Melissa Aronczyk
Professor of Journalism and Media Studies
Director of Ph.D. Program
PhDDirector@comminfo.rutgers.edu
Defense and Graduation Requirements
Congratulations!
To graduate, doctoral candidates must satisfy all program and Rutgers School of Graduate Studies (SGS) requirements, successfully defend the dissertation, and submit the final approved manuscript by the posted deadlines.
Accordion Content
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Degree application deadlines
- January 6, 2026 — for January 2026 degree conferral
- April 1, 2026 — for May 2026 degree conferral
- October 1, 2026 — for October 2026 degree conferral
You must submit the online degree application by the applicable deadline. Late submissions may delay your conferral to the next cycle.
Submission Instructions: Application for Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Complete and submit the Online Diploma Application for your intended conferral term.
- Verify your legal name, program, and term before submitting.
- Resolve any registration or financial holds prior to submission.
- Save the confirmation email for your records and next-step tracking.
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- After setting your defense date with your committee, notify the Ph.D. program director and the coordinator of student services.
- If you plan to hold an in-person defense, the program can assist with room reservations.
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- After a successful defense, submit the required SGS forms and any additional documents SGS requests for graduation.
- Committee signatures may be collected electronically. Complete the forms and return them to the program office before your defense; the program will route them via DocuSign to your committee for approval.
Important Links
- Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Submission
- Thesis and Dissertation Style Guide
- Online Diploma Application
- Dissertation/Thesis Acknowledgment of Previous Publications
- Dissertation Deferred Publication Policy
- Copyright Information
- Copyright Issues for Dissertations: Guidelines on Use of Prior Works
- Graduation and Dissertation
Tip: Ensure your final manuscript follows the Style Guide exactly; formatting issues are the most common reason for delays.
Convocation and Commencement Eligibility
Students who complete degree requirements in October 2025, January 2026, or May 2026 are eligible to participate in the following ceremonies:
- SC&I Graduation Convocation
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies Ph.D. Convocation
- Rutgers University Commencement
Registration and Fees
- Maintain any required enrollment per SGS policy in your final term.
- Some conferral cycles may carry administrative or graduation-related fees.
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