Master's Plan A Degree Plan & Graduation Requirements

Degree Requirements

Plan A: The Master’s Plan A option requires students to prepare and defend a thesis, which is a significant piece of original research or a new perspective on existing knowledge.

Credit Hours Requirement:

The minimum requirement for a master’s degree is 30 semester credits. Certain programs may have higher credit requirements for some master’s degrees.

Residency Requirement:

The School of Graduate Studies does not have any academic residency requirements for graduate students, but departments and colleges may impose residency requirements in their programs as they see fit.

Thesis Requirements:

Master’s Plan A: Students must complete a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 15 semester credits of thesis research (course 6970) as part of their Program of Study.

Some degree programs may require creative project credits in addition to, or instead of, research credits.

NOTE: Registration for thesis credits should correspond with the semesters during which the research is actively conducted, and faculty supervision is provided.

Publication Policy for Degree Completion:

• The School of Graduate Studies recognizes that scholarly publications are a vital component of graduate training and may be essential for post degree success. Publications or manuscripts of which the student is a co-author may be included if the committee determines that the student made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work.
• Permission to include a publication or manuscript in a thesis/project does not depend on the order of authorship.
• Any included publication or manuscript must be a logical component of the overarching theme or themes addressed by the entire thesis, which, as a whole, must represent the student’s individual and original effort.
• The student is responsible for obtaining reprint permission from the copyright holder for any published works included as part of the thesis.
• A program or faculty mentor may require manuscripts to be submitted for publication as part of its degree completion requirements. However, because publication timelines are often subject to external factors, actual acceptance/publication of a manuscript cannot be a degree requirement, and time to degree cannot be extended to accommodate publication of a manuscript.

Degree Plan

1. By the End of the Second Semester

Establish a Supervisory Committee and Submit an Approval (SCAF) Form

Purpose

• The SCAF establishes a graduate student’s supervisory committee and routes to all required reviewers for approval.

RCR CITI Training Requirement

• Required before submitting the initial SCAF for:
  • MS/A (thesis), MA, MFA, and all doctoral students
  • Any student funded by NIH, NSF, or USDA‑NIFA

For more information about the Responsible Conduct of Research Training, please check out the USU RCR website.

Submission Deadline

• Submit by end of the 2nd semester

Committee Participation

• All full‑time USU faculty/staff on a committee must be approved graduate faculty. External, adjunct, emeriti, or limited‑affiliation individuals require separate ad hoc approval from the Department Head and the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.

For further details about supervisory committee requirements, please visit the Supervisory Committees Information page.

NOTE: If the SCAF form does not have all required committee roles filled and the completed RCR training it will be denied.

Finalize and Submit a Program of Study

Submission Deadline

• Master’s Degrees: Master’s students are encouraged to submit a Program of Study to the School of Graduate Studies for approval by the end of the second semester, after the Supervisory Committee Form (SCAF) has been submitted and approved.

Successfully Defend a Thesis Proposal

• Students should finalize their thesis topic and present a formal research proposal to their supervisory committee for review and approval.
• Action: Students should schedule a proposal meeting with their committee once their topic and research plan are clearly defined.
• NOTE: Approval of the thesis proposal is required before significant research or data collection begins.

Submit an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP) Form

Purpose

• The AFP documents and registers a student’s proposal defense with the School of Graduate Studies. A defense is not official unless the AFP is fully approved before the scheduled date.

Submission Deadline

• Submit the AFP at least 10 workdays before the scheduled proposal defense.

Approval Requirements

• Student
• Major Professor/Advisor
• Committee Members
• School of Graduate Studies

Additional AFP policy details are available in SGS Catalog Section 12.2.

Submit a Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP) Form

Purpose

• The results of the proposal defense and any additional requirements are recorded on the Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP) form.
• The GPC will then submit the Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP) in ServiceNow, and the committee will verify the results of the defense.
• For further information regarding the Record of Proposal Defense (ROP), please review the School of Graduate Studies Catalog Section 12.2.

