Must-Know Graduation Details

You can graduate in April, June, August, or December.
Here’s your Graduation Checklist

1. Be sure you have met all academic requirements for graduation
2. Be sure you are registered for the term in which you want to graduate
3. Apply for graduation
4. If you’re a doctoral candidate, make sure your defense is properly announced well in advance
5. Complete the Exit Survey
6. If you are an international student, complete the Departure Notification Form
7. Submit your essay, thesis, or dissertation according to the instructions below. Be sure that you follow all formatting instructions in the Academic Handbook and in your departmental guidelines.

Events During Graduation Weekend

Academic Requirements for Graduation

It is critical that you meet with your advisor and department student services staff member to make sure that you have successfully completed all of the academic requirements for graduation. These include (but are not necessarily limited to) ...

• All school-wide required courses, including two terms of Public Health Grand Rounds
• All departmental required courses
• Any practicum, internship, residency, or research requirements
• Pitt Public Health Student Academic Integrity Module
• All required examinations (preliminary, comprehensive, etc.)
• Essay, thesis, or dissertation
• If you are receiving a joint or dual degree, all requirements for both degrees must be complete (with the exception of the MSTP program)
• You must be registered for the term in which you graduate

In addition, you must ensure that you meet the following conditions:

• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0
• All G, I, or Z grades must be converted to a final grade (or your file must contain a memo from your advisor stating that the course is not required for the degree)
• Full (not provisional) admission status

Registration Requirement for Graduating Students

Degree-seeking student must be registered for at least one credit or for FTDR (for doctoral students completing full-time dissertation research) in the term of graduation. Students planning to graduate in June must register for at least one credit or FTDR in 6-week session 1. To graduate in August, you may register for summer term, or for any summer session, including 6-week session 1. If you applied for June graduation and registered for 6-week session 1, you can apply for August graduation without further registration.

Note: international students need permission from the Office of International Services to register for less than a full-time credit load.

Students graduating with a certificate only do not need to register in the term of graduation, as long as they registered during the 12 months prior to graduation.

If you have not registered for three terms, you are no longer an active student. Consult with your department student services staff to discuss criteria for re-admission.

Applying to Graduate

You must apply to graduate by completing an Application for Graduation (PDF - form must be printed in landscape orientation) and a Prior Degree Form (PDF) and submitting them to the Pitt Public Health Office of Student Affairs, G011A. Deadlines and instructions are listed in the table below. Late fees must be paid by check or money order payable to the “University of Pittsburgh” and be submitted with the application. Contact Joanne Pegher with questions.

Be sure to list your Pitt e-mail on the Application for Graduation and a non-Pitt e-mail on the Prior Degree Form. Your name on the application must be the same as it appears in the PeopleSoft system. You will be required to provide legal documentation (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree, valid passport) to the Office of the Registrar to use a different name on the graduation application.

If you are graduating with two Pitt Public Health degrees, or a Pitt Public Health degree and a Pitt Public Health certificate, you may enter all information on one application form. If degrees and/or certificates will be awarded by another school in addition to Pitt Public Health, an application must be submitted to each school. If you are graduating with a joint degree, please indicate this on the second page of the graduation application beneath the area for degrees.

Note: your Academic Department/Student Plan is PPBHL and your Department is BCHS, BIOST, EOH, EPIDEM, HPM, HUGEN, IDM; or MULTI PROGRAM. For Name of Degree/Cert, list degree and/or specific certificate. Only IDM-MPH and Peace Corps students will have an area of concentration (IDM-CHID for MIC; IDM-BID for PEL; PCORPS for BCHS; PC for IDM; PCMI for EPIDEM).

Titles: Only doctoral students who intend to graduate in April need to provide the title of their dissertation.  Those submitting an essay or thesis never need to include their titles on the application.

Applications for graduation are valid for only one graduation date. If you postpone graduation, you must reapply by completing and submitting another application.

For a comprehensive, printable table of important dates and deadlines, refer to the graduation dates table. The table is updated as dates are released by the Office of the University Registrar.

Doctoral defenses must be announced at least 3 weeks in advance (or as soon as you have your information). Consult with your department student services staff as soon as you know your defense date. Then e-mail the student services person the following information and copy Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Mary Derkach (derkach@pitt.edu), Joanne Pegher (jpegher@pitt.edu), and phcomm@pitt.edu.  Be sure to include ...

1. Your name and contact information
   (include phone number and e-mail address)
2. Title of the dissertation
3. Abstract 
4. Date, time, and place of defense
5. Your department and advisor
6. Committee members and departments 

Send announcement email

The department student services staff will publish your dissertation announcement on the departmental and school dissertation calendars, and dean's office communications team will then copy the posting to the University Calendar, etc.

Every graduating student must complete an online exit survey. Upon completion of the survey, you will be redirected to a separate page where you will be prompted to enter your name and department. Your identifying information will not be linked to the survey, so your responses will be confidential. When you submit the form, your department and the Office of Student Affairs will receive notification that you met the survey requirement.Add Content...

