The study plan is a formal document that must be completed in order to become a classified graduate student.  According to University rules, this document must be submitted prior to completing more than 9 units of graduate course work.  Ordinarily the study plan should be completed during your second semester of study.  However, if you enter the graduate program with graduate credit carried forward from coursework taken prior to admission, then you may need to complete your study plan during your first semester in the program. Additionally, prior to filing a study plan, any course or GPA deficiencies must be satisfied.

The first step toward completing your study plan is to select a Faculty Advisor.  This faculty member will guide you through the process of developing your study plan, formulating a thesis topic and proposal, undertaking all thesis-related research, and writing your thesis.  If you do not already know who your Faculty Advisor will be when you enter the program, during your first semester, you will need to talk with various faculty members whose research specialties overlap with your interests.

Once you have a thesis advisor selected, obtain or download a study plan.  Then meet with your faculty advisor to discuss the course work that will be most appropriate for you.  This should be a well-thought out plan that includes courses that will prepare you both for your thesis research and future career.  If necessary (for example because a course on your study plan is no longer available) the study plan can be changed by filing a change form available from the Office of Graduate Studies (download form).  In consultation with you faculty advisor, completely fill out the study plan form.  When complete, have your Faculty Advisor sign and date the form, and submit it to the Department's Graduate Advisor.

Study plans will be reviewed by the graduate committee twice a year, once during each semester.  Deadlines for submittal of the study plan are November 1^st for Fall semester, and April 1^st for Spring semester.  Any study plans received after these dates will be held for review at the end of the following semester.  Exceptions to these deadlines may be made under exceptional circumstances (I forgot is not one of them!) and must be requested by your Faculty Advisor and approved by the Graduate Committee.

The graduate committee will review the study plan for compliance with our degree requirements and for the appropriateness of the listed course work.  If errors are found, or if the graduate committee has suggestions for changes, the study plan will be returned to the student for editing prior to final submittal.  Once the graduate committee has signed the final study plan, the graduate advisor will submit it to the office of graduate studies, and you will become a classified graduate student.