Doctoral Degree

Forms and Deadlines

In order to receive an advanced degree from Florida Atlantic University, all current, degree-seeking students pursuing a Doctoral degree must submit a Plan of Study to the Graduate College.

Below are the guidelines for completing and submitting the Plan of Study, along with instructions on how to make changes to an approved Plan of Study and information on the Application for Degree.

NOTE: Adobe Reader 9.0 is required to download and enter information on Graduate College forms. Once you have completed a form, you can save it as a PDF document on your computer. It is recommended that you use Internet Explorer when saving the forms.

• Click here to download a free version of Adobe Reader 9.0.

PLAN OF STUDY FOR THE DOCTORAL DEGREE

THE PLAN OF STUDY (FORM 5)

• Required for all students seeking a Doctoral Degree.
  

  • Exception: If you previously submitted an Admission to Candidacy form with a detailed list of courses, you are not required to complete a Plan of Study.
    

• You must file your Plan of Study with the Graduate College before completing half of your coursework. You are strongly encouraged, however, to submit this form during your first or second semester of enrollment.
  

• Important Deadline: If you are planning to graduate in Summer or Fall of 2009, your Plan of Study (Form 5) must be submitted to the Graduate College by May 1, 2009.

• Since all Graduate College forms are writable and savable using Adobe Reader 9, you must use Adobe Reader 9 to complete the Plan of Study. Older versions of Adobe Reader or other PDF document software are not compatible and cannot be used.
  

  • Click here to download a free version of Adobe Reader 9.0.
    

• For the Plan of Study, click here   to download the form.
  

• To see an example of a completed Plan of Study, click here .

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE PLAN OF STUDY FORM:

• All information, with the exception of signatures, must be typed directly on the PDF form.
  

  • NOTE:

    • When completing the form:

      • List your courses in chronological order under each category on the form.

      • Include the semester and year for each course next to each course title.

    • If you require additional space under "Graduate Courses Taken at Florida Atlantic University" on page 1, continue listing those courses on page 2 under "Graduate Courses Currently Taking or To Be Taken."

    • If you then require additional space under "Graduate Courses Currently Taking or To Be Taken" on page 2:

      • Open an additional PDF document and continue entering your courses.

      • Complete the remainder of the form.

    • Print off page 1 and 2 of the first PDF, and page 2 of the second PDF.

    • Only page 2 of the second PDF needs to be signed.

• Page 1:

  • Complete all the required fields that are applicable to your Doctoral degree program.

  • List any transfer credits from other institutions AND the name(s) of the institution(s).

    • Are you applying your entire Master's degree toward your doctorate?  List the Master's degree, the total number of credits AND the institution that awarded the degree. 

    • If you are not applying the entire Master's degree toward your doctorate, list the courses AND credits being applied to meet the 80 credit minimum for a doctorate degree.

  • List the graduate courses you have taken at FAU.

    • If you received a Master's degree from FAU, list the Master's degree and the total number of credits you are applying toward your doctorate.

    • If you cannot apply your entire FAU Master's degree towards your doctorate, list the FAU graduate courses you have completed that will be applied to meet the 80 credit minimum.
      

  • IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING COURSES:
    
    

    • Recency of Credits:  No credit that is more than seven years old at the time the Florida Atlantic University graduate degree is awarded may be counted toward that degree.
      

    • Transfer Credits: Master's programs may accept a maximum of 6 graduate credits earned from another institution beyond a baccalaureate degree. Doctoral programs may accept a maximum of 36 credits earned elsewhere in an approved graduate program. A maximum of 6 graduate credits earned from another institution in a nondegree-seeking status may be transferred. The Graduate College reserves the right to request a professional evaluation of credits transferred from universities outside the U.S.

      • Acceptance of transfer credits for a course is dependent on several provisions, found on pages 60-61 of the University Catalog: http://www.fau.edu/universitycatalog/pdf_0809/CombAcadPol.pdf

    • Waiving a University Regulation: To waive either regulation outlined above:

      • Click here to download the Request to Waive a University Regulation form (Form 10).

      • Complete the form. (Note: It will not be accepted unless typed.)

      • Print the form and attach any supporting documentation.

      • Sign and date the form.

      • Obtain ALL the required signatures.

      • Submit the form with your Plan of Study, as outlined under "Instructions for Submitting Your Plan of Study."

• Page 2

  • Enter your Z number in the top right hand corner.

  • List the graduate courses you currently are taking at FAU as well as those you plan to take in future terms.

  • Total all the credit hours listed in your Plan of Study and enter that total in the box provided.

    • Note: the doctorate degree requires a minimum of 80 credit hours.

