Soon after an advisory committee chair has been selected, a definitive plan of work should be prepared.  The Plan of Work must be submitted and approved by members of the student's advisory committee before the third semester of graduate study for both M.S. and Ph.D. students.  The NCSU Plan of Work form should be used for all students, whether at UNC or NCSU.  While the first year may be early to specify some of the items in the Plan of Work, students must submit a plan that meets all requirements.  Any aspect of the Plan of Work can be changed later.

The Plan of Work includes:

1. COURSE WORK.  A definite schedule of graduate courses should be prepared for all semesters of planned attendance. The planned schedule must meet all program requirements.  The student and the student's advisory committee chair may modify this schedule as time goes on, but all such modifications must be reported to the Director of Graduate Studies/Program.
2. TENTATIVE THESIS OR DISSERTATION RESEARCH TOPIC.  A short summary of the student's research area should be included.  Whenever changes are made, they should be reported to the Director of Graduate Studies/Program.
3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  The members of the advisory committee should be identified.  These may be changed at a later time, and changes submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies/Program.