Submission Deadline

• After the student’s proposal defense.

Approval Requirements

• Student
• Major Professor/Advisor
• Committee Members
• The School of Graduate Studies

Obtain Necessary Regulatory Approvals to Conduct the Proposed Research

• All University research involving human subjects, animal subjects, radiation materials, recombinant DNA, biohazardous materials, certain highly toxic chemicals, restricted foreign parties, or export-controlled items must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate University committee(s) before the research is started.
• For updates on IRB regulations and to determine whether a student’s research requires IRB approval, view USU's IRB webpage. For further information, please contact Research Integrity and Compliance.
• Graduate students are, with the assistance of their advisors, responsible for obtaining the necessary approval for their research. Verification of approval must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before the student’s master’s Thesis/Project Approval Form can be approved.

Submit the Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) Form

Purpose

• All Master’s Plan A students should submit a Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) form to confirm they have successfully defended their thesis proposal with committee approval before the final defense.
• This form is also used to document that the student has obtained any necessary regulatory approvals (IRB, IACUC, etc.) (see SGS Catalog Section 5.1.) and completed any safety trainings necessary. The form should therefore be submitted after the student’s committee approves the thesis research proposal, and prior to the student conducting their research.
• Verification of regulatory approval must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies before the student’s Thesis/Project Approval can be approved.

Submission Deadline

• Master’s students are encouraged to submit the Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) form by the end of their second semester, after submitting and receiving approval for the Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF) and the Program of Study (POS), a successful thesis/project proposal defense, all regulatory approval is in place, and any other required forms for the proposal defense have been submitted and accepted.

Approvals Required

• Student
• Major professor
• Committee members
• Department head
• IRB (if needed)

Required Forms to Submit:

• Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF)
  Purpose: Establishes the student’s supervisory committee.
  Deadline: By the end of the student’s second semester.
• Program of Study (POS)
  Purpose: Lists the courses required for the student’s degree.
  Deadline: By the end of the student’s second semester, after the Supervisory Committee (SCAF) form has been submitted and approved.
• Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP) Form
  Purpose: Used to arrange proposal defense participation and details.
  Deadline: At least 10 workdays prior to the proposal defense.
• Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP) Form
  Purpose: Used to record the results of the proposal defense, and any additional requirements.
  Deadline: After the proposal defense.
• Master's Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) Form
  Purpose: This form confirms a student’s thesis topic defense and committee, and all required regulatory approvals prior to their research.
  Deadline: By the end of the student’s second semester, after the Supervisory Committee (SCAF) form and the Program of Study (POS) have been submitted and approved, a successful thesis proposal defense, all regulatory approval is in place, and any other required forms for the proposal defense have been submitted and accepted.

Helpful Resources:

• Academic Forms
• Supervisory Committees
• RCR CITI Training
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Animal Care and Use
• Publication Guide for Graduate Students
• University Libraries
• Writing Center

2. Preparing for the Final Defense

Review the Defense Process and Requirements

It is crucial that a student understands the procedures related to a thesis defense.

• Final Defense Requirements
• Before the Final Defense

Any final defense held without following the proper procedures may be invalid.

Determine the Credit Load for the Defense Semester

• Full-time students must be registered for at least 3 credits during the semester in which they defend their thesis.
  • Domestic students may be registered for 1 credit during their defense semester; however, they will hold part time status. Students receiving financial aid are likely to be required to maintain full-time status, so it is strongly advised to check with the Office of Student Financial Support before electing to take only 1 credit.
  • International students must be registered for 3 credits if they defend in Fall or Spring semesters with an approved Full-Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form. However, they may register for 1 credit if they are defending in the summer semester with an approved Reduced Course Load (RCL) form in their SEVIS record, and their program’s policy allows for it.
    • NOTE: A Reduced Course Load (RCL) form can only be used one time and therefore cannot be used after the completion of a grace semester (see SGS Catalog Section 4.8.).
    • If International Students have any questions about the Full-Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form or the Reduced Course Load (RCL) form, they should contact the Office of Global Engagement.

