Master's Students
What You Need to Submit Online to LGS
1. If you seek an interim Master's (on the way to the PhD) or a terminal Master's based on candidacy, coursework, or a project:
- A Master's Completion Signature Form
- This is DocuSign Power Form. What's that? Read this and find out.
- Unofficial transcript
- Master's Graduate Education Exit Survey Completion Certificate (terminal Master's only)
2. If you seek an interim Master's (on the way to the PhD) or a terminal Master's based on completion of a thesis:
- Two important documents with signatures:
- A Distribution Agreement and Approval Page -- for your committee to affirm that they approve your thesis
- A Master's Completion Signature Form -- for your program to affirm that you have completed all program requirements
- Both these forms are DocuSign Power Forms. What's that? Read this and find out.
- You will need a completed approval page before you start the completion form.
- An unofficial transcript
- Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository Submission Agreement (ETD Form) -- to confirm how your thesis or dissertation will be embargoed in the ETD system;
- The Laney Graduate School ETD form can be found under NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS at the bottom of the page
- A Master's Graduate Education Exit Survey Completion Certificate (terminal Master's only)
Signed Forms should be submitted online, using the LGS Student Action Form. Log on to the form, enter a little information about yourself, and then choose the relevant completion action to submit your items.
Your thesis (for option 2) should be submitted through the ETD Repository.
Deadlines
All completion items are expected to be submitted by 11:59pm of the Degree Completion Deadline. If you need an extension to submit your dissertation and forms after the posted deadline, see instructions below.
Guidelines, Checklist and Templates
Read this document, "Submitting Your Thesis or Dissertation." It has a helpful submission checklist and details about each item to be submitted. You will also find templates for items such as the thesis cover page, the approval sheet, and more.
Electronic Theses and Dissertation Repository
Before you submit your forms and thesis or dissertation paperwork, you need to submit electronically to the Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository, or ETD. Read more on our Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository page.
Your ETD record should be submitted before you upload your forms and paperwork.
Required Survey
The Laney Graduate School requires terminal Master's students (not those seeking a Master's on their way to the PhD) to complete the online Master's Graduate Education Exit Survey. The survey is confidential and is essential for producing aggregate data that helps Emory and the national higher education community understand how graduate students progress through their programs and view their educational experiences.
- Complete this survey before you submit your forms to LGS.
- Be sure to upload the required certificate to demonstrate that you have completed the survey. This certificate is available at the end of the survey.
Electronic signatures
We accept electronic signatures for all forms associated with degree completion. (Note: The Distribution Agreement and Approval Page are set up to collect all signatures using DocuSign. You will need to collect signatures for the Completion Form and the ETD Form. if applicable.)
Options for electronic signatures:
1. Use tools such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign to create an electronic signature. (Preferred)
2. Signers may insert a digital image of their signature.
3. Signers may print and sign a form, then scan and email it to the student.
Submission Deadline Extension
In certain circumstances students may need an extension to submit a dissertation or thesis and associated forms after the posted deadline. These request are reviewed by the Laney Graduate School, and must be for an approved reason:
- advisor, committee member or DGS/Program Director is unavailable
- illness or other personal emergency
- defense date is after the posted submission deadline
If you seek an extension for another reason, you can explain and the Dean may approve.
To request an extension, use the Submission Extension Deadline Signature Form (your advisor, DGS or Director must sign), and submit it using the Student Action Online Form (you will find an option for this action).