Degree Program Form (GS 89) checklist

The degree program is filed with the Graduate School usually after the first year of study. It must be approved before student takes the program written preliminary exam and at least one semester before the preliminary oral exam.

Prior to completion of the form, student should read the Graduate School instructions attached to GS 89a and b for completion. Below are the sources of the most common errors made in completing the form.

GS 89a. (first page)

M.A.

• Use the Web site below to verify the graduate status of committee members.
  www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/step1.asp
   
• At least two names listed under “Major Field Examiners” and one identified as chair/adviser.
   
• Adviser has SM, ASM, M2 or AM2¹ appointment in the graduate school.
   
• At least one name in the “Minor, Related Field, or Supporting Program Examiner” who has graduate status in anther department.
   
• If student has declared a minor, the minor adviser’s name must serve on the committee under “Minor”.

Ph.D.

• Use the Web site below to verify the graduate status of committee members.
  www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/step1.asp
   
• At least three names listed under “Major Field Examiners” and one identified as chair/adviser.
   
• Adviser has SM or ASM1 appointment in the graduate school.
   
• At least one name in the “Minor, Related Field, or Supporting Program Examiner” who has graduate status in anther department.
   
• If student has declared a minor, the minor adviser’s name must serve on the committee under “Minor”.
   
• At least 2 of the 4 faculty have SM or ASM1 appointments in the graduate school.
   
• Both the adviser and the person chairing the final exam must have SM or ASM status. Adviser can not chair the final exam.

¹ SM=Senior Member; ASM=Affiliate Senior Member;
M2=Member/Advising; AM2=Affiliate Member/Advising

GS 89b. (second page)

M.A. & Ph.D.

• All I.D. and personal information blanks are completed.
   
• Under “Major”, both the major (EdPA) and the track (CIDE, EdAd, ES or HiEd) are indicated, e.g., EdPA – CIDE.
   
• “Minor” is left blank unless student has formally declared a minor.
   
• Courses are listed chronologically – first courses listed will be those to be transferred.
   
• Total number of credits of transfer courses does not exceed the limit indicated in the handbook.
   
• Transfer courses do not include any undergraduate courses, graduate courses taken as an undergraduate, Continuing Education or Liberal Studies courses.
   
• For transfer courses, institution name is provided rather than the instructor name.
   
• Transcripts are not needed (students should have turned in official transcripts when applying).
   
• Courses TO BE TAKEN IN THE FUTURE are included (date to be taken can be left blank). Any needed course substitutions can easily be made later through a petition.
   
• In the column “Major Course/Other”, a check appears under “Major” for all EdPA courses regardless of whether or not they are required in the student’s program.
   
• In the column “Major Course/Other”, a check appears under “Other” for courses in all other departments regardless of whether or not they were required in student’s program. That is, any course in another department, even if required in the EdPA program, is considered “other” by the Graduate School.
   
• All of course credits listed are semester courses; if courses were taken under quarter system, credits have been converted to semester credits (see conversion table under “Transfer” in Handbook).
   
• All required courses in the program are listed (unless adviser approved substitutions); courses listed on program can be checked against the program requirements (see Chapter 2 in Handbook).
   
• The total sum of all EdPA course credits are entered under “Total Major Credits” (should not include the 24 thesis credits).
   
• The total sum of all credits other than EdPA are entered under “Total Other Credits”.
   
• “Total Major” plus “Total Other Program” equals the “Total Credits”. This total of the previous two categories does NOT include the 24 thesis credits.
   
• Obtain signature of adviser and, if applicable, your minor adviser before submitting to the DGS staff.

Revised September 2004