研究计划 Research Proposal/Plan 是针对部分研究性很强的专业，或博士的申 请，学校提出的一种文书要求。旨在让学校了解清楚申请人细致的研究兴趣、内容和 计划。 

另外有一些奖学金的申请，也是需要研究计划 Research Proposal/Plan 的，比如： 

“Graduate students who have successfully defended their research proposals may compete for additional research funding by applying for the Department Overhead and Fred H. Moore Research Awards.”有研究计划书的，可以被考虑到一些类别的奖学 金。 

“In addition to research funding that may be available to graduate students from research grants awarded to their major advisor and/or to cross-disciplinary programs (LTER, SWAS, GECP, etc.), students are encouraged to seek out and submit research proposals to outside funding agencies.”一些外部的奖学金申请，也需要研究计划。

对于一些学校，研究计划 Research Proposal/Plan 并不是强制提供的。“You do not need to specify a specific research field or faculty mentor in order to be admitted, though the admissions committee is interested in your research plans.”由于美国博士的 申请，学校以及导师非常希望看到申请人清晰的研究安排，所以一般建议申请博士的 同学主动提交“Research Proposal/Plan”，尤其是希望申请奖学金。 

作为研究计划 Research Proposal/Plan 的范式， Your research proposal should succinctly frame a research question, articulate why it is important, demonstrate an understanding of the relevant literature and gaps in current knowledge, and identify what types of research methods one might apply to address the problem.包含了研究的问题、 为什么(这个问题)重要、展示你了解的相关文献、和你当前知识背景的差距、你打算 采用什么研究方法来解决这个问题。大致是这样的一些内容。 

申请博士，或者奖学金的同学，可以根据自己的情况，选择提交 Research Proposal/Plan 或者不提交。