How to Apply

You can apply for graduation at the UMD Registrar website. 

When to Apply

Students must apply for graduation no later than the end of the Schedule Adjustment Period at the beginning of the semester in which they intend to graduate. 

Please Note: The Department CANNOT file University forms for you. Do Not fax them to the department or leave them in faculty mailboxes for processing.

Required Forms for Graduation

• Certification of Doctor of Audiology Degree
• Application for Graduation

Deadlines for these forms can be found on the Graduate School website.

Sequence of Major Requirements for the Au.D. Degree

• Year 2 (Spring/Summer)

  • Choose Capstone Research Topic
  • Choose Capstone Research Advisor
  • Submit IRB paperwork

• Year 3 – Fall

  • Register for HESP 849 (Capstone Research I – 2 cr.)
    PLEASE NOTE: Register for the section of your Capstone Advisor. By the end of this course, you should have an approved Capstone Proposal

• Year 3 – Spring

  • Register for HESP 859 (Capstone Research II – 2 cr.)
    PLEASE NOTE: Register for the section of your Capstone Advisor. By the end of this course, you should have completed your data collection and project
  • Take Comprehensive Exams: March/April

• Year 4

  • After passing Comps, submit the Admission to Au.D. Candidacy as soon as possible to the Director of the Audiology Program.
  • Once you are admitted to Au.D. Candidacy, the Registrar’s Office (in conjunction with the Graduate School), automatically registers you for 6 credits of HESP 829 (Clinical Internship Residence) for each of three semesters (summer, fall, spring).  This permits you to accrue the 18 credits total for HESP 829 required for graduation.
  • Complete final stages of Capstone Research Project if necessary
  • Present Capstone Research Project on Capstone Research Day (April)

Graduate School Deadlines

In general, the deadlines are approximately:

• First week in February of the semester in which you graduate: Last day to submit Application for Graduation (University requirement)
• Fourth week in April: Last day to submit Certification of Doctor of Audiology Degree form for May graduation.

Find all pertinent deadlines on the Graduate School website.

Important Reminders for Graduating Au.D. Students:

Please Remember to Do the Following

1. Fill out your ASHA application (KASA form) FULLY and have your advisor check it for accuracy. ASHA CCC application forms are available at the ASHA web site (www.asha.org). PLEASE READ instructions and the sample before filling out the application.

   The Department keeps a permanent copy of the ASHA application in your files for your future employment inquiries. ASHA does NOT keep a copy of the application. Please fill it out completely and neatly. Dr. Nguyen will NOT sign off on incomplete applications, even though only the end pages must be submitted to ASHA. THIS MEANS YOU MUST FILL OUT ALL COURSEWORK AND CLOCK HOUR INFORMATION. FORMS WILL NOT BE SIGNED WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION.

   You must submit these forms TOGETHER WITH the other pages of the ASHA Certification application, which require Dr. Nguyen's signature.

2. Please list the University of Maryland as a recipient of your NTE ASHA Praxis exam scores. The code of UM for the Praxis exam is 0131.
3. Please provide the department with a copy of your forwarding address if you will be moving after graduation, as well as your new email address.
4. Please notify the department of your employment site as soon as you know it.
5. Please complete the e-mailed exit interview that we will send you automatically. Exit interviews can also be scheduled for anytime within the month prior to graduation, or at any time after graduation. Interviews can be held over the phone if this is more convenient, but should still be scheduled. Exit interviews help the department to identify those aspects of the program which should be improved, as well as those aspects of the program which were satisfying to you.

For more information on Graduate Student Deadlines, click here.

Spring 2026 Commencement

Campus-Wide Ceremony

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 / 7 pm / SECU Stadium 

The University of Maryland will hold the 2026 main commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, in SECU Stadium. The student processional will begin at 6 p.m.

Additional information regarding the campus-wide ceremony, tickets, regalia and safety measures will be added to commencement.umd.edu as it becomes available.

Live Streams

Live streaming will be available for both ceremonies. Please check this page closer to the day of the ceremonies for links to watch live.

Important: Students in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences will be recognized during the BSOS ceremony #2 at 12:30pm

For information regarding the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Ceremonies, check out the BSOS Commencement Page and the Graduation Checklist.

BSOS College Ceremonies

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Ceremony
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
Time: Ceremony #1: 9:00am / Ceremony #2: 12:30pm
Location: Xfinity Center

In addition to the campus-wide ceremony, BSOS and the other colleges and schools will hold ceremonies. BSOS college ceremonies for August 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 graduates will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. There will be two ceremonies for BSOS units; the organization of the ceremonies is displayed below.

*May 2026 ceremonies will include August 2025, December 2025, and May 2026 graduates. We estimate approximately 700-800 graduates per ceremony, based on the number of graduates.