MA and PhD

Forms and Policies

• Changing Advisers Form

• Leaves of Absence Policy & Forms

  • Incomplete Grade Policy and Incomplete Grade Agreement Form

• Proposal of Directed/Independent Study/Readings/Project Courses Form

• PhD and MA transfer credit policy (Fall 2018+ entering students only)

  • Maintaining active enrollment  (GRAD 999 + special registration categories)

• Advising Guidelines

Handbooks

• • Ph.D. Handbook (Fall 2018 - Summer 2024 admits)

  • Ph.D. Handbook (Fall 2017 - Summer 2018 admits)

  • Ph.D. Handbook (Spring 2014  - Summer 2017 admits)

  • Ph.D. Handbook (Fall 2013 and earlier admits)

  • M.A. Handbook (Fall 2018 - Summer 2024 admits)

  • M.A. Handbook (Fall 2017 - Summer 2018 admits)

  • M.A. Handbook (Spring 2014  - Summer 2017 admits)

  • M.A. Handbook (Fall 2013 and earlier admits)

Travel Awards

C&I M.A. and Ph.D. students may Apply for travel awards at any time. Support is in the form of reimbursement after travel is complete. Funding also available from GradSEHD and COGS

Awards are granted to conference presenters, not participants. Recipients participate in the annual Emerging Scholar's Conference. 

$800 is available to each student per academic year (fall-spring) until full program allocation of $3,000 is reached.

Award Maximums: 

• • $100-200 - Virtual

  • $400 - Domestic travel

  • $600 - Canada | Hawaii

  • $800 - International travel

  • $3,000 - Total while in program

Note: Travel Award reimbursements must happen with 60 days of purchase.

M.A. Student Resources

M.A. Degree Planning Forms

After you register for your final classes, complete the planning form and return it to the Graduate Program Coordinator (see contact info at bottom of page). 

• • Art - A | B

  • Elementary - A | B

  • Learning Technologies - A | B

  • Literacy - A | B

  • Mathematics (Fall 2016 - Sum 2018 admits) - A | B

  • Mathematics (Fall 2018+ admits) - A | B

  • Multilingual - A | B

  • Science - A | B

  • TESOL - A | B

  • Social Studies - A | B

M.A. Plan A Thesis Review Form

M.A. Degree Completion

• • Familiarize yourself with required degree completion steps. 

  • Find eligible committee members. Search under 'Education, Curric & Instr MA'

  • Turn in your completed MA Degree Planning Form to the Graduate Program Coordinator and then submit your Graduate Planning & Audit System (GPAS).

  • Assign your committee after your GPAS has been submitted and approved. 

  • Complete required degree completion steps listed for Master's Degree Plan A or Plan B after your committee has been approved

M.A. Thesis: Plan A

• • 10 thesis credits

  • Approximately 450 hours of work

  • Involves original research in the form of a "mini-dissertation" divided into chapters

  • Is likely to require human subjects (IRB) approval

  • Final copy is bound and submitted to the Graduate School 

  • Often pursued by students who intend to pursue a Ph.D.*

Thesis Requirements & Examples

*Completing a thesis does not guarantee admission to a Ph.D. program, though, if accepted, the thesis can serve as the basis of your dissertation. 

M.A. Final Paper: Plan B

• • 3 credit "Problems" course for all sub-plans except TESOL

  • Approximately 120 hours of work

  • Results in 1 paper, 40-60 pages in length, divided into sections. Or 2 papers, each 20-30 pages

  • May or many not involve human subjects (IRB) approval

  • Final copy is not submitted to the graduate school

  • Often pursued by students who aren't committed to pursuing a Ph.D.*

Final Project Requirements & Examples

*It is possible to complete a final paper and later pursue your Ph.D. You will apply with less research experience, but will still be considered for admission based on the strength of your application.

Language Requirement for TESOL students 

Talk to your faculty adviser and have the Language Certification by Graduate Department completed, OR work with the language department where you wish to be certified and have the Language Department Certification for Foreign Language Proficiency completed. 

Ph.D. Student Resources

Ph.D. Curriculum Planning

2023-2025  Core courses

Research methods/electives rotation (CI courses only)

Approved research methods/electives courses (includes courses outside C&I)

Ph.D. program planning forms: Fall 2011 - Summer 2016 admits | Fall 2016 - Summer 2018 admits | Fall 2018 - Summer 2024 admits | Fall 2024+ admits| STEM Fall 2016 - Summer 2018 admits | STEM Fall 2018 - Summer 2024 admits | STEM Fall 2024+ admits

Preliminary Exams

What are the preliminary exam requirements?

Arts in Ed | CaT | Elementary Ed | Literacy Ed | LT | Multilingual Education | Social Studies Ed | STEM |

• • After you have registered for your last semester of coursework, turn in your completed PhD Planning Form to the Graduate Program Coordinator and then submit your Graduate Planning & Audit System (GPAS). 

• Assign members to your prelim committee after your GPAS has been submitted and approved. Not all faculty may serve on your committee. Find committee members in the Graduate Faculty Role List Database; search under 'Education, Curric & Instr PhD'.

• Schedule the Prelim Oral Exam with the Graduate School at least one week in advance. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator to reserve a room for your exam.

Ph.D. Thesis Approval Form

Final Oral Exam (defense)

• Review and complete the instructions under "Final Exams" on the Degree Completion Steps document.

• Assign members to your doctoral final oral exam committee at least one month prior to the exam. Not all faculty may serve on your committee. Find committee members in the Graduate Faculty Role List Database; search under 'Education, Curric & Instr PhD'.

• Apply to graduate no later than the first day of the anticipated month of graduation

  • Application instructions are available at https://z.umn.edu/graddegreeapplication

  • Review the date ranges and deadlines for monthly graduation at https://z.umn.edu/graduation-month

• Initiate your Reviewer's Report form at least one week before your final exam at https://z.umn.edu/ReviewersReportForm

  • All committee members designated as "reviewers" submit their responses before your final exam

• Schedule your oral exam with the Graduate School at least one week in advance of the date/time agreed upon by committee members.  You will be emailed a link to access your Final Exam form for graduate students after you have met all of the above requirements. Your record will also be reviewed for completion of coursework and adherence to policy. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator to reserve a room for your exam. 

• Initiate your Final Exam Form. At least one day prior to your defense, initiate the Final Exam Form you will have received from the University by email to review your examining committee for accuracy and send the form to your committee chair.

Announce Your Defense

If you would like to announce your dissertation defense to the department (staff, faculty, and students), please complete this form. Our C&I Communications and Marketing Manager will use your submitted information to create and send out an email announcement of your defense.

Ph.D. Professional Seminars (Pro-seminars)

Pro-seminars are short, content-rich seminars that C&I faculty develop to help graduate students navigate the sometimes murky ocean of academia. 

Pro Tips for Job Seekers

Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship: Application tips 

Applying for Academic Positions

First Steps Towards a Journal Article

Writing an Alternative Dissertation

Contact

Contact for help with academic and administrative issues:

Graduate Program Coordinator

Cigs@umn.edu

125H Peik Hall