Academic Planning

Muskie School Graduation Checklists (available below) help students develop an academic plan with their faculty advisor. They are also the form used to apply for graduation. It is recommended that students begin using the checklist as soon as they enter a program.

Faculty Advisors

Each matriculated student is assigned a faculty advisor when they are admitted into the School. Your advisor is an important part of your graduate school years and can give you guidance and support in planning your academic program. Your advisor must be seen before registration. Faculty advisors are given the PIN for their advisees. Student use the PIN number to register using MaineStreet.

The advisor assignment can be changed at any time. If you feel that a different faculty member can better serve your needs, first contact the new advisor, then get in touch with Student Affairs with the requested change. Student Affairs will notify your prior advisor and the Registrar's Office.

If you are unclear about your advisor or have any questions and concerns, please contact: Student Affairs, (207) 780-4864.

Applying for Graduation

Muskie School students need to apply for graduation at the start of their final semester by

1. submitting the graduation checklist to the Muskie Student Affairs Office and
2. applying for graduation with the USM Office of the Registrar.

Submitting a Muskie School Graduation Checklist

Please Note: A student's Graduation Checklist is based on either:

• the USM Graduate Catalog of the academic year in which a student is matriculated (formally admitted and enrolled), or
• the USM Graduate Catalog of the academic year of a student's final courses.

Students must choose one graduate catalog to follow and are not allowed to mix and match requirements from one year to another.

Students should work with faculty advisors and the chair of the academic program to ensure that the requirements in the graduate catalog are fulfilled prior to graduation. An archive of USM Graduate Catalogs is available online.

Applying for Graduation with the Registrar

Students must also apply for graduation with the USM Office of the Registrar, and can do this in MaineStreet. For a print copy of this application, visit the USM Registrar's Office web site.

Please Note: During the final semester, if a student receives financial aid or has an assistantship, but need less than 6 credits to graduate, he or she must sign up for GRS 602 (Ph.D. students GRS 701) along with other course(s) being taken. Ask your faculty advisor to sign the form and send it or drop it by the Muskie Student Affairs Office. The GRS form is available on the USM Office of Graduate Studies web site.