The graduate school only requires a defense for a thesis. All MA degrees require a culminating project but only a thesis needs to have a defense. The deadline for a thesis defense is midway through the semester and noted on the registrar’s calendar. Our history department policy is that all other culminating projects such as a Public History Project or an Educator Portfolio require a defense as well but the date can be any time before the end of the semester — actually anytime before grades are due. The only thing that is required is a grade be submitted for the Project and Portfolio credits (Pass).