What should I do each semester to graduate in two years?

The timetable below shows you what you should be doing each semester in order to graduate in two years, assuming you are a Graduate Instructor teaching two sections of Engl. 1010 or 2010 each semester and taking no more than six credits per semester. (You should generally not take nine credits in a semester unless graduate study is your only occupation.) As you will see below, to finish in two years while working as a GI or in some other job, you will probably have to take credits during the summer. Numbers in [brackets] indicate the running total of credits you will have accumulated each semester. If graduate studies are your only occupation, then you should consider taking 9 credits each semester.

FALL, FIRST YEAR:

• Take 2 seminars, including Engl. 6820 if you are a new GI. [6]
• Begin thinking about Plan A/B projects.
• If you want an MA rather than an MS, make plans to fulfill the language requirement.
• If you are an American, non-Utah resident, start the process of establishing Utah residency so as to avoid paying non-resident tuition in your second year.

SPRING, FIRST YEAR:

• Take 2 seminars. [12]
• Choose topic(s) for a Plan A thesis or Plan B projects.
• Recruit three faculty members to serve as your Supervisory Committee.
• Meet with Evelyn Funda  to discuss the committee, your Program of Study, and graduation plans.
• Meet with your Supervisory Committee to begin work on the proposal for your Plan A thesis or Plan B projects (see guidelines document).
• Secure Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval on your proposal if necessary.
• If possible, attend Hooding and Commencement ceremonies at the end of term, to inspire you to graduate next year!

SUMMER BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND YEARS:

• Take six credits of coursework or workshops if approved by your committee. [18]
• Work on your thesis proposal.
• Evelyn Funda will file forms at the Graduate School recording your Supervisory Committee and your Program of Study.

FALL, SECOND YEAR:

• Take two seminars or thesis credits. [24]
• Secure your Supervisory Committee’s approval on the proposal and on your Program of Study and work on your Plan A thesis or Plan B paper(s).
• Buy a copy of the Publication Guide for Graduate Students from the Bookstore and follow its guidelines as you write your Plan A or B project. You can also download it from the Grad School website: http://www.usu.edu/graduateschool/training/workshops.cfm  
• Attend one of the Grad School’s Thesis & Dissertation Format Workshops (see the same website for dates).
• Complete any Incomplete grades left over from last fall by the end of this term.

SPRING, SECOND YEAR:

• Take remaining 6 credits—typically six credits of 6970: Thesis (Plan A) or a seminar and three credits of 6970: Thesis (Plan B). Plan A students may choose to divide their Thesis credits over more than one semester. [30]
• Check your transcript on the USU transcript request web page for any remaining Incomplete grades and take care of them.
• Keep track of the deadlines for defending your thesis and graduating by the end of term.
• Make sure you are scheduled for the right degree—MA or MS. If it’s the MA, be sure you have fulfilled the language requirement and reported it to the Grad School. If you want to switch from the MA to the MS, arrange this with Evelyn Funda.
• With your committee, pick a defense date and see Evelyn Funda about scheduling it with the Grad School. The appointment must be made at least 10 working days before the defense.
• Take care of graduation paperwork and fees as soon as you receive materials from the Grad School.
• If required (check with your Supervisory Committee), take the written Comprehensive Exam.
• Defend your Plan A thesis or Plan B projects.
• If you are doing Plan A or B, check that your Engl. 6970 credits have all been given a P grade.
• If you are on Plan B or C, ask Evelyn Funda to send a Letter of Completion to the Grad School when you have completed all paperwork requirements.
• If you are on Plan A, you and your committee should proofread your thesis very carefully and then submit it to the Grad School.
• When the Plan A thesis is returned to you by the Grad School with any needed corrections redlined, make the corrections and then show the marked and corrected pages to Evelyn Funda. Then resubmit the corrected thesis to the Grad School for final approval.
• Complete all fees, paperwork, etc. on schedule and check with Joan Rudd (435-797-1187, joan.rudd@usu.edu) in the Grad School that you have been “closed out” before you leave the area.
• If possible, attend Hooding and Commencement ceremonies.