PhD/Public Affairs -- Graduate Degree Plan (GDP/GPAS)

An approved Graduate Degree Plan/GPAS Planner is the first of multiple steps required to progress toward degree completion. The GPAS Planner was implemented starting with the Fall 2020 cohort, and should be used for all students who entered that year and after. The old GDP form instructions remain below in case prior students need to reference them.

GDP Instructions (through 2019 cohort)

Follow the instructions here because there are "sub-steps" required by our program that are not included at the grad school website.

When to do this? Around the end of first year/beginning of second year. No later than the semester prior to your preliminary exam.

Review PhD/Public Affairs program requirements here.

- Discuss requirements with your faculty advisor and create a short- and long-term plan to complete all requirements.

Graduate Degree Plan (GDP) blank form is here.

- Save form in full Adobe Pro.

- If you use Adobe Reader, you will be able to type on it, but not be able to save your information.

- If you don't have full Adobe Pro (or similar), it is available on computers in the Humphrey computer labs (ground floor of Humphrey Center).

1. Complete Part 1 with your personal information.

2. Specifics for Part 2:

- Degree sought: PhD

- Major: Public Affairs

- Track: enter which one of the four sub-plans you are doing

- Minor: list only if you are pursuing a minor (not required)

- Language Requirement: not required for PhD in Public Affairs

- Number of thesis credits: 24 DO NOT LIST THESE AS COURSES IN PART 4. This check box is all you need to do to indicate you will take 24 thesis credits.

3. Part 3

- This is a grid to list any courses from other institutions that your faculty advisor has approved to fulfill PhD requirements (for example, from your master's degree).

- If your master's degree is from UM, any courses being used to also fulfill PhD requirements will be listed in Part 5 (second page), not Part 3.

4. All courses in Part 3 and Part 4 are to be listed in chronological order. If you need more space for Part 4, use the overflow OPTIONAL section on the third page.

5. In Parts 3 and 4, even if your courses are from a master's degree, always check the column marked "Major" unless the course will count toward a minor. For courses that will fulfill requirements in a minor, check the "Other" column.

6. Do not list any optional courses that do not fulfill degree requirements (for example, music, recreation, foreign language, etc.).

7. If you do not know your complete course plan yet, save what you have and submit this form once you know every single course that will count for your PhD (including courses in an optional minor).

8. If you are pursuing an optional minor, meet with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for that minor to determine which courses will be required.

- List those courses in Part 4 -- again, in chronological order among the rest of the courses -- not set aside by themselves.

- Note that the DGS of the minor will have to sign on the bottom of page two to approve the courses required for the minor that are listed on the GDP.

9. If your plan is complete and accounts for all requirements in the major (Public Affairs) and the [optional] minor, obtain the signature of your faculty advisor.

- Submit the form signed by faculty advisor and DGS of minor (if applicable) to Program Coordinator.

- Both the PhD/Public Affairs DGS (Greg Lindsey) and Program Coordinator will review and sign it.

- Signed form will be forwarded to a central office (GSSP) for final approval.

- You will be notified when it is sent, when it is received, and when it is approved.

- When it is approved, you will see a notation in the milestone section of your MyU page.

10. After GDP approval:

- If you decide to take courses instead of the ones listed and approved, you must submit a petition, so keep track! The petition is quite simple, but quite important. Contact Program Coordinator if you think you need to do a petition.

- If you decide to add additional course work that isn't specifically required to fulfill degree requirements, no problem -- just do it. No need to document it or submit a petition.

Questions should be directed to Program Coordinator.