International students whose F1 status will be ending must log into My OIS to complete the Departure Notification Form. Once the form is completed, you must forward the confirmation message to your departmental student services staff, who will then send the Office of Student Affairs a copy.

Formatting
See the Pitt Public Health Academic Handbook for complete descriptions of formatting requirements. Make sure you are also aware of any departmental rules and of your advisor's preferences.

Committee
Check with your departmental student services staff to confirm that your essay/thesis/dissertation committee has been approved by Mary Derkach. See the Academic Handbook for committee composition rules. 

University Resources and Instructions
All essays, theses and dissertations must be submitted electronically. The University's guidelines for submission of ETDs (electronic theses and dissertations) contain important information and FAQs, including:

• a wealth of information on training
• in-person (not telephone) support
• tutorials
• uploading the manuscript (with questions, contact Joanne Pegher or Susan Charie)
• copyright
• security settings and use of non-Pitt e-mail (doc)
• and more

Required Paperwork and Electronic Submissions for Master’s Essay

Submit paperwork to Joanne Pegher, Office of Student Affairs, G011A Public Health, except as noted below.

1. Deposit/upload a Word document or PDF file to d-scholarship (remains in Students Affairs queue until it is reviewed). There are no bookmarks needed for a PDF essay. When submitting, choose the type "Long Paper."
   Submission Steps (PDF)  Essay D-Scholarship Account Info (PDF)
2. Sample committee page (ii).  No signatures, committee will sign the Essay approval form. Print this page ii and turn in with paperwork.
3. One printed abstract (doc). Be sure the heading "Abstract" is on this page placed after the heading. The abstract must include the essay advisor's(also referred to as essay chair) name and degree typed in the upper right-hand corner, and be initialed (not signed) by the essay advisor in black or blue ink. The abstract must contain a clear and concise statement of the significance of the paper to the field of public health, specifically using the words, "public health."
4. Two printed title pages (doc).
5. Essay approval form (PDF). Complete the form (effect December 2018) and obtain all committee signatures (no electronic or faxed signatures). This form replaces the signed committee page (which is page ii and is still a part of the essay). (Have your Report on Requirement form with you also so it can be signed at the same time, see #6 below)
6. Copyright and/or patent forms, if applicable.
7. After your readers sign off on your essay using the Report on Requirements (PDF) form, give it to your department student services staff. 

Required Paperwork and Electronic Submissions for Master's Theses
Submit paperwork to Joanne Pegher, Office of Student Affairs, G011A Public Health, except as noted below.

1. Deposit/upload the thesis to d-scholarship according to the University guidelines for ETDs (remains in Student Affairs queue until it is reviewed). Choose the type "U of P ETD".
   Submission steps (PDF)  Thesis D-Scholarship Account Info (PDF)
2. At your defense, your committee should sign your Report on Requirements (PDF) form. Give the signed copy to your department student services staff.
3. ETD approval form (PDF). Complete the form and obtain all committee signatures (no electronic or faxed signatures). Typically the committee will sign at the defense and the advisor will sign again when the document is finalized. In addition, fill out page 2: Sign Part A; Part B: select access option, with #3 only for those applying for a patent. You can pick from 1 to 5 years. Student and thesis advisor must sign.
4. Printed copy of an unsigned committee page (doc) including information on all committee members (this is page ii of your thesis).
5. Two printed abstracts (doc). The abstract must have the thesis advisor's (also referred to as committee chair) name with degree typed in the upper right-hand corner; they initial (not sign) in black or blue ink. If you have a co-advisor (co-chair) include their name also to initial. The abstract must contain a clear and concise statement of the significance of the paper to the field of public health, specifically using the words "public health."
6. Three printed copies of the title page (doc).
7.  Submit a receipt for the $20 thesis processing fee. You can pay in person (Student Payment Center, G-9 Thackeray Hall/412-624-7520) OR pay online To pay online you must call the Student Payment Center (payments.pitt.edu) and ask them to "create a line" for you. Then you can login and go to 3rd tab "Payment" and then "Payment Options" for information/instructions. Ways to pay:
   • pay online by e-check (no charge)
   • pay with credit or debit card (only Discover, American Express, and MasterCard -service charge)
   • If your receipt does not have your name on it, be sure to write it on the receipt. 
   • Copies of permissions for use of copyrighted materials. Copyright and/or Patent forms, if applicable.

Required Paperwork and Electronic Submissions for Doctoral Dissertations
Submit paperwork to Joanne Pegher, Office of Student Affairs, G011A Public Health, except as noted below.

