COMPLETING YOUR DEGREE
Returning after a break of more than one semester?
Welcome Back! We are excited that you are ready to complete your degree. Please contact 612-624-3800 to speak with someone about the next steps of your educational journey.
Instructions for Current Students
Filing a degree program
All Humphrey Institute students must file official plans of study for their degrees. The internal plan (Humphrey Institute Program Requirements Worksheet, a.k.a. PRW) should be filed at the beginning of the student's third semester if they are full-time students (normally the fall of their second year). In general, students should file the degree program and Program Requirements Worksheet the semester before they intend to graduate. Check with student services in Room 225 if you have questions about when to file your degree program.
The planned and completed courses appearing on the Program Requirements Worksheet and the degree program must fulfill all of the degree requirements of the Humphrey Institute as described in the relevant Humphrey Institute Bulletin.
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Program requirements worksheet
Purpose: This is an internal Humphrey Institute form used to assist students in fulfilling their degree requirements.
Where do I find it?:
Students should fill out the PRW in consultation with their advisers. Advisers should then sign the form, and students should make copies for themselves and the adviser. The original should be submitted to Student Services in Room 225 Humphrey Center. This should be completed by the beginning of the semester before the student intends to graduate (example: fall 2003, if the student wishes to graduate in spring 2004) along with the official Graduate School Degree Program form.
Student Services staff will let you know about the submission deadline.
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Degree program form
Purpose: A Graduate School form that, once filed, lets the Graduate School know which classes you will take to complete your degree. This document begins the graduation process at the University level.
Where do I find it?
Completed sample degree programs (in PDF) for the MPA, MPP, MS in STEP, and MURP are available at the Student and Faculty Handbook at forms.
The student's adviser and the director of graduate studies (DGS) must sign the Degree Program form. Each student receives a copy of his degree program from the Graduate School after it has been approved. The approval process takes approximately four to six weeks.
Student Services will place a hold on a student's fall or spring registration if she either does not file her program by the announced deadline or fails to tell Student Services staff when she intends to complete degree requirements. Student Services will remove the hold once the student provides either the signed and completed degree program or an alternate graduation target date. Remember that this, too, is a planning document. Changes to the degree program can be made by filing a petition.
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Changes to a degree program
The courses on an approved degree program can be changed with a Petition form, GS59. The procedure for submitting a petition to your degree program is similar to the initial filing procedure. (Note: If you take the course in a semester or year different from your initial plan, you do not have to amend the degree program.)
- Obtain a Graduate School Petition form GS 59 from Room 225, the Graduate School (316 Johnston), or download it from the Graduate School website.
- Complete the form in consultation with your adviser, listing courses to be removed from your program and the substitute courses to be added to the program. An example of how this petition would look is available in Room 225.
- Have your adviser sign the petition.
- Return the petition form to Student Services, 225 Humphrey Center, for review and endorsement by the director of graduate studies. If the DGS or Student Services finds any problems with your petition, you will be notified. Once the DGS signs it, it will be forwarded to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will send you a copy of your petition if it is approved, or will contact you if it is not.
Do not wait until you are ready to graduate to update your degree program via petition. The approval process, which usually takes 3-5 weeks, could delay your graduation.
After your degree program has been submitted and approved, review your graduation checklist for information on your next steps to graduation.
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