GSBS Graduation

PhD Graduate posing in front of the ALTC Building

Dissertation/Thesis/Manuscript Defense

GSBS Degree Conferral Timelines
For dissertations and theses, please see the following timelines:
2024-2025 Academic Year
For manuscripts, please see the following timelines:
2024-2025 Academic Year
For graduation in Absentia, please see the following timelines:
(International Students are not eligible for in Absentia Conferral)
2024-2025 Academic Year
- February 2025 In Absentia Degree Conferral Timeline
2025-2026 Academic Year
- August 2025 In Absentia Degree Conferral Timeline
Defense Information

Process for your Ph.D. or M.S. Defense Date and Degree Approval at Graduate Faculty Council
To schedule your final defense for Doctoral and Masters submit the following documents two weeks prior to your intended defense date:
1) Set a date with your committee using the degree conferral timelines. Reserve room with room scheduling and Zoom/Teams link if participating in a hybrid defense. Contact your Academic Coordinator to assist you with a room reservation for your defense. This information is required to submit your Request for Final Defense.
2) Request for Final Defense, Copy of Abstract, and CV submitted in GradTrac for review and signature. The graduate Deans Office will no longer accept PDF forms.
3) You or your Academic Coordinator must email your headshot or photo to Tiffany Thompson in the Graduate Deans Office (thompsont4@uthscsa.edu) for your official defense announcement. Your request for final defense must be fully signed before your announcement will be sent.
Dissertation and Thesis Guidelines

Visit the Dissertation and Thesis Guidelines page for more information about Turn-it-in, Proquest and formatting.
Steps to Degree Approval at the Graduate Faculty Council

The following items must be fully complete including signatures at least 1 week prior to the next GFC meeting which is scheduled on the second Friday of each month.
1) Report on Final Oral Presentation submitted in GradTrac The Graduate Deans Office will no longer accept PDF forms. Submit within two business days of your defense.
2) Thesis or Dissertation Approval Page is no longer required for submission with the GSBS, for privacy/security reasons ProQuest recommends not to include an approval page with electronic or original signatures. A blank approval page with your committee listed may be uploaded with your ProQuest submission.
3) Upload a final, committee-approved, PDF of your dissertation/thesis to ProQuest for review. For questions or trouble uploading to ProQuest, please contact Alex De Jesus (dejesusa@uthscsa.edu). Any formatting edits will need to be completed by the deadline stated above.
If you have any questions, contact your Academic Coordinator or Tiffany Thompson (ThompsonT4@uthscsa.edu) in the Graduate Dean’s Office.
Following Approval at Graduate Faculty Council

You will receive notification from your Academic Coordinator if you received degree approval at the GFC.
Letters for Degree Completion

If you need a letter stating your degree conferral date, letters can be provided after your degree has been approved by the Graduate Faculty Council. Please submit requests to Tiffany Thompson (ThompsonT4@uthscsa.edu).

Preparing for Graduation

It is the responsibility of the candidate to apply for graduation online in My Student Center the semester prior to anticipated graduation. Students may expect to receive an email through their UTHSCSA liveMail accounts once the application is available to them for completion. Note that the email will reach students in the term preceding their scheduled term of graduation. (For example, students expecting to graduate in the spring will receive an email prompt in the fall.) Failure to receive and/or read said email is not grounds for failing to apply for graduation online. Degrees/certificates will not be awarded without an application.

Online submission of the Application for Graduation will prompt an audit of your academic record to ensure you are eligible to graduate and have completed all requirements to receive your award. Information provided by the student is used in commencement programs. Your degree will be published using your full legal name. For detailed instructions on submitting the Graduation Application online, see here:

Instructions for Submitting the Graduation Application Online

Candidates who did not meet the web deadline will need to fill out a Late Application for Graduation.

Applying to graduation IS NOT tied to participation in GSBS Hooding & UT Health Commencement.

GSBS will send out commencement and hooding participation information in February 2025 to all graduates between August 2024- June 2025 regarding ceremony participation. Late graduation applicants after January 2025 will need to email Tiffany Thompson (ThompsonT4@uthscsa.edu).

GSBS Hooding Ceremony

The GSBS Hooding Ceremony is held one time each year in May, graduates from the coinciding academic year are eligible to participate. August- May (June conferrals see timeline instructions)

The GSBS Hooding Ceremony will be Thursday May 15th, 2025 at 4:00pm in the Holly Auditorium on UT Health San Antonio's Long Campus 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229

Graduate Certificate Students are invited to participate in the hooding ceremony, Graduate Certificate only students need not order regalia and may wear business professional attire.

The ceremony will be held indoors with indoor reception to follow. This event will not be ticketed, and seating will be first come, first served. The ceremony will be livestreamed, a link will be made available for sharing.

UT Health San Antonio Commencement

Commencement is held one time each year in May with all UT Health schools, graduates from the coinciding academic year are eligible to participate. August- May (June conferrals see timeline instructions)

Commencement will be TBD Date in the Alamodome. Additional information for students and families can be found on the Student Life Webpage.

This event will not be ticketed, and seating will be first come, first served. The ceremony will be livestreamed, a link will be made available for sharing.

Please email any questions regarding GSBS commencement/hooding to Tiffany Thompson (ThompsonT4@uthscsa.edu).

Regalia Orders

Faculty must contact the bookstore to reserve regalia by March 31st. (210) 567-2841 or sm398@bncollege.com

Students may purchase regalia from Herff Jones by April 17th.

GSBS does not accept responsibility or management of late or missed order deadlines or supply chain issues or shipping delays. The best way to ensure your regalia is delivered on time is to order well in advance of the deadlines listed.

Commencement

Logins

Resources

Dissertation/Thesis/Manuscript Defense

Process for your Ph.D. or M.S. Defense Date and Degree Approval at Graduate Faculty Council

Preparing for Graduation

GSBS Hooding Ceremony

UT Health San Antonio Commencement

Regalia Orders