Milestone 1: Graduate Planning and Audit System (GPAS)

The semester prior to when you plan to complete your Preliminary Written Exam, the student completes and submits the Graduate Planning & Audit System planner for review by the faculty advisor(s), Director of Graduate Studies, and Graduate Program Coordinator. This online tool is used as an audit of progress towards degree completion and shows how a student plans to meet remaining program requirements. The GPAS Planner must be approved prior to the Written Preliminary Examination. 

NOTE: When planning NURS 8888 Dissertation credits please plan the course for the semesters you anticipate registering for the credits. Typically the credits are spread across three to four semesters depending upon your research. GPAS will not allow you to designate the number of credits anticipated for each term.

To update GPAS and show the course(s) as meeting the elective requirement please email the Graduate Program Coordinator at gophernursing@umn.edu with a copy to the faculty advisor(s) indicating the courses that will be counted towards the elective requirement. 

Making Changes to Approved Program

Requests for changes to the approved Graduate Planning & Audit System (GPAS) should be submitted as soon as the need for the change is determined and no later than two weeks prior to the start of the semester in which the substituting course(s) will occur. To request a change:

1. Discuss the proposed change(s) to the approved GPAS with your faculty advisor. Advisor approval is required prior to proceeding with the remaining steps. 

2. Send an email to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), with a copy to your advisor(s), and gophernursing@umn.edu with the following information:

   • Course(s) being removed from the approved GPAS including course number(s), title, and credits

   • Course(s) being added to the GPAS including course number(s), title, and credits

   • Explanation of the reason for the change to the approved GPAS.

   • A copy of the currently approved GPAS

3. The DGS will review the request and reply all with a decision or follow up with questions/clarifications within five business days of the request. A response to questions/clarifications is expected from the student/advisor within five days. If the request is not approved, the DGS will include a reason in their written response. 

4. If the request is approved, the Graduate Program Coordinator will guide you and your advisor in the appropriate process for updating the GPAS and facilitating review by additional approval parties.

Course Evaluations & Petitions

You can fill out the Course Equivalency Petition form if you would like an exemption from, or substitute for a required course based upon previous coursework and/or experience. You must use a separate form for each course requirement you want evaluated. You are allowed up to 12 credits of graduate-level coursework taken as a non-degree student to be applied to your degree. Coursework taken as a non-degree student may or may not be accepted by the program.