Masters Candidates

Path to Graduation:

Curriculum and Registration

Registration

  • Review MAE Graduate Course Advising information.
  • MS students must be registered every semester until graduation.
  • Students must register for at least one credit during the semester immediately preceding your degree conferral date. (February Conferral Requires Fall Registration & June/September Conferral Requires Spring Registration)
  • If conferring, be sure that there are no incomplete (I/U) grades or missing grades on your record.

Choose MS Option

  • Students must choose their MS Program Option no later than their second semester, preferably in the first semester. Note that all students enter UB under the All-Course Option.

Minimum Credits: 30 | Minimum GPA: 3.00

Thesis | Project | Exam

Thesis Option

  1. You must submit your thesis to the Graduate School.
  2. Schedule your in-person, thesis defense with Joshua Sugg. 
    (Defenses can be scheduled in 250 Bell, 206 Furnas or 1014 Furnas.)
  3. Submit your defense announcements to the Graduate Coordinator at least one week before your scheduled defense date.

Project Option

  1. Schedule your in-person, Project defense with Joshua Sugg
    (Defenses can be scheduled in 250 Bell, 206 Furnas or 1014 Furnas.)
  2. Submit your defense announcements to the Graduate Coordinator at least one week before your scheduled defense date.

Thesis/Project Materials Deadlines

Degree Conferral Date June 1, 2026 Aug. 31, 2026 Feb. 1, 2027
ETD Due Date
May 15, 2026 Aug. 7, 2026
Jan. 8, 2027

Students should defend at least two days prior to these deadlines to allow time for possible revisions.

All Course w/ e-Portfolio

You will receive notification from the Graduate Coordinator when your e-Portfolio is due. E-Portfolio guidance can be found in Appendix B of the MAE Graduate Handbook.

Required Paperwork

NOTE: The Graduate Coordinator will take care of the M Form for the Graduate School.

  1. The Intent to Graduate Form must be completed by all conferring MS students. 
  2. Apply for Graduation in HUB.
  3. Thesis Students: Submit your Electronic Thesis (ETD) form to the Graduate School.
  4. The Master's Graduation Survey is to be filled out by all students leaving UB.
  5. The Departing Laboratory Student Checklist should be filled out if you were in a lab setting.

Reminder: if full-time status is required in final 2 semesters, the Certification of Full-Time Student Status form must be completed.

Apply to Graduation Deadlines

Graduation Term
Application Deadline
Conferral Date
Fall Oct. 15 Feb. 1
Spring Feb. 22 June 1
Summer July 15
Aug. 31

Commencement

Get information regarding steps to graduation, cap and gowns, ceremonies and more.