FORMAL STUDY PLAN
The Formal Study Plan is an important part of earning your degree. The Working form is completed during your first quarter and provides you guidance as to which courses to take. The Final plan is filed once you have registered for your last class and is used by evaluations to determine if you earned your degree. Both forms can be found in the forms section of the Graduate Education website.
FILLING IN THE FORMAL STUDY PLAN
The plan is split into four sections. Make sure you include your courses in the correct section as described below. Never include more than 45 units in your study plan. If you are uncertain about your matriculation date, read the description at the Matriculation page.
- Pre-matriculated courses
- Limited to 12 units total
- If the courses are at the 400-level they reduce the 16 unit limit in the Cal Poly 400-level course section
- Courses must be pre-approved as described by the pre-matriculated courses
- Double-counted courses
- Limited to students in the Blended B.S. + M.S. program
- Limited to 9 units max
- Can not list 497 or 498
- Meets all eligibility criteria as described by the eligibility requirements for double counting
- Post-matriculated (PBAC) Cal Poly 400-level courses
- Limited to 16 units total
- Can not list 497 or 498
- Must be approved by the graduate coordinator as described by the advisor approved electives
- Post-matriculated (PBAC) Cal Poly 500-level courses
- B.M.S. students who took 497 & 498
- List a minimum of 24 500-level CSC units, following the department independent study policy
- List 5 units of thesis (CSC 590 & CSC 599)
- All other students
- list a minimum of 20 500-level CSC units, following the department independent study policy
- List 9 units of thesis work (CSC 590, CSC 596, CSC 597, and CSC 599)
- B.M.S. students who took 497 & 498