College of Graduate Studies

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Student Forms

Welcome to the source for all College of Graduate Studies forms. If the form is not part of the DocuSign workflow process, the form should be completed and emailed to gradstudies@tntech.edu. If the items are sent by email, please note in the subject line what attachments are included.

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› Admission and Readmission
› Admission Material
› Request Deferral
› Readmission

› Enrolled Student Forms
› Committee / Candidacy
› Modifications/Changes
› Courses and Credits

Defense

› Exceptions
Exit Exams

Graduate Assistants
› IRB for Protection of Human Subjects
› Program of Study
› Certificates
› Post-Master's Certificates through TN eCampus
› Master's Level
› Specialist in Education (Ed.S.)
› Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
› Release of Records
› Thesis / Dissertation Defense

› Graduation Forms
Graduate Faculty Forms

Admission / Readmission

Ready to apply for admission to a graduate program? Before starting any necessary admission materials, you'll first need to fill out your admission application. If you have any questions, we're here to help!

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Admission Materials

- Experiential Track Supplemental Form » This form is to be completed for the applicants to the MS Community Health and Nutrition program if they plan to pursue both the MS degree and the Experiential Learning Track.
- Graduate Advisor Acceptance Form » This form is to be submitted by applicants into the MS program in Biology and the Ph.D. program in Environmental Sciences in the concentrations of Geosciences, Agriculture, Biology, and Integrated Research.
- Graduate Assistantship Application » Complete this form and submit to your department to be considered for a GA position.
- International Student Advisor Report » This form is to be completed by international students currently attending another institution in the U.S.
- Instructional Leadership Prospective Candidate Form » This form is required if you are applying to and INSL program.
- Letter of Recommendation » The letter of recommendation should be submitted from the email link sent through our application system.
- Student Health Form » Health forms will be required by the Health Services Office prior to registration. You submit to Health Services.

Request Deferral of Admission Term

If you wish to change your entry term, please complete the Deferral Request Form. On this form you will list the semester you have been admitted to and also the semester you actually want to enter.

Readmission

Students must apply for readmission when a gap occurs in attendance (excludes summer). Students should reapply through the application portal.

Enrolled Student Forms

The following forms are for students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at Tennessee Tech.

Committee / Candidacy

- Appointment of Advisory Committee and Admission to Candidacy Form » You MUST complete this form within 15 hours of your degree program, and it must be digitally signed by each committee member. This form is for required for ALL degree-seeking graduate students. PhD students will also need to submit the PhD Admission to Candidacy & Comprehensive Exam Form.
- Change of Advisory Committee Request You MUST complete this form whenever you add or drop a faculty member from your committee.

Changes Forms: Need to Make A Modification or Change?

- Application for Reclassification to Full Standing » This is a Docusign form to be completed by the dept. chair. Any student admitted provisionally will have be to reclassified to full standing following the first semester of attendance.
- Change of Advisory Committee Request » You MUST complete this form whenever you add or drop a faculty member from your committee.
- Change of Major/Concentration Request »This form is to be completed if a student wants to change their major or their concentration within the current program. If you want to change into a completely different degree program you must complete a full application through the application portal.
- Change of Master's Thesis or Non-Thesis Track Request If you decide to change to non-thesis you must complete this form so that your new program of study will be reflected in Degree Works.
- Change of Graduation Term Form For those who have applied to graduate, it is important to submit this form if you decide to move your graduation semester.

Courses and Credits

- Course Validation Form » This form is used when coursework has expired (6 year or 8 year threshold) and your advisor has agreed to validate the coursework.
- Fast Track Course Credit for Existing Students » This form is to be completed by advisors only for existing Fast Track students.
- Fast Track Program Acceptance + Course Credit Form » This form is to be completed by advisors only for new Fast Track students. (Review GPA requirements.)
- Request for Graduate Course for Undergraduate or Graduate Credit » This form is required if an undergraduate student has approval to take a graduate level course. This has to be approved by the department and the instructor. (Overall GPA must be 3.0 or higher to participate.)
- Substitution Form » This form is used when a student takes a course outside of their program of study (as listed in Degree Works). The form will tell COGS which course to substitute to allow the new course to be a part of the POS. (Use the Course(s) to be Deleted section for the required course(s) that will be replaced in Degree Works.)
- Transfer of Graduate Credits Application » This form is used if the advisor approves coursework taken at another institution to become part of the student's program of study at TTU.