1. Deposit/upload the dissertation to d-scholarship according to the University guidelines for ETDs (remains in Student Affairs queue until it is reviewed). Choose the type "U of P ETD."
   Submission Steps (PDF))   Dissertation D-Scholarship Account Info (PDF)
2. At your defense, your committee should sign your Report on Requirements form. Give the signed copy to your department student services staff.
3. ETD approval form Complete the form and obtain all committee signatures (no electronic or faxed signatures). Typically the committee will sign at the defense and the advisor will sign again when the document is finalized. In addition, fill out page 2: Sign Part A; Part B: select access option, with #3 only for those applying for a patent. You can pick from 1 to 5 years. Student and dissertation advisor must sign.
4. Printed copy of the unsigned committee page, including information on all committee members (this is page ii of your dissertation).
5. Three printed abstracts. Abstracts must have the dissertation advisor's (also referred to as committee chair) name with degree typed in the upper right-hand corner; they initial (not sign) in black or blue ink. If you have a co-advisor (co-chair) include their name also. The abstract must contain a clear and concise statement of the significance of the paper to the field of public health, specifically using the words “public health.”
6. Three printed copies of the title page.
7. The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED).
   a. Click here for the survey.
   b. You must provide name, institution, email address, graduation month and year, and doctoral degree type (the only option for school/college is graduate school).
   c. You can begin the survey immediately, before you receive an email with the URL to the actual survey, and a unique PIN and password. You can suspend the survey before it's completed and return to it at a later time using this PIN and password.
   d. Proof of completion must be submitted with your graduation paperwork either by email confirmation or by printing the certificate of completion.
   i. Email confirmation: Can only enter one email address, so you can forward your email to jpegher@pitt.edu and Joanne Pegher will be notified automatically.
   ii. Print certificate of completion: Give the copy to Joanne Pegher.
   e. Recording the school's doctoral degrees nationally is very important. Regulations governing graduate studies state: "Prior to the end of the term in which they are graduated, all doctoral candidates must submit to the office of the dean a completed Survey of Earned Doctorates Awarded in the United States." Click here for more information.
   f. The Provost's Office asks that you please complete the survey questions since your responses will enhance Pitt's national reputation. The information provided remains confidential and is safeguarded in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The data are reported only in aggregate form or in a manner that does not identify information about any individual.
8. The ProQuest/UMI form complete:
   (Page 4) (a) Section III. Publishing Options & Signature. You will want to choose "Traditional Publishing"; and under "Select Publishing Options" you can write in either "3, 4, or 5 year embargo" so that you coincide with your access choice on page 2 of your ETD approval form.
   (Page 5) Dissertation Submission Form (Codes are under Guide 2: Subject Categories, pgs 7 thru 10) .    Optional: If applying for copyright, complete the Copyright Registration Form (pg 6); must include a $55 check or money order payable to ProQuest.
9.  Submit a receipt for the $85 dissertation processing fee. [Note: this $85 fee includes $65 fee that is mentioned under "traditional publishing" on Page 4 of the ProQuest form.] You can pay in person (Student Payment Center, G-9 Thackeray Hall/412-624-7520) OR to pay online you must call the Student Payment Center and ask them to "create a line" for you. Then you can login to the Student Payment Center (payments.pitt.edu). Go to 3rd tab "Payment" and then "Payment Options" for information/instructions. You will be able to:
   • pay online by e-check (no charge)
   • pay with credit or debit card (only Discover, American Express, and MasterCard -service charge)
   • If your receipt does not have your name on it, be sure to write it on the receipt. 
   Copies of permissions for use of copyrighted materials. Copyright and/or Patent forms, if applicable.

Local Newspaper Announcement of Graduation

Some students have their graduation announced in their hometown newspaper. We suggest that you submit information to the editor of your local paper in the following format:

Ann Smith of River Forest, Ohio, received a Master of Science degree in human genetics from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. She is the daughter of Lea and Bill Smith. Ms. Smith will work at Harvard University as a prenatal genetic counselor. Ms. Smith completed an internship at West Penn Hospital, and was awarded the xyz scholarship for academic excellence.

Contact Allison Hydzik, manager of media relations, 412-647-9975, with questions about announcements.

Retain access to your My Pitt E-mail mailbox after you graduate and keep it as long as you like. An alumni account also provides access to...

• Wireless PittNet (while on campus)
• Eduroam (ability to obtain wireless access at participating institutions around the world)
• Online orders for transcripts and enrollment verification
• Online grades
• Account management tools
• Technology Help Desk
• PittPAY

You will receive an e-mail letting you know when your account will be transitioning to an alumni account sometime in the term following your graduation.

Your e-mail address will be removed from the Pitt Public Health list serve upon your graduation and you will receive an e-mail from the school when this happens. You can opt to stay on the list at that time.

Students may request preferred first and/or middle name for diplomas with the Diploma Request Form (also available in hard copy in G-3 Thackeray). Forms must be submitted in person with valid photo ID.

Note: existing procedures for requesting changes to your legal name are still in effect. Students are cautioned to investigate potential ramifications of using a diploma name instead of a legal name if you intend to use your diploma internationally.

Diplomas 

Diplomas are mailed by the vendor to graduates approximately six to eight weeks after the actual graduation date. Students will be notified via their Pitt e-mail address when the diploma ships. 

Certificates are printed and mailed by the Office of Student Affairs approximately six to eight weeks after graduation. 

All items are mailed to the address on the graduation application. If your address changes, contact Joanne Pegher and she will inform the Registrar's Office. Also, to be certain that you receive your mailed diploma, complete a change of address with the Post Office - either in person or online. 

Students with any unresolved financial obligation to the University will not receive diplomas or final transcripts.