Submit an Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD) Form

Purpose

• The AFD documents and registers a student’s final defense with the School of Graduate Studies. A defense is not official unless the AFD is fully approved before the scheduled date.

Key Requirements

• All required forms must have been submitted and approved.
• Changes in the membership of a supervisory committee cannot be made during the six weeks prior to the defense without a written request from the department head and approval of the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
• All committee members must attend the full defense at the date and time submitted on the AFD. While in-person defense is preferred and recommended, members of the committee may participate remotely with both audio and video interaction.
• Appeals regarding scheduling or approval issues may be submitted to the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies.
• No committee member should agree to proceed with a defense until they have carefully read and agreed with the defensibility of the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation. The final defense should be scheduled by the student after all courses and the thesis, Plan B paper/project, or dissertation are completed.
• Once an AFD has been approved by the committee and the School of Graduate Studies, any changes to the date, time, and/or location require the submission and approval of a new AFD.
• Additional policy details regarding the AFD and the requirements for a final defense are available in SGS Catalog Sections 12.3., 12.4., and 12.5.

Submission Deadline

• Submit the AFD at least 10 workdays before the student’s defense.

Approval Requirements

• Student
• Major professor/Advisor
• Committee members
• School of Graduate Studies

Required Forms to Submit:

• Full Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form
  Purpose & Deadline: No specific due date, but a student should use the Full-Time at 3 Credits form if they meet the criteria (see above) and there is a reason they need to be listed as a full-time student.
  Requirement: Must be approved by the student’s department.
  Note: International students should consult the Office of Global Engagement for guidance on FT3 and visa compliance.
• Reduced Course Load (RCL) form (if needed for International Students)
  Purpose: If less than 3 credits are needed to graduate, then international students who need full-time status must enroll in a minimum of 1 in-person credit with an approved Reduced Course Load (RCL) form. A Reduced Course Load (RCL) form cannot be used after the completion of the grace semester.
  Deadline: When the student enrolls in less than 3 credits. If International Students have any questions about the Reduced Course Load (RCL) form, they should contact the Office of Global Engagement.
• Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD) form
  Purpose: This form confirms that all required paperwork is complete, and that the committee has reviewed and approved the thesis for defense.
  Deadline: Must be submitted and approved by the School of Graduate Studies at least 10 business days before the final defense.

3. During the Final Defense

• Review the information related to the stipulations and matters during the final defense.

4. After the Final Defense

• Review the policies and procedures pertaining to after the defense.

Submit the Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD)

Purpose

• The results of the defense and any additional requirements are recorded on the ROD form, which is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the student’s Graduate Program Coordinator.
• The GPC will then submit the ROD in ServiceNow, and the committee will verify the results of the defense.
• For further information regarding the ROD, please review the School of Graduate Studies Catalog Section 12.5. and 12.6.

Submission Deadline

• After the student’s defense.

Approval Requirements

• Student
• Major Professor/Advisor
• Committee Members
• The School of Graduate Studies

The Grace Semester

• Please review the policy and stipulations related to the grace semester.

Required Forms to Submit:

• Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD) form
  Purpose: The results of the defense and any additional requirements are recorded on the ROD form.
  Deadline: After the final thesis defense, the ROD form is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies by the student’s Graduate Program Coordinator, in ServiceNow, and the committee will verify the results of the defense.

5. Thesis Review and Submission Process

• Review the policies and procedures pertaining to the thesis review and submission process.

Graduate School Deadlines

• For submission deadlines, and degree conferral dates, please review the Graduate School Deadlines page.

