A guide for structuring your curriculum

The information below should be used as a guide and may be flexible based on individual student circumstances (e.g., when the student enters the program, how/when rotations are completed, awarded transfer credit, etc). 

Required Courses (PDF)

First Year (PDF)

Second Year (PDF)

Subsequent Years (PDF)

Credit Hour Requirements

Post-candidacy doctoral students:  3 credit hours per semester or summer session.

Graduate Associates: Graduate associates must register for at least 8 credit hours per semester, except in summer session, when the minimum is 4. Post-candidacy doctoral students must register for at least 3 credit hours each semester or summer session an appointment is held. These registration requirements can include research hours.

Fellows and Trainees: Students holding the titles Graduate Fellow or Graduate Trainee, regardless of the source of the funds, must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester the appointment is held except in summer session when the minimum is 6. Graduate Fellows or Graduate Trainees who are post-candidacy doctoral students must register for at least 3 credit hours per semester or summer session an appointment is held. These registration requirements can include research hours.

International Students: International students are required to register for a minimum of 8 credit hours per semester except in summer session, when the minimum is 4, unless they hold appointments as fellows or trainees. International students who are post-candidacy must register for at least 3 credit hours. These registration requirements can include research hours.

*For pre-candidacy students, the maximum amount of credit hours allowed is 18.

Candidacy Exam Preparation Credit

As noted in Appendix J of the BSGP Handbook, the written portion of the Candidacy Examination will be taken by the end of Autumn Semester of the third year for Ph.D. students, and by the beginning of year 4 for MSTP students. Registration for BSGP 8999 should reflect candidacy exam preparation during the semester the student completes the written portion of the exam.

Students should register for at least three credits in the advisor's section of BSGP 8999 and one credit of BSGP 8999 for each member of the candidacy exam committee during the semester the student completes the written portion of the exam.

Example:  Mary Smith is Dr. Parvin's advisee with Committee Members:  Dr. Jones, Dr. Gate, and Dr. Black. She will complete her candidacy exam this semester. Mary registers for at least 3 credits of BSGP 8999 in Dr. Parvin's section; 1 credit of BSGP 8999 in Dr. Jones' section; 1 credit of BSGP 8999 in Dr. Gate's section; and 1 credit of BSGP 8999 in Dr. Black's section for a total of 6 credits of BSGP 8999.

For graduate school forms, application for candidacy forms and more on our student handbook and forms page.