C&I MA and PhD

Forms, Policies, and Resources

• Advising Guidelines

• Changing Advisers Form

• Finance 101 for C&I Graduate Students Presentation Slides - February 2025

• Immigration Resources for International Students in Response to Federal Policy Changes

• Incomplete Grade Policy and Incomplete Grade Agreement Form

• Leaves of Absence Policy & Forms

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

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

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

Handbooks

• • Ph.D. Handbook (Fall 2024+ admits)

  • 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 2024+ 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 MA and PhD students may apply for travel awards at any time after being accepted to present at a conference and prior to 10 days after the conference ends. Travel funds are in the form of scholarships awarded to a student's University account; scholarships will either reduce the balance on a student’s University account or be refunded directly to the student if the account has a $0 balance. Students may choose to receive funding in advance of a conference or after returning from a conference. All students who receive funding for a conference will be required to submit proof of attendance (lodging receipts) in order to receive the award. Funding is also available from GradSEHD and COGS.

$800 is available to each student per academic year (summer-spring).  Each student may receive up to a maximum of $3,000 while in the program. Students are welcome to apply for funding multiple times in an academic year: Students can choose to spend the travel award budget for presenting at one international conference, two domestic, multiple virtual conferences, etc.

Award Maximums: 

• $200 - Local/Virtual (only registration fee can be covered)

• $400 - Domestic travel

• $600 - Canada | Hawaii

• $800 - International travel

• $3,000 - Total while in program

Awards are granted to conference presenters, not participants. Recipients of travel awards participate in the department's annual Emerging Scholars Conference.

Students who receive a travel award must submit proof of attendance (lodging receipts) within 10 days of the conference ending or by the last day of class during a semester, whichever is sooner.

In order to be eligible for scholarships, students must be enrolled in 1 or more credits of coursework. Students on a Leave of Absence, enrolled in GRAD 999, or those that utilize the Regents Tuition Benefit Program are not eligible for travel awards. Students who are not enrolled in the summer semester may receive conference funding for summer conferences in the prior spring semester (as long as they have not already received $800 for the year) or in the next fall semester.

Accepting scholarships can impact financial aid. Students should confirm with OneStop what impact receiving a travel scholarship will have on their financial aid. It is recommended to ask OneStop: “If I accept a departmental scholarship in the amount of $[insert amount here], what impact will this have on my financial aid package?”

Student scholarship funding can be revoked if a student does not maintain eligibility for the scholarship. In relation to travel awards, examples of not maintaining eligibility include conference cancellation or the student being unable to attend the conference. Students should understand the reasons a scholarship can be revoked before accepting a travel award scholarship, as well as when deciding whether to receive a travel award scholarship prior to or after travel. Students are encouraged to speak to Molly Bendzick (mollyb@umn.edu) or Luke Feuling Porter (cigs@umn.edu) about their individual questions before submitting their application. 

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 may 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

2024-2026  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 2023 admits | Fall 2023+ admits| STEM Fall 2016 - Summer 2018 admits | STEM Fall 2018 - Summer 2023 admits | STEM Fall 2023+ admits

Preliminary Exams

What are the preliminary exam requirements?

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

• To prepare for your prelim exams, review and complete the instructions under Degree Planning and Preliminary Exams section of the Degree Completion Steps document

• 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 your committee multiple weeks in advance. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator (cigs@umn.edu) 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 at a  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 eligibility requirements to take the exam. 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