MPSYCH - Psychology (MS)

Graduate students will complete a first-year research project that is designed in consultation with their major adviser. This research endeavor is intended to reflect the importance of establishing a productive research component of an individual’s graduate program. Early in the second year, students will present their first-year project to the department in a format similar to a national meeting of a scientific society.

Students are expected to complete a Master’s thesis as part of their degree requirements in preparation for their doctorate work. Ideally, the Master’s thesis should be completed by the end of the third year. Students will complete a Master’s thesis prior to taking a preliminary examination and being advanced to candidacy in the doctoral program. Under limited circumstances a student may complete a non-thesis report instead of a thesis by taking 2 credits of 899 and 4 credits of approved coursework in lieu of the 6 credits of 899. The report must meet department requirements and describe research conducted by the student; the final report must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee. This option is available only by means of petition of the department’s Graduate Program Committee and is intended to only be used for students who cannot complete the thesis due to extenuating circumstances and who will not be continuing to the Ph. D.