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The Graduate Study Program

The GSP is the student’s contract with the GSE and University to fulfill requirements for the doctoral degree. Basically, it is a plan of study that lists courses and units for a student’s specialization and individual academic objectives and how these will satisfy the First Year, Methodology, General Education, and Area Core requirements.

During their first quarter, students should obtain a blank GSP from the GSE website for course planning in consultation with their advisors. The student presents a preliminary GSP during the First-Year Review at the end of a student’s third quarter, and a final GSP will be solidified for the Second-Year Review at the end of their sixth quarter. With the approval of the advisor(s), Area Chair, and Associate Dean of Educational Affairs, students can make changes to the final GSP as their interests evolve and course offerings change. There is no need to formally change a preliminary GSP before the Second-Year Review, but any updates should at least be discussed with the advisor then reviewed by the Doctoral Programs Officer for other policy requirements. Early planning and development of the GSP are important. Courses offerings can change from year to year, so planning in advance enables the student to best address their specific research and academic interests.

Once signed by the student and advisor during the First- or Second-Year Review, the GSP should be submitted to the Doctoral Programs Officer who will review it and obtain the Area Chair’s signature. A fully signed GSP (i.e., the preliminary version and then the final one) must be in the student’s file at all times throughout the student’s program after they complete the third quarter.

The GSP is the student’s contract with the School of Education and University to fulfill requirements for the doctoral degree. Basically, it is a plan of study that lists courses and units for a student’s specialization and individual academic objectives and how these will satisfy the First Year, Methodology, General Education, and Area Core requirements.

During their first quarter, students should obtain a blank GSP from the School of Education website for course planning in consultation with their advisors. The student presents a preliminary GSP during the First-Year Review at the end of a student’s third quarter, and a final GSP will be solidified for the Second-Year Review at the end of their sixth quarter. With the approval of the advisor(s), Area Chair, and Associate Dean of Educational Affairs, students can make changes to the final GSP as their interests evolve and course offerings change. There is no need to formally change a preliminary GSP before the Second-Year Review, but any updates should at least be discussed with the advisor then reviewed by the Doctoral Programs Officer for other policy requirements. Early planning and development of the GSP are important. Courses offerings can change from year to year, so planning in advance enables the student to best address their specific research and academic interests.

Once signed by the student and advisor during the First- or Second-Year Review, the GSP should be submitted to the Doctoral Programs Officer who will review it and obtain the Area Chair’s signature. A fully signed GSP (i.e., the preliminary version and then the final one) must be in the student’s file at all times throughout the student’s program after they complete the third quarter.


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PhD students, please contact

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Jeremy Edwards
Associate Director of Degree Programs

MA POLS and MA/PP students, please contact

Wesley Horng
Wesley Horng
Associate Director of Admissions & Academic Affairs

EDS, ICE/IEPA, Individually Designed, LDT, MA/JD, MA/MBA students, please contact

Photo of Caroline Stasulat
Caroline Stasulat
Associate Director of Degree Programs
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