The Planned Program of Graduate Study
The Planned Program of graduate study is an official document which lists the courses and other requirements that students must finish prior to graduation for both degree and non-degree programs.
After a student has been admitted to a graduate program of any kind, the student must consult with the faculty advisor to develop the planned program of graduate study. An approved planned program is required for all graduate programs.
After the advisor and student have signed the planned program form, it must be submitted by the advisor to the School of Graduate Studies for approval. Once approved by the dean, School of Graduate Studies, or designee, it then becomes a formal plan for graduate study which may be subject to revision by the University to reflect additional requirements imposed by outside licensing or accrediting agencies. A planned program of study does not constitute a contract, either express or implied, and is subject to revision as described above. Any changes in the planned program must be approved by the advisor and the dean, School of Graduate Studies. Additional planned program forms and course substitution forms are available on the School of Graduate Studies Resources web page.
The planned program should be developed with the advisor early in the student's graduate studies but must be approved prior to the completion of 16 credits of course work. Further, no student may undertake the capstone requirement without having a planned program of study on file in the Graduate Studies Office; in addition no student is eligible for graduation without a planned program of study on file. There is also no assurance that course work completed prior to admission to a program, or before the planned program has been agreed upon with the academic advisor, will be approved.
Graduate policy stipulates that no more than nine credits taken at the 500 level as a non-matriculated graduate student will be approved for programs requiring 30-35 credits (or 25% of the total credits for programs over 36 credits). In addition, at the request of the student, the Department and Dean will review the student’s graduate transcript for courses taken as a non-matriculated student and may approve other courses, beyond those nine credits, that he or she wishes to be applied to that degree program.
Graduate students may have a maximum of nine credits (and in some cases zero to six, depending on the program) at the 400 level provided they are found in the graduate catalog and approved by the program advisor listed on their planned program of study. Graduate students enrolled in 400-level classes are required to do additional work as compared to their undergraduate classmates.
The nine credit limit on 400-level courses does not apply to graduate post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs and to some official certificate programs. Courses numbered under 400 may be applied toward teacher certification and official certificate programs when recommended by the advisor but will not be approved for inclusion in other graduate degree programs.