MS Track
Course Requirements
Year 1: Course requirements for MS track (8 required, 2 recommended seminars)
| Note | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Required | PSYC 210A — Advanced Statistics I | PSYC 210b — Advanced Statistics II |
| Required | PSYC 211B Graduate Research Methods | Advanced 100+ Level Elective |
| Required | Advanced 100+ Level Elective | Advanced 100+ Level Elective |
| Required | PSYC 299A Masters Research Thesis | PSYC 299A Masters Research Thesis |
| Recommended | PSYC 316A — Psychology Research Seminar | PSYC 316A — Psychology Research Seminar |
Year 2: for MS track (if necessary)
| Note | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Required | PSYC 299B Masters Research Thesis | PSYC 299B Masters Research Thesis |
Students in MS track will register PSYC 299A/B with their thesis advisor in each semester, until their thesis is done. During the Spring semester of their first year, in consultation with their thesis advisor, MS track students need to secure a second reader of their thesis.
Residency Requirement
MS students have a two-semester residency requirement. After successfully finishing all required courses (each with B- or above grade) and a Master thesis, students in MS track will get a MS degree.
Although the degree completion is possible in one year for the MS program, MS track students are most likely to finish the degree in one and a half (i.e., three semesters) or two years (i.e., four semesters), because thesis research often requires an additional time commitment (e.g., due to data collection or data availability).
The expectation is that all MS students will complete their coursework during the first year and that they will focus solely on their thesis work in the second year. With the permission of their research advisor and the program chair, MS students can opt to take courses in their second year (with the understanding that additional costs will apply).
In all cases, readmission into the second year is not guaranteed and is based on research and academic performance. Students must pass all their courses with a grade of B- or better and need to be in good standing regarding their research to be allowed to enter a second year in the program. In the case where these requirements are not met, the student may be recommended or asked to switch to MA track.
TA Opportunity
Paid teaching assistant or course assistant opportunities may be available through the department or school, for qualified MA/MS students.
MS Track to MA Track
The faculty will evaluate all students at two graduate student review meetings: one in the Fall semester (December) and one in the Spring (April). MS track students who are not in good standing in their course work and/or research at the time of the Fall review in their first year will receive a letter indicating the concerns and clear guidance on what they need to do to move forward with a thesis. Should concerns not be addressed, the thesis advisor, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, might refuse to continue supervising the thesis. If so, the MS student would be asked to switch to MA track to complete the program without a thesis.
MS students may also take the initiative to apply for a switch from the MS track to the MA track, preferably in consultation with their faculty advisor and/or the Director of Graduate Studies. If so, this intention should be indicated in the semi-annual graduate report and the switch happens before the start of the Spring semester, if possible.
If the switch from MS to MA happens in early Spring, the Psy299A course taken in the first Fall will be counted as one required elective course or the lab rotation course; if the switch happens during or in late Spring, the Psy299A courses taken in the Fall and Spring will be counted as one elective course and one lab rotation course.