PhD Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES

PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS | YEAR ONE

COURSES Statistics:

PSY 221A (fall)

PSY 221 B (winter)

Third stats course*

A B+ average is required of all courses taken for a grade. All courses in the

first year must be taken for a grade. The PhD degree requires a total of three

statistics courses and nine other courses (for a total of twelve courses).

Three 200-level PSY

courses

All courses in the first year must be taken for a grade for a B+ average. Courses

must be a minimum of three units. If there are not enough 200-level PSY courses

to take in the first year, a petition can be submitted to push this requirement to

the second year. PSY 594 classes can also satisfy this requirement, but

documentation must be submitted to the Graduate Office.

TEACHING PSY 590A (fall)

PSY 590B (winter)

PSY 590C (spring)

Participation in a full year of TA training workshops is required, regardless of

teaching assignment in the first year. Students will be evaluated by the TA

Advisory Panel. Before the end of the fifth year, students must complete a

minimum of one quarter as a teaching assistant in PSY 1, 5, 10A, 10B, or an

upper-division lab class.

RESEARCH PSY 596 (fall, winter,

& spring)

Students are expected to begin developing or participating in research

projects and programs. By the end of the fifth week of fall quarter, students

will submit a written PSY 596 proposal to the Graduate Office.

SEMINAR PSY 592 (fall, winter,

& spring)

Students are required to enroll in and attend the PSY 592 seminar series

associated with their research area as defined in the area supplementary

requirements.

FIRST YEAR

PROGRESS

REPORT

This report is an accounting of accomplishments in PSY 596 and may include: a research proposal, a

literature review, or a project write-up. The content of the report should be discussed with the advisor.

The report must be submitted (electronically) to the Graduate Advisor by the last day of instruction of

spring quarter.

*The third statistics course must be taken by the end of the second year. See graduate student manual for a list of acceptable courses. If the course is taken in the first year and is a 200-level course,

it can count toward the three 200-level courses required in the first year. If the course is taken in the second year, it can be counted toward one of the three courses required.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES

PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS | YEAR TWO

COURSES Third stats course (if

not taken in year one)

The third statistics course must be taken by the end of the second year (for a

grade). See graduate student manual for a list of acceptable courses. If the

course is taken in the second year, it can be counted toward one of the three

courses required. The PhD degree requires a total of three statistics courses

and nine other courses (for a total of twelve courses).

Three graduate or

upper-division

undergraduate

courses, from any

department

Classes can be taken S/U.

RESEARCH PSY 596 (fall, winter,

& spring)

Students are expected to begin developing or participating in research

projects and programs. By the end of the fifth week of fall quarter, students

will submit a written PSY 596 proposal to the Graduate Office.

SEMINAR PSY 592 (fall, winter,

& spring)

Students are required to enroll in and attend the PSY 592 seminar series

associated with their research area as defined in the area supplementary

requirements.

SECOND

YEAR PAPER

The second year paper consists of the results of empirical research in the form of a journal article. The

paper is prepared according to APA style and content requirements. Paper is read by student’s advisor

and another representative faculty reader. The paper is due on the last day of winter quarter. Students

should discuss with their advisor all aspects of the research to be reported in the paper.

MINICON All second year students must present their research orally at the annual Department Mini Convention.

DOCTORAL

COMMITTEE

FORMATION

In spring quarter, consult with your advisor regarding the formation of your doctoral committee and the

date by which it needs to be formed. The Doctoral Committee consists of four or more members. The

students advisor is the committee chair. Three members must be full-time PBS faculty members, and two

must be from the student’s area.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES

PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS | YEAR THREE

COURSES Four graduate or

upper-division

undergraduate

classes (from any

department)

Classes can be taken S/U. The PhD degree requires a total of three statistics

courses and nine other courses (for a total of twelve courses).

RESEARCH PSY 596 (fall, winter,

& spring)

Students are expected to continue developing or participating in research

projects and programs.

