We strongly encourage students to have an approved PLAN OF STUDY on file by the end of their second semester. In order to graduate, the Graduate School REQUIRES that an approved Plan of Study be on file, in FINAL form, before the first day of classes of the final semester of study.
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The plan of study must only include courses for which the student earns a traditional A, B. or C grade. In other words, the student should not include courses for which a S or U (satisfactory or unsatisfactory) grade is given. Thus, the following courses are NOT to be included:
- The CIT Research Seminar should not be included
- Research credits (such as CNIT 59800 or CNIT 69800 ) should not be included in the courses in the table; however, ...
- ... You have to describe your research credits in the comment section of the POS or the Graduate School will not approve your plan. For example, you can stae " Fall 2015 3 research credits, Spring 2016 3 research credits."
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Includes a minimum of 27 credit hours of coursework (for thesis students), or 30 semester hours of coursework (for directed project students must be included in the electronic plan of study. This must include:
- Minimum of 9 credit hours of PRIMARY AREA courses (additional details below)
- Minimum of 6 credit hours of RELATED AREA courses (further restrictions below) The plan of study must include a Related Area title in the “Research Area” field.
- A minimum of 12 credit hours in courses with a CNIT or TECH department prefix.
- Courses in the primary and related areas require a A, B, or C letter grade (and excludes courses taken for grades such as ‘satisfactory’ and ‘pass’). Be aware that CIT imposes minimum letter grade requirements and grade point averages for courses in the plan of study.
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Includes the following minimum PRIMARY area courses. See MS CIT web site for approved selective courses:
- Graduate-level statistics or quantitative methods selective
- Graduate-level research methods and writing selective
- At least three credit hours of CNIT 5#### foundation courses chosen from an approved list of selectives
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Includes no more than 6 credit hours of undergraduate courses, subject to the following restrictions:
- Undergraduate credit hours may only be included if the course content is deemed necessary to post-requisite 50000-and 60000 level courses, or to complete the thesis or directed project. The faculty advisor should document such inclusion in the plan of study as a Supplemental Note in the electronic plan of study.
- NO undergraduate courses at the 10000- or 20000-levels may be included in a graduate plan of study.
- Undergraduate courses at the 30000- or 40000-levels may be included in a graduate plan of study with approval from your major faculty advisor and committee.
- A grade of B- or higher is required for any undergraduate course included in the plan of study.
- Includes no more than 6 credit hours of independent study credit (e.g., CNIT 59000, TECH 59000, etc.). Independent study courses must be approved prior to enrollment.
- Includes No more than 12 total credit hours of credit earned in non-degree status (post baccalaureate or teacher license)
- Includes no more than 9 credit hours of credit in 50000 and 60000-level courses taken as excess undergraduate degree credits. Such credits must be certified by the Registrar only if student (1) took the course during the senior year, (2) received grade of "B" or better; (3) course was designated as a graduate course; and (4) student's work in the course was performed at the level required for graduate students in the course.
- Includes no more than 6 credit hours of transfer credit in which a grade of "B" or better was obtained. (Submit to the CIT Office of Graduate Studies the course description and official transcript showing completion of the course and grade.)
- Includes no more than 15 total credit hours of cumulative undergraduate excess credits, transfer credits, postbaccalaureate credits, and independent study credits.
- Coursework used to satisfy the requirements of one graduate degree may not be used to satisfy the requirements for another graduate degree. The exception is students who continue on to the PhD program. Then, a limited number of credit hours of coursework from one (and only one) master’s degree may be used on the plan of study for a doctoral degree.
- Course credit hours earned by a student whose graduate study and/or professional activity has been inactive for five years or more cannot be used on a plan of study.
- The student's committee chair must be a regular CIT graduate faculty member. Other members can be any graduate faculty member (regular or special) from any college, school, department, or campus.
- Each related area should have a faculty representative on the advisory committee, even if that requires the committee to grow beyond the minimum of 3 faculty. Indicate the title of your related area in the ePOS Advisory Committee section under “Advisor in Area of”