The path to a university degree involves much more than just completing courses. Students must also navigate university policies, fill out various administrative forms, and meet overarching university requirements.
This includes everything from adhering to education requirements and maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Missing a deadline or failing to comply with any of these non-curricular aspects can significantly delay graduation.
This plan requires you to develop and present new knowledge by writing a thesis which includes a problem statement, a literature review, and your proposed solution. You'll work with a supervisory committee and defend your thesis in a final oral examination. After successfully defending, you'll submit an electronic copy of your thesis to the Graduate College for a format review and publication.
During your graduate program:
Maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require a higher CGPA. Check your program’s student handbook for more information.
Maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until all degree requirements are completed, including the final defense and disquisition format review process.
Your Plan of Study is a crucial agreement between you, your academic program, and the Graduate College. It details all the courses you'll complete to earn your graduate degree. This may include:
Up to 10 credits earned as a non-degree NDSU graduate student that you'll apply toward your degree.
You may make changes to your Plan of Study by working with your advisor to submit the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
If your program does not require a Plan of Study and Supervisory Committee form:
Your curriculum requirements will be available in Campus Connection under the "Academic Progress" tile.
Any deviations from the posted curriculum must be approved and submitted by your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
Transfer credits: To add transfer credits to your transcript and degree progress, the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm. Ensure all transfer transcripts are on file with the Graduate School before submitting this form.
To receive approval on your supervisory committee, submit the Request to Form Supervisory Committee form at least one semester before your final examination.
Before Your Final Defense
Review your approved Plan of Study form or Academic Progress in Campus Connection. If there are any changes to your approved coursework or supervisory committee membership, you will need to make updates before you defend the master’s paper, thesis, or dissertation.
For Plan of Study or degree curriculum changes, work your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
The Notification of Scheduled Examination form must be received by the Graduate School a minimum of seven calendar days prior to the scheduled defense date. Forms received less than seven calendar days prior to the defense date will not be processed. A new defense date must be scheduled, and a new notification form filed by the seven-calendar day deadline.
A preliminary Graduation Audit is completed when the notification form is received. Review the audit as it will indicate any remaining coursework or grade issues that may keep your degree from posting. Contact your Academic Support Specialist if you have questions or concerns.
The Graduate School requires students to provide a copy of your disquisition to your supervisory committee for review a minimum of seven days prior to the defense.
After Your Final Defense
Submit the Report of Final Defense within 14 calendar days after the examination date or by the Post-Defense Submission for Format Review deadline, whichever comes first.
Report forms received with no approved Notification of Scheduled Examination on file, will not be processed and the examination must be repeated.
Submit the IRB/IACUC/IBC Compliance Notification, even if your research does not involve human subjects, live vertebrate animals, or biohazards. The Graduate School is not responsible for obtaining supporting documents or determining if approval is required for the research conducted for the disquisition.
Complete all the revisions to your disquisition required by your committee.
Obtain the signed Approval Page (Copy 1) from your committee and department chair (program coordinator if your program is not within a department). A typed copy (Copy 2) of the Approval page must be included in the disquisition submitted to the Graduate School for review.
Submit your disquisition to the Graduate School for format review.
All items must be received (with all required signatures)by the Graduate School prior to submitting your disquisition for format review. If the fee and/or forms are not received by the submission deadline, your submission date is considered to be the date on which the last item is received.
Complete the Disquisition Format Review Process
All master's theses must be submitted for the disquisition format review process and publication. The Graduate School conducts a format review of your disquisition (master's thesis, paper, or dissertation) to ensure it meets the Graduate School's formatting guidelines before your degree can be officially posted.
This review is the final step before your work is published. Therefore, submit your document to the Graduate School only after you have completed all preceding steps and all written content is in its final form.
The format guidelines cover every aspect of your disquisition, from the title page and preliminary materials to your chapters, references, and appendices. Please note, this review focuses solely on formatting; it is not a copy edit of your content.
The student will have one year from the date of the final examination to complete the Graduate College format review process and any other outstanding degree requirements.
This plan requires you to develop and present new knowledge by writing a thesis which includes a problem statement, a literature review, and your proposed solution. You'll work with a supervisory committee and defend your thesis in a final oral examination. After successfully defending, you'll submit an electronic copy of your thesis to the Graduate College for a format review and publication.
During your graduate program:
Maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require a higher CGPA. Check your program’s student handbook for more information.
Maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until all degree requirements are completed, including the final defense and disquisition format review process.
Your Plan of Study is a crucial agreement between you, your academic program, and the Graduate College. It details all the courses you'll complete to earn your graduate degree. This may include:
Up to 10 credits earned as a non-degree NDSU graduate student that you'll apply toward your degree.
