Thesis and Dissertation
The College of Graduate Studies provides comprehensive guidance to graduate students throughout the thesis and dissertation process, starting from the formation of their advisory committee to the final review and submission.
To support this important phase of students’ professional development, our team provides workshops, personalized formatting assistance, and collaborates with campus partners to offer research training aimed at enhancing skills for future career success.
In 2024–2025, our team boosted graduate student support across the board. We completed 1,289 format reviews (up 25%) and facilitated the submission of 509 final theses and dissertations (up nearly 10%). Our graduate student ambassador provided 3,331 minutes of one-on-one guidance through 188 personalized appointments, increasing support by 10% and 16%, respectively. Partnering with UCF Libraries, we expanded global access to electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) via the STARS (Showcase of Text, Archives, Research and Scholarship) repository, which recorded an impressive 670,803 downloads worldwide, sharing UCF research with audiences worldwide.
| Academic Term | Summer 2024 | Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | Totals for Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s | 56 | 32 | 112 | 200 |
| Doctoral | 145 | 75 | 89 | 309 |
| Totals by Term | 201 | 107 | 201 | 509 |
Academic Integrity Training
Understanding the principles of academic responsibility and integrity is a cornerstone of graduate education at UCF. Students learn to conduct research carefully, cite sources accurately, and uphold honesty in all academic work. For those needing a refresher, the College provides targeted training to reinforce these critical skills.
All graduate students complete an asynchronous ethics webcourse during their first semester to ensure a strong foundation in ethics, academic integrity, and the responsible conduct of research (RCR). In 2024–2025, 2,451 students completed the course, strengthening their commitment to ethical scholarship.
Doctoral students deepen their engagement through two additional online ethics/RCR workshops. In collaboration with the UCF Center for Ethics, the College offers sessions on Personal and Professional Integrity, and Ethics and Research Integrity, with 1,209 students participating this year.
Graduate Faculty
Faculty who teach courses, oversee thesis and dissertation committees, and mentor graduate students must hold appointments as Graduate Faculty or Graduate Faculty Scholars. These educators bring specialized expertise that enhances the graduate academic experience. In the 2024–2025 academic year, 367 faculty members held these appointments, demonstrating UCF’s ongoing commitment to excellence in graduate education.