Why must I submit a Study Plan?
The Study Plan is there to make sure that the student pursues meaningful, cohesive studies, in line with the requirements of the program and that of the Institute. A Study Plan must be on file in The Graduate School as a prerequisite for enrollment.

How do I fill out a Study Plan?
You can get a Study Plan form from the Graduate School office, on our website, or your department. You must talk with your advisor to discuss the courses required for your program and what electives and/or other requirements are needed for your program.

How will I know when specific courses will run?
The Departments have preliminary schedules of courses that will run in the next few years. Core courses and popular electives tend to be offered at least once a year, whereas other less popular courses run less often, typically every other year.

Can I deviate from the Study Plan?
If you need to take a course other than those specified on your Study Plan, you must submit a revised Study Plan with the approval of your advisor. Courses taken that are not on your approved Study Plan may not later be approved as being applicable towards your program.

How many credits do I need to get a degree?
A School of Engineering or School of Sciences and Arts Master's degree requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond a Bachelor's. A School of Technology Management Master's requires a minimum of 36 credits beyond a Bachelors degree. An Engineer degree requires at least 60 credits beyond a Bachelor's degree (30 beyond a Master's degree), of which 8 to 15 credits would be a design project. A Ph.D. requires at least 90 credits beyond a Bachelor's degree (60 beyond a Master's degree), with at least 30 credits being research credits. Certificate programs typically run 10 to 15 credits. There will accommodations for those affected by the transition from the 2.5 credit per course basis to the 3.0 credit per course basis.

Do I have to do a thesis/project for a Master's degree?
In general a Master's thesis is optional for part-time students, but required by some departments of full-time students who are receiving departmental support, or are continuing on to the doctorate. A Master's Thesis would run 5 to 10 credits. If more than 6 thesis credits are being attempted, a Master's Thesis form must be submitted to the Graduate School specifying a reader for the thesis.

How many courses/credits can I transfer?
A Master's student can transfer up to 3 courses for up to 12 credits subject to advisor approval. For an Engineer degree or a Ph.D., a prior Master's degree may be transferred for up to 30 credits without specific approval of the department or Dean of the Graduate School. Also, 1/3 of additional course load credits (non-research) may be transferred with the approval of the department/advisory committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. Transferred courses must not have been used to obtain another degree, have a grade of 'B' or better, and be the equivalent of a course offered here at Stevens. You must submit a Transfer Credit form and, if not already on file at the Graduate School, Official Transcripts showing the grades of the courses being transferred. It is highly recommended that the catalog description of the courses be submitted with the Transfer Credit form.

Can I take a course at another institution while at Stevens?
Yes. You must submit a Permission to take a Course at Another Institution form before you take the course with the approval of your advisor if you plan of using the course towards your degree here at Stevens. It is highly recommended that the catalog description of the course be submitted with the Permission form.

I would like to take a study a topic that isn't covered by any of the courses. What can I do?
You can take a Special Problems course (800 or 801 numbered). You will need to submit a Special Problems Course form to the Graduate School prior to enrolling for such a course.

I have a course on my Study Plan that isn't being offered, and I want to graduate this semester. What can I do?
You can take the Course by Application. This allows you to take a course even though it isn't scheduled. You must submit a Course By Application form to the Graduate School prior to enrolling for such a course.

How much time do I have to complete a degree?
You have up to 6 years to complete a degree from the point you started the program. For part-time Master's Students, this allows a minimum of one course per semester. The Ph.D. program also requires at least one year of residency on campus or at a research facility acceptable to the Dissertation advisor or to the Dean of the Graduate School.

I want to change my program. How do I go about doing this?
You can submit a Program Change Request. This is the equivalent of applying to the new program. Your file on record at The Graduate School will be sent down to the department for review and you will be informed of their decision when it returns.

I am planning/need to skip a semester(s). What should I do?
Please submit a Leave of Absence or a letter stating the same to the Dean of the Graduate School.

I need to withdraw from all my courses this semester due to an emergency. What should I do?
Submit a Drop/Add form along with a letter describing your situation and we will try to accommodate you. Courses dropped after the first two weeks of the semester will have a grade of W (Withdrawn) recorded on the transcript. Refunds are pro-rated, as indicated on the semester calendar, from the beginning of the semester (100% refund) to the 8th week of the semester (0% refund).

I need a letter stating that I am a student or have completed a program at Stevens. What do I do?
If you need a letter stating you are a current student, you can request a Letter of Enrollment from the Registrar. If you need a letter of stating you have completed a graduate degree program, you can submit a Request for Letter of Completion to the Graduate School. A letter of completion can only be issued for students that have submitted an AC and have received grades for all courses. If the grades for all courses have not been received, then a Letter of Expected Completion will be issued. A Letter of Enrollment will state that you are enrolled as a graduate student at Stevens. Please note that these letters do take some time to generate and will not be available immediately.

I have finished all my course work and have enrolled for all my thesis/dissertation credits, but I haven't finished my thesis yet. What can I do to stay enrolled?
You can apply for D999, Maintenance of Matriculation, which carries no credit and no grades. There is a fee for the D999 in addition to the General Fee. The amount of these fees can be found on our tuition and fee structure. You must go to the Graduate School to obtain permission before you can enroll for D999. While enrolled as D999, you are considered a full-time student.