Degree Plan

The Degree Plan is the "roadmap" of your graduate study and a provisional plan is required as part of the admissions process. Following acceptance, the plan is refined with the guidance of a Faculty Advisor and becomes your individualized program of study for the Master’s degree. The Degree Plan may be revised with the Faculty Advisor if your plans or objectives change during the course of the graduate work.

Provisional Degree Plans should sent directly to the Admission Office as a PDF or a Word document in a 12-point font, single spaced, and with appropriate pagination. Provisional Degree Plans need to follow the format listed below:

I. Introduction

A. Name, address, telephone numbers, and email address. The proposed title of your area of specialization (i.e., field of study), and whether you plan to work toward an M.A., M.Ed., or C.A.G.S.

B. A three-to-five page autobiographical essay, which addresses the following:

• Educational background and history of your work experience related to your proposed specialization.
• The circumstances that led to your interest in your proposed field or specialization.
• A brief description of your knowledge and experience in your proposed specialization.
• An assessment of any additional background knowledge you may need to incorporate while pursuing a graduate degree in your field.
• How you see graduate study furthering your career or educational goals.

C. Other information that will help the faculty determine your readiness for graduate study.

II. Core of Study

A. Overall goals: What do I want to know and be able to do upon completion of my graduate program?

This section is an outline of what you want to study and what you want to accomplish by completing your program.

B. Specific learning objectives: What specific learnings will help me achieve my goals?

In this section describe the knowledge and/or skills needed in order to achieve professional competence in your specialization.

Assistance in Developing the Degree Plan

Lisa Lombardi, Assistant Director, Advising and Student Services, provides initial support in developing the Provisional Degree Plan. After acceptance into the program, the Faculty Advisor will assist in further development of the Degree Plan. The final Degree Plan must be approved by the student's team (team-based model) or the student's Faculty Advisor (course-based model), before the end of the first SDMD semester.