College of Graduate Studies

Graduate Program of Study

Charge on to Graduation

What is a Program of Study?

A Program of Study (POS) is your roadmap to complete your degree. It is one of your first opportunities to get personalized advising about your graduate career goals.

A POS is required of every new graduate student and starts with an appointment with your graduate advisor during the first semester of your graduate program. You will meet to review your degree requirements, transfer credits, course sequence, and other issues, such as whether it makes sense for you to earn a master’s along the way (for PhD students), earn a graduate certificate along with your degree, or choose a thesis or non-thesis option (for master’s students).

Watch the following video for more information on the Program of Study.

Things to consider

Do you have transfer credit that you want to be considered? Have you thought about a Graduate Certificate?

Watch the following videos to learn about what to discuss with your academic advisor as you work on your Program of Study.

Program of Study Checklist

Explore the Program of Study webpage and instructional videos

Explore the Program of Study webpage

View Information

How to File Your Program of Study

Download PDF Version of the Program of Study How-To Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is my advisor?

For most graduate students, your initial advisor is your Graduate Program Director. If you do not already know who this person is, you can find them in the Graduate Catalog under Programs.

Does this process matter? Can’t I just sign the POS form without advising just to have the registration hold removed?

This is NOT recommended, as the POS that you submit will become part of your permanent student record. Your signature means that you have received advising and understand how to meet your graduate program milestones.

When do I submit my POS?

Ideally, you will submit it during your first semester of the graduate program. If you are in a master’s program or have transfer credit requests, the deadline for submission is the end of your second semester. If you are a PhD student with no transfer credit requests, the deadline is your third semester since admission.

What happens if I do not submit a POS?

If you do not do it on time, you will receive a registration hold that will prevent you from registering for classes. Also, if you miss the deadline for transfer credits, you will lose the opportunity to request transfer credits.

What if my plans change later? Do I need to submit another POS when my plan changes?

I've searched this page and watched all of the videos but I can't find the answer to my question. Who do I reach out to for help?

For any questions, concerns or issues regarding the Program of Study, please send an email to [email protected]

Ready to submit your Program of Study?

PROGRAM OF STUDY FORM

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