A Plan of Study is a formal academic document that outlines your degree requirements. It functions as a contract between you and the university and serves as a personalized roadmap for completing your graduate program.

Graduate students should develop their Plan of Study with their advisor and advisory committee using the Graduate College Round-Up Plan of Study application.

• Master’s students: Submit your original Plan of Study before completing your second semester of enrollment (excluding summer).
• Doctoral students: Submit your original Plan of Study before the end of your third semester of enrollment (excluding summer).
• The original Plan of Study must be submitted through the Graduate College Round-Up Plan of Study system.

All graduate students must use the Online Plan of Study system (Round-Up). This web-based platform allows you to create and submit your POS electronically while reducing common errors. 

No additional account is needed. You can log in using your O-Key credentials. 

Yes. A valid Plan of Study must be approved by you, your advisory committee, and your graduate coordinator. The Online Plan of Study system allows for electronic approvals by all parties.

Final approval of the Plan of Study is granted by the Graduate College after all required approvals are completed.

Your graduate advisory committee supports and oversees your academic progress. Requirements:

• Master’s students: Minimum of three members — a chair/advisor and two additional members.
• Doctoral students: Minimum of four members — a chair/advisor, two additional members, and one member from a different department at OSU (known as the Graduate College Representative).
  Only current OSU Graduate Faculty members can serve on committees.

Students preparing to form an advisory committee are encouraged to review the Best Practices in Advisory Committees and Defenses guidance available on the Graduate College website.

Use the search function by entering the full department name instead of acronyms (e.g., search "Natural Resource" instead of "NREM"). Only current Graduate Faculty members appear in the system. 

The expected graduation date helps define the timeframe of your POS. You cannot:

• Enter courses scheduled after the expected graduation date
• Include courses taken more than ten years before the expected graduation term

Yes. If you were conditionally admitted and required to take ENGL 0003 or ENGL 4893, you must include them in your Plan of Study. Enter ENGL 4893 like a regular course. Enter ENGL 0003 manually under “Transfer / Non-Graduate Courses” with 0 credit hours.

List each course individually under “Transfer / Non-Graduate Courses.” Enter the course title and grade as they appear on the original transcript. Only courses with grades of B or better are eligible for transfer. 

You may request a one-semester extension using the “Request for Extension to Submit a Plan of Study” form. You must get signatures from your advisor or graduate coordinator. Forms are available in the Graduate Student Canvas Community or the Graduate College office. 

The hold remains in place, but the effective term is updated to allow enrollment. The hold now includes a note indicating that a one-semester extension has been granted. 

You will receive email notifications at each stage:

1. Confirmation of submission
2. Notification when your committee and coordinator approve
3. Final approval notice from the Graduate College

You can check the status at any time by logging in to the Online Plan of Study system.

Submit a revised Plan of Study at the beginning of your graduating semester. Refer to the Graduate College Academic Calendar for exact deadlines.

All revisions must be approved by the student’s advisor and graduate program before final approval by the Graduate College.

• If your original POS was submitted online, log in to make changes and resubmit.
• If you submitted a paper POS:
  
  • For minor changes, mark them on the original form and have your advisor and coordinator initial next to the updates.
  • For major changes, complete a new form with updated signatures.

No. Use the separate Committee Change Request Form, inside Round-Up.

• Master’s students have seven years to complete their degree.
• Doctoral students have nine years.
• Graduate coursework more than 10 years old may not be included in your POS.

If you anticipate exceeding your time limit, contact the Graduate College for guidance. A revised POS alone is not sufficient in this case.