Paperwork Procedures for QPs, Dissertation, Degrees

For Qualifying Papers, Dissertation, and Degree Paperwork

Qualifying Paper 1 (Second Year Paper) –  QP1 Sign On

• Assemble a committee, including a principal reader and 2 secondary readers. Schedule a “sign on” meeting with the committee to discuss content/direction of the project.
• After the meeting, complete the QP Proposal I Form through DocuSign. After you enter your committee’s names and email addresses and complete your portion of the form, the document will automatically be circulated to the committee and Graduate Director. You will receive a copy once all signatures are complete.
• Email a copy of your proposal to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Qualifying Paper 1 (Second Year Paper) – QP 1 Sign Off

• When your QP is completed and ready to be defended, schedule a final “sign-off” meeting with the committee.
• After the meeting, complete the QP 1 Evaluation Form and MA Candidacy Form through DocuSign.
  
  • On page 1 of the MA Candidacy form, list 10 courses (30 credits) in order of the year/term.
  • After you enter your committee’s names and email addresses and complete your portion of the form, the document will automatically be circulated to the committee and Graduate Director. You will receive a copy once all signatures are complete.
• Email a copy of your QP 1 to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.r.
• Submit the MA Candidacy Form and Diploma Application Confirmation to the School of Graduate Studies (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
  
  • Submission instructions are available on the SGS website.

Diploma Application and Candidacy Form Deadlines - For Both MA and PhD 

• October 1, 2023, for an October 2023 dated degree
• January 6, 2024 for a January 2024 dated degree
• April 3, 2024 for a May 2024 dated degree
  
  Diploma Application can be found here: https://grad.rutgers.edu/academics/graduation

Qualifying Paper 2 (Final Qualifying Paper) - QP 2 Sign On

• Assemble a committee, including a principal reader and secondary readers. Schedule a “sign on” meeting with the committee to discuss content/direction of the project.
• After the meeting, if you are in 2019 cohort and beyond, complete the Final QP2 Sign On Proposal Form through DocuSign.
• After the meeting, if you are in cohort 2018 and prior, complete the QP Proposal 2 Form through DocuSign.
• After you enter your committee’s names and email addresses and complete your portion of the form, the document will automatically be circulated to the committee and Graduate Director. You will receive a copy after all signatures are completed. Committee members should only complete the portions of the form that are applicable to your project.
• Email a copy of your proposal to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Qualifying Paper 2 (Final Qualifying Paper) - QP 2 Sign Off

• When your QP is completed and ready to be defended, schedule a final “sign-off” meeting with the committee.
• After the meeting, if you are in 2019 cohort and beyond, complete the QP2 Sign Off Defense Form though DocuSign.
• After the meeting, if you are in cohort 2018 or prior, complete the QP 2 Evaluation Form through DocuSign.
• After you enter your committee’s names and email addresses and complete your portion of the form, the document will automatically be circulated to the committee. You will receive a copy after all signatures are completed. Committee members should only complete the portions of the form that are applicable to your project.
• Email a copy of your Final QP to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dissertation Proposal Defense

• When your dissertation proposal is completed and ready to be defended, schedule a meeting with the committee.
• After your dissertation proposal defense, complete the Dissertation Proposal Approval Form through DocuSign. After you enter your committee’s names and email addresses and complete your portion of the form, the document will automatically be circulated to the committee and Graduate Director. You will receive a copy once all signatures are completed.
• Complete the Qualifying Examination Form through DocuSign and submit it to SGS (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to officially become ABD.
• Email your dissertation proposal to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dissertation Defense

• When your dissertation is completed and ready to be defended, schedule a meeting with the committee.
• Send the Graduate Program Coordinator the date, time, title, zoom link (if applicable), and committee members.  Please also include the school affiliation and email address for outside committee member, so it can be approved by the Graduate School.
• If your defense is close to the diploma deadline, please apply for your diploma ahead of time.  A confirmation email will be sent to you, save that email as you will need to submit it with your documents to SGS. Diploma Application
• After your dissertation defense, complete the Final Defense Candidacy Form through DocuSign. After you enter your committee’s names, email addresses, and complete your portion of the form, the document will automatically be circulated to the committee and Graduate Director.  You will receive a copy once all signatures are completed.
• Request that your committee members sign your Title Page. (Example: Title Page) You can request signatures of the Title Page via your DocuSign account.
• Complete ALL FORMS required by the Graduate School and submit ALL requirements in ONE email to SGS (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
  • Paperwork requirements are available here: https://gsnb.rutgers.edu/academics/checklist-phd-degree
• Please send a copy of your Final Defense Candidacy Form, Title Page, and Dissertation to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.