Important dates

Winter 2020 semester

• January 6
  • Classes begin at 7:30 a.m.
  • All doctoral students must be enrolled for a minimum of one credit of dissertation research after coursework and research credits are complete. Students should refer to continuous enrollment policy in the Graduate Catalog.   
• January 31
  • Final date for graduate students to submit the online application for graduation for Winter 2020 semester. 
• March 13
  • Last day to defend thesis, dissertation or DScPT report
    • The doctoral dissertation defense announcement form must be submitted 2 weeks prior to your scheduled defense. If you do not defend by this date, you will be denied graduation for Winter 2020 and must update your graduation semester.
• March 20
  • Last day to obtain thesis/dissertation or DScPT report format approval from the Graduate School.
    • You must meet with the thesis/dissertation coordinator for final draft review.
    • You must complete all format corrections and attain format approval from the Graduate School, no later than MARCH 20. 
• March 27
  • Last day to submit required copies of approved thesis, dissertation or DScPT report to the Graduate School for binding in fulfillment of degree requirements. 
• April 18
  • Classes end at 10:00 p.m.  

Summer 2020 semester

• May 4
  • Classes begin at 7:30 a.m.
  • All doctoral students must be enrolled for a minimum of one credit of dissertation research after coursework and research credits are complete. Students should refer to continuous enrollment policy in the Graduate Catalog.   
• May 31
  • Final date for graduate students to submit the online application for graduation for Summer 2020 semester. 
• July 10
  • Last day to defend thesis, dissertation or DScPT report
    • The doctoral dissertation defense announcement form must be submitted 2 weeks prior to your scheduled defense. If you do not defend by this date, you will be denied graduation for Summer 2020 and must update your graduation semester.
• July 17
  • Last day to obtain thesis/dissertation or DScPT report format approval from the Graduate School
    • You must meet with the thesis/dissertation coordinator for final draft review.
    • You must complete all format corrections and attain format approval from the Graduate School, no later than JULY 17. 
• July 24
  • Last day to submit required copies of approved thesis, dissertation or DScPT report to the Graduate School for binding in fulfillment of degree requirements. 
• August 15
  • Classes end at 10:00 p.m.  

Fall 2020 semester

• September 3
  • Classes begin at 7:30 a.m.
  • All doctoral students must be enrolled for a minimum of one credit of dissertation research after coursework and research credits are complete. Students should refer to continuous enrollment policy in the Graduate Catalog.   
• September 25
  • Final date for graduate students to submit the online application for graduation for Fall 2020 semester. 
• November 3
  • Last day to defend thesis, dissertation or DScPT report
    • The doctoral dissertation defense announcement form must be submitted 2 weeks prior to your scheduled defense. If you do not defend by this date, you will be denied graduation for Fall 2020 and must update your graduation semester.
• November 10
  • Last day to obtain thesis/dissertation or DScPT report format approval from the Graduate School
    • You must meet with the thesis/dissertation coordinator for final draft review.
    • You must complete all format corrections and attain format approval from the Graduate School, no later than NOVEMBER 10. 
• November 17
  • Last day to submit required copies of approved thesis, dissertation or DScPT report to the Graduate School for binding in fulfillment of degree requirements. 
• December 7
  • Classes end at 10:00 p.m.  

Winter 2021 semester

• January 6
  
  • Classes begin at 7:30 a.m.
  • All doctoral students must be enrolled for a minimum of one credit of dissertation research after coursework and research credits are complete. Students should refer to continuous enrollment policy in the Graduate Catalog.   
• January 29
  • Final date for graduate students to submit the online application for graduation for Winter 2021 semester. 
• March 16
  • Last day to defend thesis, dissertation or DScPT report
    • The doctoral dissertation defense announcement form must be submitted 2 weeks prior to your scheduled defense. If you do not defend by this date, you will be denied graduation for Winter 2021 and must update your graduation semester.
• March 23
  • Last day to obtain thesis/dissertation or DScPT report format approval from the Graduate School
    • You must meet with the thesis/dissertation coordinator for final draft review.
    • You must complete all format corrections and attain format approval from the Graduate School, no later than March 23. 
• March 30
  • Last day to submit required copies of approved thesis, dissertation or DScPT report to the Graduate School for binding in fulfillment of degree requirements. 
• April 19
  • Classes end at 10:00 p.m.  

Dissertation process

When submitting a dissertation, you must meet with the thesis and dissertation coordinator three times. Meetings are by appointment only; no walk-ins are accepted. Review the whole dissertation process by visiting the Thesis and Dissertation page.

Helpful tools

In addition to the Graduate Program Catalog, Graduate Course Description Catalog (which is updated daily) and the Graduate Student Policy, these tools will help you to maintain good academic standing at OU.

• Animal Care and Use - IACUC
• Biosafety - IBC
• Exception to Graduate Policy Petitions
• FERPA Guide 
• Graduate Assistant Guidelines
• Human Subjects - IRB
• OU Administrative Policies and Procedures
• OU Email Official Method of Communication with Students
• OU Student Handbook
• ProQuest Dissertation Publishing
• Survey of Earned Doctorates

Please contact your adviser or graduate program coordinator for specific program requirements.

Doctoral Research Project

Professional or practice-based doctoral programs culminate in the completion of a terminal doctoral research project. The terminal doctoral research project may be qualitative or quantitative in nature and can include (but is not limited to) randomized clinical trials, intervention studies, comparison studies, single subject methods, meta-analytic designs, integrative literature reviews, or other discipline specific projects demonstrating excellence. Professional or practice-based doctoral students must carefully check individual disciplines for specific graduate program terminal doctoral research project requirements.

Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy

• Minimum Requirements
• Title Page

Helpful Tools

In addition to the Graduate Program Catalog, Graduate Course Description Catalog (which is updated daily) and the Graduate Student Policy, these tools will help you to maintain good academic standing at OU.

• Animal Care and Use - IACUC
• Doctoral Research Project Format Guidelines
• Exception to Graduate Policy Petitions
• FERPA Guide 
• Graduate Assistant Guidelines
• Human Subjects - IRB  
• OU Administrative Policies and Procedures
• OU Email Official Method of Communication with Students
• OU Student Handbook

Please contact your adviser or graduate program coordinator for specific program requirements.