  • Answer the three questions related to research compliance, intellectual property, and environmental health and safety.

    • If you answered 'yes' to any of these three questions, you also must submit the Research Compliance and Safety form (Form 12) with your Plan of Study.

    • Click here to download the Research Compliance and Safety form.

    • Your Plan of Study will not be approved if you leave any of these three questions blank or if you do not submit Form 12 as required.

  • List the names and titles of your supervisory committee.
    

• Once you have completed the form, save it on your computer or on a memory device.
  

• Print the completed form.
  

• Sign and date the Plan of Study.
  

• Obtain ALL the required signatures on Page 2:

  • Supervisory/Graduate Committee Chair or Graduate Advisor

  • Department Chair

  • College Dean or Designee
    

• At this point, you do not need to obtain the signature for the Dean of the Graduate College. The Dean of the Graduate College signs the form after it has been received in and reviewed by the Graduate College.

  INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR PLAN OF STUDY:

• Prior to submitting your Plan of Study to the Graduate College, did you remember to:

  • Make sure that the total credit hours meet the minimum number of credit hours required by your graduate degree?

  • Complete the Request to Waive a University Regulation form, if applicable?

  • Complete the three questions related to research?

  • Complete the Research Compliance and Safety form if you answered 'yes' to any of these three questions?

  • Date and sign the form?

  • Obtain all the signatures, with the exception of the Dean of the Graduate College?

• Submit your Plan of Study to the Graduate College in one of the following ways:

  • Hand deliver it to SU-80, Room 101, Boca Raton Campus

  • Fax it to (561) 297-1212, Attention: Degree Completion Services

  • Email it as a scanned PDF document attachment to graduatesupport@fau.edu

  • Mail it to: Degree Completion Services
                  Graduate College
                  Florida Atlantic University
                  SU-80, Room, 101
                  777 Glades Road
                  Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991
    

• Once your Plan of Study is received, it will be reviewed to ensure that all entries conform to FAU regulations.

  • In the event that a regulation has been violated, or where there are discrepancies between your Plan of Study entries and the university's student information system (BANNER), the Graduate College will notify you by email from graduatesupport@fau.edu to your FAU address.

    • It is critical that you check your FAU email address on a regular basis as well as ensure you have enough space available to receive emails.

• After the Dean of the Graduate College has approved and signed your Plan of Study, you will be notified by an email from graduatesupport@fau.edu.

  • Your Plan of Study will be scanned into a PDF document and placed in an electronic document storage system (VIP). After final verification, the original document will be shredded.

  • At any time, you can request a copy of this PDF document:

    • Email graduatesupport@fau.edu from your personal FAU email account. Include your full name and Z number in the body of your email.

      • Only requests from your personal FAU email account will be honored.

    • See your advisor or a staff member in your college to obtain a copy of your Plan of Study from VIP.

    • Pick a copy up from the Graduate College offices at SU-80, Room 101, Boca Raton campus. For security purposes, you will be required to show picture ID.
      

• As a matter of policy, the Graduate College relies on VIP to view, store, and print student forms once they have been received and processed by the Graduate College and signed by the Dean of the Graduate College.

  • Since FAU faculty and staff have access to VIP, similar to the access they have to student records in BANNER, they have the ability to view Plans of Study.

REVISIONS TO EXISTING PLAN OF STUDY
(FORM 9)

• As you progress through your graduate program, it may become necessary to modify your Plan of Study due to changes in course offerings or in your educational objectives. Also, you may find that you need to make changes either to courses or to committee members listed on your approved Plan of Study.
  

  • Important Note: Any change of major or specialty requires that you submit a new Plan of Study (Form 5) to the Graduate College.
    

• In either case, use the Revision to Existing Plan of Study form (Form 9) to make these changes.
  

  • Click here for the Revision to Existing Plan of Study form.
    

• Once you complete this form and obtain the necessary signatures, submit the form to the Graduate College for final approval.
  

• Note: You only need to submit this form once; it must be submitted prior to the Application for Degree deadline for the term in which you plan to graduate.

APPLICATION FOR DEGREE

• You must submit the Application for Degree form to the Registrar's Office by the deadline specified in the Academic Calendar for the semester in which you intend to graduate.
  

  • Click here for the Application for Degree form.
    

  • Click here for the Academic Calendar.
    

• Follow the instructions on the form and obtain the necessary signatures.

  • It is important to meet with your advisor before submitting the Application for Degree form to the Registrar's Office. Some colleges have additional requirements for the Application for Degree submission.
    
    

	FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
	What if I want to revise my Plan of Study?
	What if I need to have a university regulation waived?
	What are the requirements for writing a dissertation?