You might not be able to all items done this summer.

Continue/finish the items from summer.

Continue/finish the items from the summer-fall-spring.

• Choose a topic and consult with Graduate Coordinator (Dr. Brinkman in summer) about a possible committee chair.
• Get consent from committee chair to work with you.
• Consult with your committee chair about the topic
• Do preliminary research, compile bibliography
• Submit proposal to Grad coordinator.  Electronic submissions are preferred and will speed the process.
• Note: The Grad Committee is not the same as the committee for your paper.

• Obtain approval of your proposal from the Grad Committee
• Consult with your committee chair about the paper 
• Form a committee.  Your grad advisor and committee chair will help you with with this.
• Write your paper. Keep in close contact with your committee chair .  Show drafts only to that person.
• Choose a graduation semester. It can be your last summer, but also can be fall or spring.

• Submit your Program of Study form (scroll down to find form and instructions).
• Submit Graduation Form. Due when you start your last summer..  Instructions and info
• Submit the "last draft" to the committee chair at least 4 weeks before your defense..  This will give you a chance to have time to make corrections before your defense.
• Your writing style must be academic in nature. The thesis statement must be clearly stated in the abstract, introduction, and conclusion. The research must be thorough, sources must be contemporary, and recent journal articles must a part of the research. 
• You must use APA style.
• Have your committee chair contact the other members of your committee to schedule a defense date.  Scheduling a defense in the summer can be tricky.  Plan ahead.  Committee members get the paper 2 weeks before the defense.
• Defend the paper. Make changes as suggested by your committee. 
• Submit Report of Final Exam form. It is due at the end of the summer term (early August). This form is signed when your classes, comps, and paper are complete. Bring it to your defense. Defense has to be done by August to Graduate in the Summer Term.    Instructions and info

This assumes you are ready to graduate in your 4th summer.

 There is a six year rule (scroll down for form and instructions).  You have to finish within 6 years of starting your program.  There is nothing wrong with delaying your graduation a semester or two, but it is not good to have to deal with the 6 year problem.