Before the student is able to present to the University Board of Graduate Studies, pre-admission into the INPR program must be granted by the Graduate School.

When the student applies for formal admission to the INPR program, he or she must submit a detailed proposal, as described below. The student and adviser/dissertation chair will meet with the University Board of Graduate Studies to defend the proposal, which must contain:

• A summary explaining how the proposed program is coherent and has high academic quality.
• The name of the degree as it will appear on the transcript and in the commencement program.
• The signatures of the individual members of the dissertation committee agreeing to the proposed course of studies and research plan.
• A completed doctoral program planning form that includes a minimum of 72 semester hours:
• 30 hours of previous master's level coursework.
• 30 hours of interdisciplinary doctoral coursework.
• 12 hours of dissertation credit.
• No more than six hours of independent study (295) courses in the 30 credits of interdisciplinary doctoral coursework.
• An attached sheet showing how each course unifies the program and prepares the student for the proposed qualifying examination and dissertation.
• A plan for satisfying the residency requirement of two terms of full-time (nine credits) enrollment within an 18-month period or three terms of six credits each within an 18 month period.
• Procedures for a qualifying examination.
• A dissertation plan as outlined above, including procedures for scheduling committee meetings and the defense.
• Contribution of each committee member towards the degree.
• A plan on how the degree will be financed, written obligations of financial aid from the departments, institutes, or centers.
• A contingency plan in case the director should be unable to continue.
• A statement of any limitations to future employment that the proposed degree might impose on the student. For instance, a degree in American Studies may be excellent preparation for teaching at some levels but may be constraining for one desiring a university appointment in History, English, or the Social Science.
• Recognition that all changes must be submitted to and approved in writing by the University Board of Graduate Studies.

It is not unusual for a proposal to be 40-60 pages in length without the curriculum vitas of the committee members. The applicant is strongly advised to visit the Graduate School to review a previous proposal that the Board of Graduate Studies considers to be well written.

Sixteen copies of the proposal must be submitted to the Graduate School by October 1 or March 1 for fall term or spring term review, respectively, by the University Board of Graduate Studies. Upon receipt of the proposal, the Graduate School will notify student and adviser/dissertation chair of the UBGS meeting date.