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Forms

The Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech Graduate School, and university Registrar's Office maintain and process various student forms. Most forms that require department-level signatures and should be submitted through the CS Graduate Form Submission Portal and then forwarded to the Graduate School for final processing. The department's Graduate Programs Office aims to process all forms within 4-7 business days. 

Submission

Please use CS Graduate Form Submission Portal to submit your form to your respective graduate coordinator.  Form submitted by email will not be accepted. 

Change of degree level

  • Use this form to switch between MS and PhD programs and to switch between MS and MEng programs.

Confidentiality waiver

  • An optional form authorizing the CS Graduate Programs Office to grant access to specific faculty members using this form in accordance with FERPA guidelines.

Course justification

  • Use this form to allow coursework five years or older to be revalidated so they can be used on a plan of study.

Credit transfer request (doc) (.PDF)

  • Use this form to allow courses taken elsewhere to count toward a Virginia Tech plan of study.

Independent study request(doc) (PDF)

  • Use this form to register for CS 5974: Independent Study. The form should be submitted prior to the last day of the first week of classes.

Project and report request (PDF)

  • Use this form to register for CS 5904: Project and Report in a given semester. The form should be submitted prior to the last day of the first week of classes.

Student resignation/withdrawal

  • Use this form to withdraw from all courses in a given semester. This form should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Thesis option change request

  • Use this form to switch between thesis and non-thesis options.

Master of Engineering

  • Use this form to list the courses to be taken to fulfill your MEng degree requirements. 
  • Submit your Plan of Study one semester prior to graduation after you have finalized your last semester's course registration. Your Plan of Study must match all of the coursework you have taken as a MEng student.

Master of Science/Doctor of Philosophy worksheet

  • Use this form to list the courses to be taken to fulfill your M.S. or Ph.D. degree requirements and also identify your advisory committee. An instruction sheet is provided for your convenience.
  • M.S. students should submit prior to the end of their second semester in the program.
  • Ph.D. students should submit prior to the end of their third semester in the program.
  • A plan of study must match all of the coursework a student has taken as an M.S. or Ph.D. student. If a student needs to change something on their plan of study after it has been approved, they must submit a "Request for plan of study changes" form.

Request for plan of study changes

  • Use this form to make changes to the courses listed in your plan of study.
  • Submit this form after an approved plan of study is on file and prior to applying for your degree.

Change of commitee/advisor request

  • Use this form to make changes to committee members, advisor(s), or composition of advisory committee.
  • Submit prior to the submission of request to admit candidate to the final exam form listed below.

Non-Virginia Tech committee member form (Faculty/staff use only)

  • This form is to only be completed by your graduate coordinator.
  • To propose a non-Virginia Tech professor/researcher to serve on your advisory committee, please send the most recent CV/professional website to your graduate coordinator who will then submit the credentials for approval to the Graduate School.
  • This should be completed prior to the submission of the plan of study worksheet.

Application for degree or certificate conferral request

  • Use this form to declare your intent to graduate in a given semester.
  • The deadline is typically one month after the first day of classes, but submit as early as possible in the semester you intend to graduate.
  • Submit this form to the Graduate School using their Forms submission portal.
  • Note that the degree cannot be awarded without this form, even if you have completed all requirements.

Request to admit candidate to the preliminary exam

  • Ph.D. students should use this form to schedule their preliminary exam.
  • This form should be submitted two weeks prior to the desired exam date.

Request to admit candidate to the final exam

  • M.S. and Ph.D. students should use this form to schedule their final exam.
  • Submit this form at least two weeks prior to the desired exam date.
  • Note: Ph.D. students who wish to participate in University Commencement, should schedule their final exam one month before the last day of classes. You can schedule your final exam after this date, but there is no guarantee to participate in graduation ceremonies. Your advisor could make a request to the Graduate School for an exception, and these are considered on an individual basis.

Request to be qualified (doc) 

  • Due to the changes the department is implementing for this qualifier season, the current qualifier form is no longer applicable as of Fall 2024.

Start of semester defense exception (SSDE)

  • M.S. and Ph.D. students should use this form to allow them to register as a defense-only student in a given semester.
  • This is typically used by students who intended to graduate the previous semester but were unable to do so.
  • Students who use this form are registered as a defense-only student in the current semester and registered for one credit.
  • Students must defend by a stipulated deadline.
  • This form should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the desired exam date, along with the request to admit candidate to the final exam form.

Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Approval Form

  • Use this form to register your thesis/dissertation with the ETD repository.
  • This process needs to be completed 2 weeks after successfully completing the final exam.