The Plan of Study is an agreement between the student, the academic program, and the Graduate College that specifies all courses required to earn the graduate degree, including
- Any qualifying transfer credits (see transfer credit policy).
- Up to 10 credits taken as a non-degree NDSU graduate student are being used towards the degree.
- Any previously earned master’s degree if being used toward the total 90 credits (doctoral only).
- Any credits taken as part of a certificate that are being used towards the requirements for a graduate degree. Programs may restrict the usage of these credits on the Plan of Study. Reference your program’s handbook for more information.
Other rules pertaining to the Plan of Study:
- Grades of A, B, C or S may be used to fulfill degree requirements
- Each program is responsible for defining the requirements for a degree in its disciplinary area and making this information available to students. Each student is responsible for familiarizing themselves with the requirements, rules, and recommendations.
- Courses that a student has used to fulfill the requirements of a baccalaureate degree may not be used on that student's graduate plan of study, unless taken as part of an accelerated degree program.
- The Plan of Study must be approved and filed by the student, the supervisory committee, the graduate program coordinator, and the Graduate College by the end of the student’s second semester of study.
7.1. Plan A Master's Degree
7.2. Plan B Master's Degree
7.3. Plan C Master's Degree
7.4. Bachelor's to Doctoral Degree
7.5. Master's to Doctoral Degree
7.6. Course Waivers or Substitutions
7.3. Plan C Master's Degree Requirements
Minimum 30 credits total
*Please see the degree program's curriculum page for additional requirements.
7.4. Bachelor's to Doctoral Degree Requirements
Minimum of 90 graduate credits total; minimum of 86 graduate credits for the DNP
- 27 credits must be from didactic courses
- 15 of which must be 700 or 800 level course work
- No more than 15 didactic credits may be transferred as part of the Plan of Study
- Didactic credits requirements do not apply to outcomes-based programs.
- Specific programs may require completion of additional credits
7.5. Master's to Doctoral Degree Requirements
Minimum of 90 graduate credits total; minimum of 86 graduate credits for the DNP
- Thirty credits from a previously earned master’s degree may be approved to fulfill 30 of the 90 doctoral program credits required. The previous master’s degree must be meaningfully related to the discipline in which a doctoral degree is pursued.
- These thirty credits are transferred to your NDSU record (transcript) at the time a Doctoral Plan of Study is submitted.
- 15 credits must be 700-800 level didactic courses
- Up to 15 transfer credits from another doctoral program in the same or a meaningfully related discipline from an accredited doctoral institution may be allowed in individual cases.
Didactic credits requirements do not apply to outcomes-based programs.
7.6. Course Waivers or Substitutions
Course waivers or substitutions may be made with the Change to Plan of Study form.
