevant work demonstrative of a student's academic progress.

Programs often have different requirements for when deliverables should be submitted. Graduate students should build their portfolio throughout their program with support and guidance from their GPD and academic advisor. Many programs also keep portfolios from past students as examples for current students. Ask your GPD or Department Administrative Assistant for more information.

Master's and PhD students submitting dissertations and theses for their degree should pay attention to the Graduate School Academic Calendar dates related to format checks and final copy submissions. These dates vary by conferral date. The University confers degrees three times a year: May, August, and December. If you do not meet the required deadlines, your degree could be delayed. The Graduate School encourages students to submit their deliverables for a format check well before the deadline. Failure to do so can cause delays that could prevent your degree from being conferred.

For information about formatting and submitting your thesis or dissertation, please visit our Dissertation & Thesis page.

Graduation is a broad term that signifies successfully completing and then celebrating the completion of a degree or certificate program. The process by which you receive your degree is called conferral. The ceremony to celebrate your accomplishment is commencement.

The Graduate School reviews applications for graduation three times a year; end of Fall (December), end of Spring (May), and end of Summer (August) semester. Below are the application deadlines that correspond to each graduation term. Students apply for degree conferral in LOCUS.

There is only ONE commencement ceremony per academic year, held in May.

Students planning to graduate should consult their Graduate Program Director to confirm all degree requirements are completed by their anticipated graduation term.