Deadlines

Annual - All Graduate Students

Annual activity report, updated CV, annual advisor assessment - Due by January 9, 2026

Spring 2026 Course Registration - Begins Monday, October 20; Complete prior to the end of the first week of classes (1/16/26)

Political Science Department Comprehensive Exams

Students must have an approved Ph.D. Plan of Study on file before taking the Comprehensive Exams.

Field Exams due in the semester after the coursework on the Ph.D. plan of study is completed (fifth or sixth)
Comparative Exam - January 5-8, 2026
International Relations Exam - January 5-8, 2026
Policy Exam - January 5-8, 2026
**Results will be communicated to students by the DGS on Wednesday, January 28.

Methods Paper due in the semester after the coursework on the Ph.D. plan of study is completed (fifth or sixth)
Due by Friday, February 6, 2026
**Results will be communicated to students by the DGS on Wednesday, February 25.

Major Field Research Paper due by the eighth week of the sixth semester, but can be submitted as early as the fourth semester
Complete the permission form and submit paper document.
Form is due no later than Friday, February 13, 2026.
Paper is due no later than Friday, March 6, 2026.
**Results will be communicated to students by the DGS nineteen days after the Major Field Research Paper is submitted.

OGSPS Preliminary Oral Examination

Students must initiate this process in the week that they submit their major field research paper. If the student fails to pass their major field research paper after scheduling their preliminary oral examination, then the examination is cancelled.

Students must successfully complete an oral examination in which they defend and expand on answers in their written exams and discuss the content of their major field research paper, as determined by the examining committee. The oral examination occurs in the semester in which the last of the major field research paper and written examination requirements have been met. The oral examination committee consists of representatives from the student's major and minor fields of study. Three members are required for the preliminary oral examination committee, but four members are recommended. The department and OGSPS reserve the right to assign additional representatives.

The Preliminary Oral Exam must be held prior to the last week of classes.
Student schedules the Preliminary Oral Exam with Committee then notifies the Graduate Coordinator, who arranges the room and posts notification of the Exam within the department.
Student completes Form 8 in the Graduate Student Portal (found in myPurdue) at least 2 weeks in advance of the exam date. The Committee will be asked to approve Form 8.
**Results are communicated to the student by Committee at end of Exam. The Committee then completes form 10
Students who have passed their Preliminary Oral Examination must complete their Dissertation Defense within 4 years (8 regular semesters) or they will be required to re-take the Preliminary Written Comprehensive Exams.

Students defending their Prospectus

Work with Major Professor and Committee to schedule - Due by end of seventh semester

Advisor gives student permission to circulate prospectus before it is sent to the rest of the committee for review.
Committee receives prospectus at least two weeks before defense date.

Student schedules day and time with Committee, and sends the request to the Graduate Coordinator who will reserve a room and send a Docusign form to the Committee for initial permission and final approval.

This is an open seminar; the date/room of Prospectus Defense is announced to faculty/graduate students.

At the end of the Prospectus Defense, return form to Committee for completion of the bottom portion.

Students earning Master's Degrees

Ensure the Master's Plan of Study is complete and approved by January 11, 2026.
Plan of Study is accessed in the Graduate Student Portal (found in myPurdue)
Register CAND991.
Complete steps in the Commencement tab in myPurdue.
Commencement is on Friday, May 15, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.

Ph.D. CAND991 students graduating in May, 2026

Preliminary Oral Exam - May 10, 2025

PhD Plan of Study Approved by Committee - January 11, 2026

Student can register as CAND991 - February 6, 2026
** registration after that date requires permission and results in $200 fee

Schedule Defense via form 8 in the Graduate Student Portal (found in myPurdue) - 3 weeks in advance (no later than April 1)

Dissertation Format Review via Thesis Office - March 27, 2026

Dissertation Defense - No later than April 22, 2026
** The Doctoral Exit Questionnaire, Survey of Earned Doctorates and Electronic Thesis Acceptance Form must be completed immediately after the defense - see note below

Last day to order cap and gown - tbd

Dissertation Approved by Committee, Deposited and Accepted in Hammer RR - April 29

Commencement - May 15, 2026

Degrees are posted to academic records by May 22, 2026

Ph.D. CAND991 students graduating in August, 2026

(commencement postponed until December, 2026 due to renovations)

Ph.D. Plan of Study approved - May 17
Candidate Registration by Department - May 22
Candidate Registration by Student - June 12, 5:00 p.m.
Thesis Format Review with the Records, Thesis and Dissertation Office - June 29
Defense Scheduling (Form 8 in the Graduate Student Portal, which is found in myPurdue) - due three weeks in advance of defense, so July 1 is last possible day
Defense - July 22 is last possible day
** The Doctoral Exit Questionnaire, Survey of Earned Doctorates and Electronic Thesis Acceptance Form must be completed immediately after the defense - see note below
Dissertation Deposit - July 29, 5:00 p.m.

Ph.D. CAND991 students graduating in December, 2026

Ph.D. Plan of Study approved - August 23
Candidate Registration by Department - August 28
Candidate Registration by Student - September 18
Thesis Format Review with the Records, Thesis and Dissertation Office - November 6
Indicate Participation in Commencement - November 6
Defense Scheduling (Form 8 in the Graduate Student Portal, which is found in myPurdue) - Due three weeks prior to Defense (November 11 is last possible day)
Defense - December 2 is last possible day
** The Doctoral Exit Questionnaire, Survey of Earned Doctorates and Electronic Thesis Acceptance Form must be completed immediately after the defense - see note below
Dissertation Deposit - December 9, 5:00 p.m.

Note Below:

After your defense, complete both the Doctoral Exit Questionnaire and the Survey of Earned Doctorates (both are found in your online student Plan of Study account in myPurdue). These must be completed prior to final deposit approval.
Form 9: Electronic Thesis Acceptance Form must be electronically signed & approved by all committee members & your department’s thesis form head before the deposit deadline. After they approve it, you will receive instructions to submit your final thesis/dissertation.
Your final deposit submission must be made before the deposit deadline. Revisions, if requested, must be completed within 24 hours.
After approval, billing for the deposit fee will be initiated. It may take up to 10 business days to appear.

Registration

Graduate students in the Department of Political Science are expected to enroll in 9 cr of coursework/research during the Fall and Spring semesters. Additional stipulations apply in certain cases. Please refer to the Policies and Procedures for Administering Graduate Student Programs.

This document is updated and reissued every academic year.