After completion of the first year of the program plan, the student completes and submits the Graduate Planning & Audit System planner for review by the faculty advisor(s), Director of Graduate Studies, and College Coordinator. This online tool is used as an audit of progress towards degree completion and shows how a student plans to meet remaining program requirements. When planning NURS 8888 Dissertation credits please plan the course for the semesters you anticipate registering for the credits. Typically the credits are spread across 3 to 4 semesters depending upon your research. GPAS will not allow you to designate the number of credits anticipated for each term. The GPAS Planner must be approved prior to the Written Preliminary Examination.
Those who started the PhD program prior to Fall 2021 may select elective courses other than those listed in GPAS with faculty advisor approval. To update GPAS and show the course(s) as meeting the elective requirement please email Graduate Program Coordinators Alicia George ([email protected]) and Karen McCray ([email protected]) with a copy to the faculty advisor(s) indicating the courses that will be counted towards the elective requirement.
Grade Base
Two-thirds of credits meeting the PhD degree requirements must be taken for a letter grade (A/F). Course grading options vary, as noted on the OneStop listing for courses. Some courses can only be taken for S/N grading (satisfactory/not satisfactory). Students should discuss options with their advisor before making any decision to take a grade-based course S/N. Typically, take the A/F option for courses.
Declare a Minor (Optional)
PhD students are eligible to declare and complete a minor; it is optional. The University offers over 100 minors and students may find the formalized minor is useful for their research and scholarly development. If interested in pursuing a minor, students are strongly encouraged to first discuss the possibility with their faculty advisor. Some minors are more complementary than others in terms of course requirements and personal goals.
Every minor has its own DGS just as there is one for the School of Nursing. The DGS of the minor is required to approve all paperwork submitted concerning curricular matters. Many minor programs require students to apply for admission to the minor prior to declaration. Students should refer to the Graduate Education Catalog or the minor program’s website for more information on steps needed to apply. The University prohibits minors from being declared after taking the oral preliminary exam. A requirement of having a minor is that a faculty member representing the minor program must be an outside member of Preliminary and Final Oral Exam Committees throughout a student’s entire program. If the minor advisor is removed, the minor will be removed from the record, even if a student has completed all the required coursework.
A current listing of all graduate minors (program related and free standing) can be found in the Graduate Education Catalog at http://www.catalogs.umn.edu/programs.html. The most common minors for School of Nursing students are Public Health, Bioethics, Aging, Human Rights, Informatics, and Integrative Health and Healing but there are many other options.
Making Changes in Approved Program
Requests for changes to the approved Graduate Degree Plan (GDP) or Graduate Planning & Audit System (GPAS) should be submitted as soon as the need for the change is determined and no later than 2 weeks prior to the start of the semester in which the substituting course(s) will occur. Te request a change:
Discuss the proposed change(s) to the approved GDP or GPAS with your faculty advisor. Advisor approval is required prior to proceeding with the remaining steps.
Send an email to Mary Fran Tracy, Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), with a copy to your advisor(s), and Graduate Program Coordinators Alicia George and Karen McCray with the following information:
Course(s) being removed from the approved GDP/GPAS including course number(s), title, and credits
Course(s) being added to the GDP/GPAS including course number(s), title, and credits
Explanation of the reason for the change to the approved GDP/GPAS.
A copy of the currently approved GDP (if applicable based upon program entry year)
The DGS will review the request and reply all with a decision or follow up with questions/clarifications within 5 business days of the request. A response to questions/clarifications is expected from the student/advisor within 5 days. If the request is not approved, the DGS will include a reason in their written response.
If the request is approved, the Graduate Program Coordinator will guide you and your advisor in the appropriate process for updating the GDP/GPAS and facilitating review by additional approval parties.