Program of Study Requirements

Developing a Program of Study

Following formation of the committee, each student must submit a program of study to the Office of the Registrar for approval. The Program of Study form details the minimum coursework and credits that will apply in fulfillment of the graduate degree.

The completed form should be returned with all required attachments to the Office of the Registrar. Degree Analysts will transcribe the program into a degree evaluation, which constitutes an agreement between the student, the student’s committee, and the university wherein the minimum coursework requirements for that student’s degree are listed. The program should be filed no later than the beginning of the student’s third semester (or second Summer Session if enrolling only in summers). No master’s student will be a candidate for a degree until his/her program is approved by the appropriate Department Head/Interdisciplinary Program Director and College Dean/Vice Provost. Master’s degree candidacy coincides with the approval of the program of study.

The program of study must include the minimum number of appropriate semester hours of graduate credit required by the degree granting unit. Some degree programs require more than the minimum hours of credit required by the university. Students must consult with their advisers and all departmental guidance documents including this catalog. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that their program of study complies with degree fulfillment requirements. Changes to an approved program must be submitted to the Registrar, using the Request for Change in Graduate Program form.

Graduate Student Regulations and Policies

Developing a Program of Study

Note: The processes are exactly the same for both on-campus and off-campus students.

Steps:

  1. By the end of your third semester of graduate work, you should have a Program of Study and a Committee on file with the Office of the Registrar.  If at any time you need to make a change to your approved program of study, please submit a Request for Change in Graduate Program form. 
  2. For doctoral students only: the preliminary examination is taken after the committee and program of study are approved and on file with the Office of the Registrar.  Your committee will notify you when you are ready for this examination.  Following the examination, the Report of Preliminary Examination for the Ph.D. or Ed.D. Degree must be filed with the Office of the Registrar whether you pass or fail.
  3. If your research involves human subjects, you must consult with the Research and Economic Development Division.  A copy of the approval letter for Human and Animal Subject Approval forms must be included in the appendix of your thesis or dissertation.
  4. Be sure all of the documents listed above are submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the appropriate deadline. Utilize any petitions you might need, e.g., 6 year, 4 year, 12 hour, etc.

Program of Study Forms

Masters Program Worksheet
Doctoral Program Worksheet
Change in Graduate Program Form
Graduate Student Dates and Deadlines