Submit the Thesis/Dissertation Format and Style (F&S) and Electric Publication Approval

Purpose

• You, your major professor and your supervisory committee should agree on the format and style of your thesis early in the writing process. The Thesis/Dissertation Format and Style form communicates which format and style have been chosen.
• You are responsible for proofreading your thesis/dissertation and having it read and approved by all committee members and the department reviewer before having the Graduate Program Coordinator submit an electronic version (PDF format) of the document to Box.

Electronic Thesis/Dissertation Approval

• The Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Approval grants Utah State University a non-exclusive license to archive your work and make it accessible to the public. As the author, you retain ownership rights to the copyright and the right to use it in future works.
• If you have questions about the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Approval form, contact the USU Libraries at digitalcommons@usu.edu.

Submission Deadline

After your defense, you are ready to begin the thesis/dissertation review process with the School of Graduate Studies. Your thesis or dissertation will not be reviewed until all necessary paperwork has been fully approved.

Students Who Use This Form

• Doctoral
• Master’s Plan A

Approvals Required

• Student
• Major professor
• Departmental format/style reviewer (check with your department to identify your format/style reviewer)

Submit the Authorship & Copyright Form (A&C)

Purpose

The Authorship and Copyright form specifies plans for publication. You must discuss your plans for publication with your chairperson and your committee to avoid misunderstanding about co-authorship or other acknowledgements as you publish parts or all of your thesis/dissertation. The form also asks for a date by which an acceptable draft will be submitted to your major professor or other USU faculty with whom you will publish. Establishing this timeline is crucial as it is important to get contributions to knowledge into the literature promptly. If the date for submission is not met, the faculty member may prepare the first draft of a manuscript for submission and, consequently, be listed as the first author. Your signature and those of your committee members indicate that you have discussed the plans and all are in agreement.

The rights to copyright and data are especially of concern if your thesis/dissertation research is carried out as part of a project with a principal investigator (PI) or in a laboratory using supplies and equipment furnished for you. Under certain circumstances, data gathered for use as part of a research project are the property of a federal, state, or private agency, Utah State University, or the principal investigator(s). Students using such data may be required to waive the right of ownership and/or the privilege of copyrighting the thesis/dissertation early in your program. You should discuss the ownership and the right to the data to be utilized in your thesis/dissertation with your committee chairperson and, if your thesis/dissertation involves work on a project or in a lab, with the PI or lab director.

Submission Deadline

Submit this form after your final defense and before your thesis or dissertation is submitted for review by the School of Graduate Studies. Your thesis or dissertation will not be reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies until all required paperwork is fully approved.

Approvals Needed

• Student
• Advisor
• Committee members

Students Who Need This Form

• Doctoral
• Master’s Plan A

Submit the Title Page

Purpose

The purpose of the Title Page form is for the final approval of a student's Master's Plan A Thesis or a Doctoral Dissertation. By approving this form, the committee members agree that the student's final document is ready to be put before the School of Graduate Studies and the Vice Provost for final approval.

Submission Deadline

After the defense, before the thesis/dissertation can be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.

Students Who Use This Form

• Master’s Plan A
• Doctoral

Approvals Required

• All Committee Members
• Vice Provost for Graduate Studies

Embargo Policy

• Students and their committee should decide whether or not it is necessary for the student to embargo the student’s work.
• Review the embargo policy.
• Submitting an embargo request form is optional.

Required Forms to Submit:

