Graduate

Forms and Information

All students should consult the Graduate Student Expectations Form for an outline of their coursework, teaching, and research obligations.

Please note: if you are unsure of where the below forms are submitted to, please contact the Academic Program Specialist (APS).

Doctoral Forms & Information

(Please note: Each Ph.D. form has been put in order of completion below.)
Ph.D. Timeline A to-do list for each year of your program.
Permanent Advisor Request Establish a permanent advisor. Turn in completed form to APS.
Plan of Study (downloadable template) Instructions in the Graduate Handbook.
Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Appointment Form Used to identify your finalized Doctoral committee. If changes are made after this form, fill out the "Changes to Graduate Student Supervisory Committee" form.
Successful Completion of Comprehensive Exam Form Form to be completed (usually in the second year) after completion of comprehensive exam.
Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Must be filled out immediately following your Comprehensive Defense. Turn in completed form to APS.
Dissertation Proposal Form Form to be completed for Dissertation Proposal Defense and signed upon proposal approval.
Dissertation Defense Instructions Instructions on how to initiate a Dissertation Defense.
Request for Dissertation Defense First form to complete when requesting a Dissertation Defense. Must be submitted to APS with the "Defense Announcement" and "Successful Defense" forms.
Doctoral Defense Announcement Used to announce Ph.D. dissertation defenses to the department and public.
Successful Dissertation Defense Form Must be filled out immediately after defense has ended. Return completed form to APS.

Electronic Thesis Dissertation (ETD) Certificate of Approval

The last form used when submitting a dissertation. There is a checklist included in the form to assist with the process. (Ph.D. and MA ETD forms are the same.)

Master's Forms & Information

(Please note: Each MA form has been put in order of completion below.)

Master's Timelines
M.A. Non-Thesis Timeline
M.A. Thesis Timeline

A to-do list for each year of your program.
Permanent Advisor Request Establish a permanent advisor. Turn in completed form to APS.

Plan of Study (downloadable template)

M.A. Non-Thesis Plan of Study

M.A. Thesis Plan of Study

Instructions in the Graduate Handbook.
Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Appointment Form Used to identify your finalized Doctoral committee. If changes are made after this form, fill out the "Changes to Graduate Student Supervisory Committee" form.
Successful Completion of Comprehensive Examination Must be signed immediately after defending MA Comps. Turn in completed form to APS.
Thesis Proposal Form
(MA Thesis track only!)
Form to be completed for Thesis Proposal Defense and signed upon proposal approval.
Thesis Defense Announcement
(MA Thesis track only!)
Used to announce MA thesis defenses to the department and public.
Successful Master's Defense Form
(MA Thesis track only!)
Must be filled out immediately after defense has ended. Return completed form to APS
Electronic Thesis Dissertation (ETD) Certificate of Approval
(MA Thesis track only!)
The last form used when submitting a thesis. There is a checklist included in the form to assist with the process. Ph.D. and MA ETD forms are the same. 

Other Graduate Forms and Information

Contract for Graduate Directed Reading Form to request a Directed Reading, with instructions. Once completed, turn this form in to the APS to initiate the permit and registration process.
Contract for Graduate Directed Research Form to request a Directed Research. Once completed, turn this form into the APS to initiate the permit and registration process.
Graduate Studies Add/Drop Petition Form To add, drop, or change hours for course registration, after the end of the first week, Add/Drop/Fee deadline, in each semester
Changes to Graduate Student Supervisory Committee If any changes are made after the original "Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Appointment Form" has been submitted and approved, a change form has to be submitted. It is mandatory once any changes occur.
Dual Degree Form ("Application for ConCurrent Degree") The application for dual graduate degree is to be used only when one or both degrees will have shared coursework.
GPA Calculator (XLS) Excel calculator spreadsheet aid.

Reinstatement Form

Students must also complete:
   - Legal Disclosure Statement Form
   - Florida Residency Information & Form
These forms should be used to reinstate students who have exceeded the requirements of the Graduate Continuous Enrollment Policy, have been placed on inactive status, and will finish their degree requirements by their original time limit as specified in the Graduate Catalog at the time of admission.
Course Currency Form Form used for students seeking to include coursework taken since enrolling in their current Graduate Program at USF that is over the University time limit as specified in the Graduate Catalog.
Change of Program Any student who has been officially accepted into a Graduate Program at USF may request a program change within the same or to a lower classification, e.g., from an Ed.S or Doctoral to a Master's program.
Leave of Absence Request (LOA) A documented Leave of Absence is necessary to suspend the time limit requirement for the period of the leave. This form should be filled out for any semester(s) that a student will not be able to register, and should be submitted at least one semester prior to the first semester of the requested leave. All "I" and "M" grades must be cleared prior to the leave of absence approval.
Transfer of Course Students can use this form to have previously completed courses transferred into their current degree of study.
Time Limit Extension Request (TLE)  The time limit extension may be filed when a student nears the end of the time limitation for completion of the requirements for their degree but needs more time to complete the degree. Time limits are specified in the graduate catalog corresponding to the year the student was admitted (or readmitted) to the program.
Voluntary Withdrawal Form Voluntary withdraw form when a student wishes to exit the program.
Student Grievance Process The purpose of the grievance process is to provide all undergraduate and graduate students of the University of South Florida an opportunity for objective review of facts and events in case of a violation of policy or regulations. 
Graduate Catalogs  All Graduate Catalogs are available here.
Degree Certification Letter (DOC) Letter to certify to a third party a student's completion of their degree.
Travel Authorization Request (TAR) Used to request travel funding. Please reach out to the Department Operations Manager before submitting, and make sure to submit at least two weeks before your planned travel date.