You may make changes to your Plan of Study by working with your advisor to submit the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
If your program does not require a Plan of Study and Supervisory Committee form:
Your curriculum requirements will be available in Campus Connection under the "Academic Progress" tile.
Any deviations from the posted curriculum must be approved and submitted by your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
Transfer credits: To add transfer credits to your transcript and degree progress, the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm. Ensure all transfer transcripts are on file with the Graduate School before submitting this form.
To receive approval on your supervisory committee, submit the Request to Form Supervisory Committee form at least one semester before your final examination.
Before Your Final Defense
Review your approved Plan of Study form or Academic Progress in Campus Connection. If there are any changes to your approved coursework or supervisory committee membership, you will need to make updates before you defend the master’s paper, thesis, or dissertation.
For Plan of Study or degree curriculum changes, work your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
The Notification of Scheduled Examination form must be received by the Graduate School a minimum of seven calendar days prior to the scheduled defense date. Forms received less than seven calendar days prior to the defense date will not be processed. A new defense date must be scheduled, and a new notification form filed by the seven-calendar day deadline.
A preliminary Graduation Audit is completed when the notification form is received. Review the audit as it will indicate any remaining coursework or grade issues that may keep your degree from posting. Contact your Academic Support Specialist if you have questions or concerns.
The Graduate School requires students to provide a copy of your disquisition to your supervisory committee for review a minimum of seven days prior to the defense.
After Your Final Defense
Submit the Report of Final Defense within 14 calendar days after the examination date or by the Post-Defense Submission for Format Review deadline, whichever comes first.
Report forms received with no approved Notification of Scheduled Examination on file, will not be processed and the examination must be repeated.
Submit the IRB/IACUC/IBC Compliance Notification, even if your research does not involve human subjects, live vertebrate animals, or biohazards. The Graduate School is not responsible for obtaining supporting documents or determining if approval is required for the research conducted for the disquisition.
Complete all the revisions to your disquisition required by your committee.
Obtain the signed Approval Page (Copy 1) from your committee and department chair (program coordinator if your program is not within a department). A typed copy (Copy 2) of the Approval page must be included in the disquisition submitted to the Graduate School for review.
Submit your disquisition to the Graduate School for format review.
All items must be received (with all required signatures)by the Graduate School prior to submitting your disquisition for format review. If the fee and/or forms are not received by the submission deadline, your submission date is considered to be the date on which the last item is received.
Complete the Disquisition Format Review Process
All master's papers must be submitted for the disquisition format review process and publication. The Graduate School conducts a format review of your disquisition (master's thesis, paper, or dissertation) to ensure it meets the Graduate School's formatting guidelines before your degree can be officially posted.
This review is the final step before your work is published. Therefore, submit your document to the Graduate School only after you have completed all preceding steps and all written content is in its final form.
The format guidelines cover every aspect of your disquisition, from the title page and preliminary materials to your chapters, references, and appendices. Please note, this review focuses solely on formatting; it is not a copy edit of your content.
The student will have one year from the date of the final examination to complete the Graduate College format review process and any other outstanding degree requirements.
The Plan C option allows each academic program to define a culminating experience such as a capstone course, a written examination, or some other approach to measure the student's understanding of the relevant material in the discipline.
During your graduate program:
Maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher. Some programs require a higher CGPA. Check your program’s student handbook for more information.
Maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until all degree requirements are completed, including the final defense and disquisition format review process.
Your Plan of Study is a crucial agreement between you, your academic program, and the Graduate College. It details all the courses you'll complete to earn your graduate degree. This may include:
Up to 10 credits earned as a non-degree NDSU graduate student that you'll apply toward your degree.
You may make changes to your Plan of Study by working with your advisor to submit the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
Supervisory Committee
The Graduate School does not require Plan C students to have a supervisory committee, though you must have an advisor.
If your program does not require a Plan of Study:
Your curriculum requirements will be available in Campus Connection under the "Academic Progress" tile.
Any deviations from the posted curriculum must be approved and submitted by your advisor with the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm in Campus Connection. Currently students do not have access to this form.
Transfer credits: To add transfer credits to your transcript and degree progress, the Request to Waive or Substitute Courses eForm. Ensure all transfer transcripts are on file with the Graduate School before submitting this form.
Master's students in the programs listed are not required to file a Plan of Study form. The curriculum requirements are found in Campus Connect under the Academic Progress tile on your student homepage.
Accountancy Agricultural Education Architecture Athletic Training Business Administration Business Analytics Community Planning and Resilience Computer Science (Plan C only) Construction Management Counselor Education Education Educational Leadership Extension Education Family and Consumer Science Education Exercise Science and Nutrition Landscape Architecture Leadership in Physical Education and Sport Coaching Public Health Public Policy Software Engineering (M.S.E.) Sport Management Transportation and Logistics (M.S.C.M.)