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Thesis & Dissertation Milestones & Requirements

Completing a thesis or dissertation is a major achievement. Along the way, you will spend significant time planning your study, conducting your research, and working closely with your supervisory committee.

This page is designed to clarify the official Graduate College requirements for all thesis and dissertation students at Boise State. Please note that your program may have additional requirements or deadlines beyond what is outlined here, and it is your responsibility to stay in communication with your program for those details.

Use this page alongside the Milestones Visual (below) to track your progress toward Graduate College requirements and ensure you are meeting the necessary steps for successful completion and graduation.

Milestones Visual: The Full Process

Milestones Chart

Milestones & Required Forms by Stage

Step 1 – Get Started: Forms to Complete Before Your Defense

Application for Admission to Candidacy

  • Purpose: To verify that you have met all the necessary requirements for your specific graduate program.
  • Deadline: Prior to the posted deadline for your intended graduation semester (see the Academic Calendar).
  • Action: Complete and submit electronically to the Graduate College.

Appointment of Supervisory Committee form

  • Purpose: Identifies the faculty who will guide your thesis/dissertation.
  • Deadline: No later than submission of your Application for Admission to Candidacy.
  • Action: Complete and submit this form electronically to the Graduate College.

Apply to Graduate (see Graduation Process)

  • Purpose: Signals your intent to graduate and ensures you are reviewed for degree completion.
  • Deadline: The end of the first week of the semester you intend to graduate (see the Academic Calendar for the exact date).

Step 2 – Defend with Confidence: Preparing for and Completing Your Defense

Graduate Defense Notification

  • Purpose: Officially notifies the Graduate College of your scheduled defense and triggers the public announcement.
  • Deadline: At least two weeks before your scheduled defense.
  • Action: Submit the electronic form to the Graduate College.

Defend Your Thesis or Dissertation

  • Complete your oral defense with your committee. Explore the Defense Procedures page for a helpful guide of what to expect at your defense.

Defense Committee Approval form

  • Purpose: Documents official approval from your committee at the defense.
  • Deadline: This form will be completed at your defense and submitted by your Committee Chair or Graduate Faculty Representative (doctoral students only) after your defense.
  • Action: Fill in the student information and the title of your thesis or dissertation on this form and bring it with you to your defense. If your defense is being conducted remotely, the filled in version of this form can be shared electronically with your committee.

Step 3 – Submit: Preparing & Uploading Your Advisor-Approved Document

Complete Committee-Requested Edits to Your Thesis or Dissertation

  • Make any revisions required by your committee after your defense. You must have approval from your committee chair before submitting the advisor-approved version of your document.

Upload Advisor-Approved Document to ProQuest

  • Purpose: Serves as the official submission of your advisor-approved thesis or dissertation. Uploading your document will also trigger the required Graduate College formatting review. You may be asked to complete revisions before final approval.
  • Deadline: By the deadline posted on the Thesis and Dissertation Deadline Dates page.
  • Action: Begin the submission process in ProQuest ETD using your myBoiseState Single Sign-On. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the Submission & Printing page.

Submit the Access Agreement OR Embargo Request form

Access Agreement (default requirement)

  • Purpose: Indicates how your document will be made available in ProQuest and Scholarworks.
  • Deadline: Submit when you upload your advisor-approved document.
  • Action: Complete and submit electronically to the Graduate College.

Embargo Request (only if delaying access)

  • Purpose: Allows you to delay public access to your work due to sensitive content, pending publication, or intellectual property concerns.
  • Deadline: Submit when you upload your advisor-approved document.
  • Action: Complete and submit electronically to the Graduate College.

Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) – Doctoral students only

  • Purpose: The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is an annual census of all research doctorate recipients in the United States that has been conducted since 1958. The data are collected for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Learn more about the survey and why your response is important at the SED Information page.
  • Deadline: Submit when you upload your advisor-approved document.
  • Action: Complete the online survey and submit as directed.

Step 4 – Revise: Graduate College Review & Final Submission

Complete Formatting Review Edits

  • Make any revisions required by the Graduate College in the formatting review. These revisions must be incorporated in your final submission.

Upload Your Final Document to ProQuest

  • Purpose: Official submission of your final thesis or dissertation document for final approval and publication.
  • Deadline: By the deadline posted on the Thesis and Dissertation Deadline Dates page.
  • Action: Submit your revised document in ProQuest ETD using your myBoiseState Single Sign-On. Revisit the Submission & Printing page for instructions.

Step 5 – Celebrate & Share Your Work

Order Regalia

  • If you are participating in the commencement ceremony, make sure you order your commencement regalia. Master’s students can purchase their regalia year-round through the Boise State Bronco Shop. Doctoral students will receive information about regalia from the Graduate College.

Graduate!

  • Complete your program and celebrate your achievement.
  • If you are participating in the commencement ceremony, visit the Commencement page for more information.

Publication

  • Once approved, your thesis/dissertation will be published in ProQuest and in Boise State’s open-access repository, ScholarWorks (unless embargoed). See the Submission & Printing page for more information.
  • Note: This final step occurs after a review of your final document, which is completed in the semester after graduation. 

Need Help?

If you have questions about forms, deadlines, or the thesis/dissertation process:

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