SEMINAR PSY 592 (fall, winter,

& spring)

Students are required to enroll in and attend the PSY 592 seminar series

associated with their research area as defined in the area supplementary

requirements.

WRITTEN

EXAM

The written exam demonstrates that a student has mastered the literature of his or her general area. The

format and content of the exam is defined in the area supplementary documents. Students will be

evaluated and receive one of the following outcomes:

a. Pass

b. Decision deferred until contingencies satisfied

ORAL EXAM Within two weeks of passing the written exam, students must set the date of the oral exam and notify

the Graduate Advisor of the date, time, and place of the exam. The oral exam must be completed by the

end of fall quarter. The oral exam demonstrates that the student has both the knowledge and the skills

necessary to proceed with independent research at the doctoral level. The exam may cover material

relevant to the student’s general area and to the relations between this area and broader psychological

issues. Students will be evaluated and receive one of the following outcomes:

a. Pass

b. Decision deferred until contingencies satisfied

c. Fail (with the relevant faculty’s recommendation in regards to the status of the program)

ADVANCE TO

CANDIDACY

In spring quarter, the student will obtain the completed Form II from the Graduate Office, pay the

advancement to candidacy fee to the Cashier’s office, and present the receipt and form to Graduate

Division.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES

PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS | YEAR FOUR

COURSES Four additional

graduate or

upper-division

undergraduate

classes (from any

department).*

Classes can be taken S/U. Must be taken by the end of the fifth year.

The PhD degree requires a total of three statistics courses and nine other

courses (for a total of twelve courses).

RESEARCH PSY 599 (fall,

winter, & spring)

Students are expected to continue developing or participating in research

projects and programs.

SEMINAR PSY 592 (fall,

winter, & spring)

Students are required to enroll in and attend the PSY 592 seminar series

associated with their research area as defined in the area supplementary

requirements.

DISSERTATION

PROPOSAL

AND MEETING

The Dissertation Proposal includes a scholarly review of the relevant literature and a description of the

proposed program of research, including methods and analyses where appropriate. Students must

submit a draft of their dissertation proposal to the Graduate Advisor by the last day of fall quarter. The

proposal will be forwarded to the proposal to members student’s doctoral committee. Students must

then meet with their committee to discuss the proposal during winter quarter. The subsequent plan

for the doctoral research (as presented and modified, if necessary at the proposal meeting) is subject

to approval of the student’s committee. The approved and final version of the dissertation proposal

must be submitted to the Graduate Advisor before the end of instruction of winter quarter.

*If not already completed in year three.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL & BRAIN SCIENCES

PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS | YEAR FIVE

COURSES Four additional

graduate or upper-

division

undergraduate

classes (from any

department)*

Classes can be taken S/U. Must be taken by the end of the fifth year.

The PhD degree requires a total of three statistics courses and nine other

courses (for a total of twelve courses).

RESEARCH PSY 599 (fall,

winter, & spring)

Students are expected to continue developing or participating in research

projects and programs.

SEMINAR PSY 592 (fall,

winter, & spring)

Students are required to enroll in and attend the PSY 592 seminar series

associated with their research area as defined in the area supplementary

requirements.

DISSERTATION

LECTURE

Students are required to present a lecture on their dissertation research to students and faculty in their

area and other interested parties by the end of Year 5/6. You must advertise the lecture to the

department by sending an email to business@psych.

DISSERTATION

ORAL EXAM &

FILING

The purpose of the Dissertation Oral Examination is to demonstrate that the student can explain and

defend his or her doctoral dissertation and demonstrate readiness for independent research. This exam

may not be scheduled until the Graduate Advisor has certified that all other requirements for the

degree have been fulfilled. After the students has passed the oral exam and made any final changes to

the dissertation document (approved by chair of committee), he/she will obtain signatures from entire

committee. After Form III is signed, students must file an electronic copy of the dissertation and

original signature page with Graduate Division. Students then file the Form III with Graduate Division.

DEPARTMENT

CHECKOUT

Students must complete department checkout. See the Graduate Advisor for more information.

*If not already completed in years three and four.