Plan of Study

Every graduate student must complete a Plan of Study to record all of their degree requirements.

Resources

• Plan of Study Instructions
• Plan of Study Checklist

Deadlines

• MS Non-Thesis Students
  • Draft due by end of first semester, December 1st
  • Submit for final approval due in second semester, March 1st
• MS Thesis Students
  • Draft due by end of first semester, December 1st
  • Submit for final approval by end of second semester, May 1st
• PhD Students
  • Draft due by end of second semester, May 1st
  • Submit for final approval before beginning of second year, August 1st

Advisory Committee Guidelines

• MS students must have 3 members and PhD students must have 4 members
• Must include at least one faculty member from your Associated Academic Department
• Must include at least one faculty member OUTSIDE your Associated Academic Department 

Tips and Notes

• Items to include on your Plan of Study:
  • Degree information
  • Coursework required for ESE and your Associated Academic Department
  • Semester and grade for each course
  • Committee members
• What to not include on your Plan of Study:
  • Research credits
  • Courses that are not needed for your degree requirements
  • Courses with Pass/Not Pass or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades
• Be sure to record Int Ecog Sci & Eng as your first concentration.
• Check your Plan of Study for accuracy once a semester, submit a Change Request if you need:
  • Coursework added or removed
  • Committee member updates

Undergraduate and Previous Graduate Coursework

• You can include up to 6 hours of 300 or 400 level courses with a B or better.
• Credits earned for graduate studies at other universities may be transferred if they were not used towards earning a graduate degree or if they were earned in excess.
• OGSPS allows up to 30 MS credits to be used toward a PhD if you have a prior earned MS degree.  These will be recorded by Program Coordinator in a supplemental note (not listed in the coursework section and not listed as a transfer course).
• Some departments have further limits on transfer credits, number of 300 or 400 level courses, and MS credits to be used towards a PhD.

Sample Plans of Study for ESE Students

• MS-thesis Plan of Study for ESE (PDF)
• MS Nonthesis Plan of Study (PDF)
• PhD Plan of Study (PDF)

Refer to the ESE Handbook for more information about completing your Plan of Study.  If you have any questions, please contact the ESE Graduate Program Specialist at ese@purdue.edu.