Prior to formal granting of admission to the program of study, the graduate advisor, as designated by the graduate program coordinator, assists students in planning initial coursework.  Students must consult their advisors before seeking enrollment in any course that might be applied toward a graduate degree.

After receiving admission to the Graduate School and enrolling for graduate courses, the student should consult with the graduate advisor concerning the appointment of an advisory committee. The advisory committee is responsible for guiding and directing the student's entire academic program, which includes initiating all academic actions concerning the student, developing the degree plan, and administering the comprehensive testing prior to conferral of the graduate degree. Moreover, the advisory committee--as a group and as individual members--is responsible for counseling the student on academic matters and, in the case of academic deficiency, initiating recommendations to the Graduate School.