Frequently Asked Questions about Graduating From NMSU
1. I have almost finished my classes. What do I need to do to receive my degree?
a) Submit an Application for Degree: If you know that you will meet all degree requirements either at the end of the semester or summer session, and you wish to graduate from NMSU, you must submit an application for your degree (diploma) through the Registrar’s Office. The website for the NMSU Application for Degree (diploma) is provided below. This application is available online on the first day of registration for each semester. Please note that you must complete the form and pay the fee prior to the deadline indicated on the website, which is the first day of class each semester.
https://www.nmsu.edu/~registra/degreeapp/
b) You must be enrolled or pay the exam fee: You also need to be registered and enrolled during the semester or summer sessions that you wish to graduate. Masters degree students are required to be enrolled in at least one credit hour course and Ph.D. students must be enrolled in at least three credit hours.
If you are not enrolled, you need to pay the exam fee. The web site for the form is provided below.
c) Approved Program of Study: Other requirements for graduation include a completed and approved Program of Study. If you have changed your Program of Study, please obtain a Change Form from the web site below. It must also be approved by your committee.
You can find a Program of Study form at the web sites below:
PhD form: http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/forms/phdpos.pdf
Master form: http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/forms/masterpos.pdf
The Program of Study Change form can be found at the web site below:
http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/forms-index.html
d) Transfer of Credits: If you transferred credits from another university, you need to submit a Transfer of Credit Request form to the Graduate School. If the units were earned at another university, you must request that an official transcript be sent to the Graduate School. The credits transferred must be approved by your committee and should be included in your Program of Study.
e) Final Examination: You also need to submit a Final Examination Form to the Graduate School 10 working days before the date of your exam. The Graduate School will receive a form called the Report of the Examination Committee and Dean’s Certificate. This form will inform the Graduate School of the outcome of your exam(s). Note that Ph.D. students must take two exams, a) the comprehensive oral exam and the final oral defense of their dissertation.
f) Thesis or Dissertation: If you are completing a Master’s thesis or a doctoral dissertation, you must turn in your research for approval by your committee and the Graduate School. Once the Graduate School gives the final approval, you can take your thesis/dissertation to the Library. Please see Guidelines on Theses/Dissertations at the following web site:
http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/Guidelines/
g) Report of Thesis Grade Form: You also need to make sure your Professor turned in a Report of Thesis Grade Form if you were enrolled in thesis/dissertation courses.The grade of progress or pr needs to be changed to an S grade. Only the last course of progress or pr needs to be changed. You cannot graduate until your Professor changes your grade. Your Professor can obtain a copy of the Report of Thesis Grade form from the Graduate School or the Registrar’s Office.
h) Grade Point Average of at least a 3.0: Last of all, you need an Overall Grade Point Average of at least a 3.0 to graduate.
i) Please check the deadlines for filing forms and theses/dissertation for graduation on the Graduate School’s web site.
http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/deadlines/deadlines.htm
*If you do not meet the deadlines listed on the above website, you will be required to reapply for your degree for the following semester, as well as register or pay the exam fee (one credit for Master's students, three credits for Doctoral students).
2. Do I need to be enrolled to graduate?
You don’t need to be enrolled to graduate from NMSU. You can apply for your degree through the Registrar’s Office https://www.nmsu.edu/~registra/degreeapp/ and
pay the exam fee using the form provided below:
You must have completed all degree requirements, have an approved Program of Study, passed your Final Oral Exams (and Comprehensive Exam for doctoral students), and received a Grade Point Average of at least 3.0. Master’s degree students have 7 years to complete their degree requirements.
3. Is a Final Exam required to graduate from NMSU?
Yes, each department has its own process of administering the final exam. Please check with your advisor to discuss the exam.
4. Do I need to find my own Dean’s Representative?
The role of the Dean’s Representative is to monitor the process of the exam and report the outcome of the exam to the Graduate School. Your faculty is responsible for finding a Dean’s Representative. You can recommend a NMSU faculty member to them. It is up to the faculty to accept your suggestion.
5. What types of grades do I need to graduate?
You must have an overall grade point average of at least a 3.0 to graduate from NMSU. If your grades fall below a 3.0, you may need to take additional courses to reach a 3.0 after you have met all degree requirements.
6. What if I finish early in the semester? Can I receive a Letter of Completion?
If you need a Letter of Completion to obtain a job or for other reasons, you need to complete the Letter of Completion Form at the Graduate School. Once you complete the form, the Graduate School will send it to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will send the letter directly to you.
7. What if I have a hold on my account?
You can review all holds on your account at my.NMSU.edu Once you identify who has placed the hold on your account, you can contact them directly.
8. What if I started Graduate School at NMSU but didn’t finish my degree program. Can I come back and finish my degree?
The time limit for completing a master’s degree program and a Specialist in Education degree is 7 years. If it has been more than 7 years, you must speak to the faculty in your department and request an appeal letter to the Graduate School. The letter should indicate how the faculty will work with you to complete your program of study.
If a student is deployed for military duty and they present their orders to the Graduate School, they will be granted a leave of absence for the time stated on their orders. The Graduate School will do all in its power to have the time spent in military duty not count toward the 7 year time limit for degree completion.
For doctoral degree students, if more than 5 years have elapsed since the date of the comprehensive examination, you may be required to take another comprehensive examination before admission to the final examination.
9) When do I receive my diploma?
Degrees are certified 10 business/working days after all grades are posted by the Registrar’s office. The list of degrees is sent to a private company that prints the diplomas and mails them to students. Allow up to 6 weeks to receive your actual diploma. If you need a Letter of Completion, please contact the Graduate School.
For more detailed information, please read the Graduate School Catalog at the following web site: http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/gradcat.html
