At the beginning of the semester, by the end of which all requirements for the program have been completed, students should obtain a Degree Application Form from the American Studies office. "Semester accepted" applies to the earliest semester of enrollment as a regular graduate student. The "thesis" lines apply only to students who choose the six-credit formal thesis option.
When the form is completed and checked carefully, return it to the Graduate Program Director, who must certify it and forward it to the Graduate Registrar. You must also enclose the $150.00 Degree Application fee along with the Degree Application Form to eligible for graduation. You will not get a diploma unless you file the Degree Application form and pay the $150.00 fee by the deadlines below (exact date will vary slightly each year):
February 13 for a June or August degree
September 29 for a December degree
In listing your courses on the Degree Application Form, you should order an official transcript from the Registrar. Check it against your own records for any discrepancies. Leave blank the grade for those courses in which you are currently enrolled; these will be entered here later by the Registrar. Please enter the title of your final project on the form. To receive the degree you must have an average of 3.0.
We do not recommend participation in Commencement until he/she has completed all of the requirements for the degree.
1. The final project must be accepted by the advisors and a grade submitted by the advisors and GPD to the Graduate Admissions and Records Office.
2. You must fill out a Final Project Report, to be turned in to the American Studies Program.
3. Be sure that we have a copy of your final project for our Program library and a current address and phone number for our records. After you have finished, we will send you a final questionnaire evaluating your overall experience in the program. If you remain in the Boston area, we will let you know about any program events, but wherever you are, we would like to be able to keep in contact with you to follow what our program graduates are doing after completion.