Defense: Thesis/Dissertation Defense and Approval Page

- College of Arts & Sciences - Defense Form This form must be submitted as part of the graduation process for COAS students.
- College of Education, Engineering, and Interdisciplinary Studies Defense Form ( Docusign) College of Education, Engineering, and Interdisciplinary Studies Defense Form (PDF) This form is also a graduation requirement.
- Thesis/Dissertation Certificate of Approval Form This form MUST include all committee member signatures.
- Instructions for Printable Certificate Form

Exceptions and Reinstatement

- Exception Request to Walk in Commencement Form » This form allows students to participate in a commencement ceremony that differs from the actual semester the student's degree is conferred. A doctoral student may not walk in commencement prior to the conferral of their degree. The form must be submitted before the deadline. Please see the calendar for deadline.
- Graduate Academic Fresh Start » In the event that the student is dismissed from Tenn Tech, the student may apply to a brand new program using the Fresh Start request. Note that NO prior coursework will be transferred to the new degree program.
- Reinstatement Request Form » In the event a student is dismissed from their degree program, the student may petition to re-enter the program with a clear reinstatement plan. The advisor, department and dean of the college must support such a reinstatement plan.
- Reinstatement Process Guide/Instructions »
- Request for Exception to University Requirement » There are times when a student would like to request an exception from a Tenn Tech policy due to extenuating circumstances. Such a request must be supported by the student's advisor, department chair, college dean, and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The existing policy must be referenced in the request. All policies may be found on the university website.

Exit Exams

Comprehensive Exit Exams

- College of Arts & Sciences Exit Comprehensive Exam Form To be signed by all committee members.
- College of Education & College of Engineering Exit Comprehensive Exam Form To be signed by all committee members.

Ph.D. Exit Exam

- PhD Admission to Candidacy & Comprehensive Exam Form To be signed by all committee members.

Graduate Assistantship

- Graduate Assistantship Application
- Graduate Assistant Offer Letter (updated Sept 2024) This form is completed by the department.
- Graduate Teaching Associate Certification Form This form is completed by the department. Transcripts must be attached.
- Graduate Assistant Request for Graduate Student Overload Form This form must be completed if a graduate assistant wants to take more than 12 credit hours in one semester.

Graduation Forms

- Tech Express - submit your application for graduation through Tech Express. Once in Tech Express, select Eagle Online, Student Menu, and then Student Records Menu. Select Graduate Studies application, confirm your latest enrollment semester, and select the program you are graduating with. If graduating with a degree and a certificate - you must apply for each separately. The registrar's office has instructions on how to submit the application at: https://www.tntech.edu/records/graduationapplication.php.
- Due dates for the submission of the application are as follows:
  Fall — June 1st
  Spring — September 1st
  Summer — February 1st
- Change of Graduation Term Request. If you need to change your graduation semester, please complete this form. NOTE: you must be enrolled during the term in which your program requirements are met.
- Exception Request to Walk in Commencement Form - This form is used in the event you want to walk in commencement during a different semester in which you graduate in. (Note: Summer students are automatically added to the Fall commencement list.) Doctoral students (PhD, DNP) cannot walk early. This form must be submitted before the deadline. Please see calendar for deadline. See bottom of page regarding commencement info.

Graduate Faculty Forms

- Graduate Faculty Forms and Information Webpage

IRB For Protection of Human Subjects

All research involving human subjects require approval from the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects. The Research & Economic Development department provides additional information regarding IRB.

Program of Study Forms

All students conducting research and writing a thesis must be assigned an advisory committee. The Appointment of the Advisory Committee / Admission to Candidacy Application form is available below. A program of study worksheet is not required by COGS but may be used by the advisor in establishing a degree plan.

With the implementation of Degree Works, all programs of study are automatically populated upon admission. Below are the detailed program of study worksheets for use by departments. These worksheets are not required by the College of Graduate Studies. Program of Study Worksheet for Department Use Only »

Release of Records

- FERPA Permission to Release »
- FERPA Information Page »

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