• Thesis/Dissertation Format and Style (F&S) and Electric Publication Approval
  Purpose: Confirms that the thesis meets university formatting standards and grants permission for electronic publication in USU’s institutional repository.
  Deadline: After the student’s defense, before they are ready to begin the thesis review process with the School of Graduate Studies. Their thesis will not be reviewed until all necessary paperwork has been fully approved.
• Authorship and Copyright (A&C) Form
  Purpose: Documents the student’s ownership of their work and outlines copyright permissions for publication and distribution.
  Deadline: After the student’s final defense and before their thesis is submitted for review by the School of Graduate Studies. Their thesis will not be reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies until all required paperwork is fully approved.
• Title Page
  Purpose: The purpose of the Title Page is for the final approval of a student's Master Plan A Thesis. By approving this form, the committee members agree that the student's final document is ready to be put before the School of Graduate Studies and the Vice Provost for final approval.
  Deadline: After the defense, before the thesis can be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.
• Embargo Request (optional)
  Purpose: If a student elects to embargo their work, they must submit an embargo request form to initiate the process, and the form and all additional steps must be complete by the School of Graduate Studies degree completion deadlines. An embargo means that the student’s work will be unavailable to read online for 5 years.
  Deadline: Due with the thesis.

6. Prepare for Graduation

Reasons Graduate Students Will Be Denied for Graduation

Missing Requirements:

• Unmet degree or credit requirements. To be awarded a graduate degree, students must fulfill all degree requirements. No verified degree from previous institution(s). Official transcripts must show degree earned and conferral date.
  • NOTE: Official transcripts should be received by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) no later than the student’s first semester to avoid a hold on their account (see SGS Catalog Section 1: Graduate Admissions Policies).
• Missing Required Forms:
  • Supervisory Committee (SCAF) Form
  • Program of Study (POS) Form
  • Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (AFP) Form
  • Thesis/Project Approval (TPA) Form
  • Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Proposal Defense (ROP) Form
  • Appointment for Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (AFD) Form
  • Authorship & Copyright
  • Format & Style
  • Title Page
  • Record of Thesis/Project/Dissertation Defense (ROD) Form
  • Graduation Application
• For more information about required academic forms, please visit the Academics and Forms page on the School of Graduate Studies website.

Registration Issues:

• The student is registered for classes in the following semester.

Thesis Issues:

• Thesis not defended.

Grade Issues:

• GPA below 3.0 on the Program of Study.
• Unresolved Temporary (T) grades – must be changed by Faculty.
• Unresolved Incomplete (I) grades – must be changed by Faculty.

Graduation Application Requirement

• All graduate students – regardless of plan type – must complete a graduation application for the correct semester in which they intend to graduate. Note: A $15 fee must be paid when the graduation application is submitted for each degree program.
• Reminder: Graduate students may submit only one graduation application per program.
• Graduation dates will be manually updated by the Graduate School Registrar when the student’s degree is finalized. If a student has the wrong semester listed, the Graduate Program Coordinator must provide a list to the Graduate School Registrar so corrections can be made.
• Once all graduation requirements have been met, students can expect to have their degree awarded within 45 days of the degree conferral date.

Required Forms to Submit:

• Graduation Application
  Purpose: Officially initiates the graduation process.
  Deadline: Must be submitted by the university deadline along with the $15 fee.

7. Graduation

Commencement Participation

• Graduate students who graduate during the summer semester are eligible to participate in spring commencement of that academic year.
• For questions about graduation regalia, please visit the USU Campus Bookstore.
• For questions about commencement and convocation, please review the Utah State University Commencement page.

8. After Graduation

Graduate Student Diplomas

• Diplomas for degrees conferred by the School of Graduate Studies are prepared by the main Utah State University Registrar’s Office at the end of each semester once degrees are awarded.
• For further questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Page on the USU Registrar’s website.

Graduate School Transcripts

• The School of Graduate Studies does not issue official or unofficial copies of transcripts. Students and alumni may request their transcript records through the main Utah State University Registrar’s Office.

Letters of Completion

• Graduate students who have fulfilled all degree requirements before the end of the semester may request a letter from the School of Graduate Studies verifying degree completion for employment purposes.
• Students may request a letter of completion by emailing the Graduate Registrar.
• A request for a letter of completion may take up to 24-48 work hours to complete.
• NOTE: Letters of completion will not be issued until a student’s thesis has been reviewed by the SGS Thesis/Dissertation Reviewer and is ready to be transferred to USU Libraries for final processing.