All University of Houston-Clear Lake students pursuing a degree must file a Candidate Plan of Study (CPS) during the semester in which they are accepted into a degree program.
New students must finalize their CPS during their first semester of enrollment, for the following reasons:
- Once the faculty advisor approves the CPS, students need only take the listed courses with acceptable grades to earn their degrees. Future changes to degree requirements will not affect them.
- The CPS gives students a clear path to pursue their studies.
- Creating the CPS allows the faculty advisor and the academic advisor to work closely with the students to design the best study plan.
- Students take courses that fit their career goal; they avoid taking courses not required by the program.
- School policy limits the number of courses that count toward the degree. An approved CPS eliminates doubt.
- Students may not seek UHCL employment without an approved CPS.
Students first schedule an appointment with one of the academic advisors to draft the CPS. The academic advisor will review the student's degree requirements, transfer credit, and UHCL courses to be completed. The advisor will then help the student set up the CPS draft and assign the faculty advisor. Students will take the draft and make an appointment to meet with their assigned faculty advisor.
The student will then meet the faculty advisor for approval of the CPS Draft and to discuss career options, degree electives, and transfer courses in question. The faculty advisor and student sign the CPS Draft and the faculty advisor returns it to the advising office. The Advising Office will notify the student to come in and sign the final CPS. After the student signs the CPS, it goes to the faculty advisor and the Associate Dean for final approval. The original approved CPS remains in the student's academic file; UHCL mails a copy to the student.
Graduate students are assigned faculty advisors upon acceptance into a Master's program. The formal acceptance letter specifies the faculty advisor with the name and contact information. Graduate worksheets are then prepared by the academic advisor during the first six weeks of the student's initial semester and sent to the student's assigned faculty advisor. The worksheets will include courses in-progress, and will also list foundation courses that were identified by the faculty admissions committee, and applicable graduate transfer courses. It is not necessary for students to handle the Computer Science Graduate Worksheet themselves, since the academic advisor will forward them directly to the faculty advisor.
Students receive notice via campus e-mail to contact the faculty advisor to set up an appointment to discuss career options for the plan and coursework required for the degree. This is an opportunity to ask questions about Thesis or Capstone requirements and careers in the field of study. Once the faculty advisor and student agree on the courses, they sign the worksheet and send it back to the advising office for processing. The student receives notice when the CPS is ready to sign. After the student has signed the final CPS, it goes to the faculty advisor and the Associate Dean for final signatures. The original is held in the student's academic file and UHCL mails a copy to the student.
Subsequent requests to substitute courses or vary from the requirements as stated on the approved CPS can be documented on a CPS Change Form and submitted to the faculty advisor for approval.
The SCE advising features more detailed information regarding CPS and other aspects of the Computer Science degree plans.
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