GRD 001 Module 2 Lesson 1

GPS

Program of Study

Program Handbook

Graduate Catalog

Overview

Overview

Overview

Overview

Image

Image

Image

Image

Website

Website

Website

Website

What's the Difference

Program Information Outlined

The Graduate Catalog

The Graduate Catalog is like a contract between the student and the University of Central Florida (UCF). This "contract" tells the student what to do in terms of curriculum and major milestones. If a student completes all terms of their catalog, then UCF has agreed that they will award them that degree. Students are linked to a specific catalog year based on their admit term. The curriculum listed in their catalog is tied to them. If curriculum changes in the future, previous year students are not held to those changes. They stay with their original curriculum. Moving catalog years? Forward - A student may freely elect to move forward to a newer catalog year. This should always be the student's choice. If your curriculum has changed significantly though and the student hasn't completed much of the old, have a conversation with a student about their options. Backward - Students must petition to move backward in catalog years. This is not guaranteed or automatically permissable.

• College of Program
• Department of Program
• Program Website
• Program Contact Information
• Online Availability and Information
• Program Description
• Program Prerequisites
• College of Graduate Students Contact Information
• Degree Requirements (Coursework, Thesis/Dissertation, Practicum/Internship)
• Program Details
• Financial Information

The Online Graduate Catalog

Program of Study (POS)

Information To Include:

Though the Graduate Catalog and GPS tell a student what to take, it does not map out a plan of when. That is the Program of Study! The courses listed should match both the graduate catalog and GPS for the student's catalog year.

• Student Information
• Type of Degree
• Basic Program Information (Name, Concentration, required total hours for completion)
• Section for each type of requirement: Required Courses, Electives (separate restricted and unrestricted), Thesis/Dissertation/Internship/Practicum, etc.
• Term to Complete Course/Requirement
• Transfer Course Indicator
• Additional Notes

Policy: Program of Study

Example

Since this is program specific, we would recommend linking this information on your Program website. Some programs will also include a link in the catalog, but the Handbook is not directly linked to a catalog year. Therefore, we'd recommend a location that if updated, it would automatically update for all students who view it.

Each program should keep a fillable PDF or copy that can be completed with each individual student during their first semester (and no later than their second).

Click on the Graduate Catalog Image to Navigate to the different pages for information.

Graduate Catalog - Policies

Graduate Catalog - Archived Years

Graduate Catalog - Current Programs

Click on the image next to the section description to get a close up of that GPS Section.

4. Thesis/Dissertation Milestones

1. General Graduate Policies

5. Program Specific Requirements

2. Program Section

6. Graduate Course History

3. Program Graduate Policies

What's the Difference

All of these tools should be used in conjunction when working with any students. One tool will not give the complete picture. The information listed in the catalog, GPS, and POS should match for a student's record.

Graduate Plan of Study (GPS)

Information Displayed on GPS:

• Graduate Policies - Will only populate if the system finds courses that violate the policies
• 4000 level courses
• No more than 6 hours of independent study
• No I/N grades

• Unsatisfactory grades

• 7-year program limit
• Program Courses - Built to list the requirements and courses listed in the catalog for the corresponding year
• Required Courses, including Core
• Electives (Restricted and Unrestricted)
• Internship

• Dissertation/Thesis
• Graduate Policy - Starts counting all courses that meet the policy until it is satisfied
• 50% of the courses must be at the 6000/7000 level

• Required Hours of Formal Coursework (Graded A-F)
• Other Courses: Includes courses not used in other sections of the GPS

• Thesis/Dissertation Milestones (candidacy/committee formation, format review, defense, title, final submission)
• Program Specific Requirements - Lists the various University and Program Checklists placed on students’ accounts
• Workshops
• POS
• Exams

• Proposals

• 6- and 7- year review
• Graduate Course History - Lists all the courses taken as part of the graduate student career, even if it not listed in another section of the GPS (includes courses for another program)

The GPS is based off of the information provided in the Graduate Catalog. However, whereas the Graduate Catalog is a static tool, the GPS is interactive according to a student's declared plans, completed coursework, enrollment, GPA, etc. If students’ enrollment deviates from the courses listed in the GPS, then the requirements won’t be met or satisfied, and exceptions will need to be requested.

Program Handbook

The program handbook is the terms and conditions of how students complete their specific program requirements. Because terms and conditions are subject to change, students are required to follow the most current handbook and it not tied to their catalog year or the year that they started at UCF. Programs can be more restrictive than the policies outlined in the catalog, but not less.

Varies for every program

The Graduate Catalog and GPS highlight what a student needs to do to earn a degree. The POS says when a student will do what they need to do. The Program Handbook says how the students need to complete the work. Example: Graduate Catalog requires a Candidacy Exam. GPS will note completion and the POS will say when the student plans to take it. The Handbook will say what type of exam to expect, mandatory due date, etc.

It outlines

• policies
• requirements
• procedures
• resources
• norms for graduate students.