Expectations of an Enrolled Student

Successful applicants are notified in writing of their offer of admission to the department as well as to a specialty area of Psychology by April 15. At this time, students will be assigned a faculty advisor. Students should plan to meet with their advisor at registration and periodically thereafter, as necessary. It is not until this time that applications will be reviewed for possible credit transfer and/or thesis acceptance.

The department offers training in the following primary specialty areas: Clinical Psychology, Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and School Psychology. By mutual agreement between the student, the major professor, and the department, it is also possible to arrange study in a subspecialty area not readily subsumed under the five major ones listed. In the unusual case that you desire specialty training in an area other than the one to which your original application was made, you must submit all credentials for consideration in competition with all new applicants to that graduate program. Please note that transfers from any other area into the clinical area are actively discouraged and highly unlikely to occur.

All students, regardless of specialty area, receive education with coursework in general areas of Psychology. Students must demonstrate proficiency in the core areas of Psychology, including courses on research methodology and statistics. All courses must be completed with a grade of B- or better. Alternatively, if students have had a similar graduate level course at a different institution, they may apply for a course waiver. Please see specialty area handbook for information on how to apply for a course waiver.

A required course must be retaken if a “C+” or below is earned. One and only one required course may be retaken to remain in the program. A grade of “C+” or below on more than one course will result in dismissal from the program.

Seminar and practicum classes provide you with experience that will strengthen both specialty area and research skills. Students may wish to expand their educational background by completing work in a related minor field. At some point, students normally gain teaching or research experience as a teaching assistant or laboratory assistant. In addition, students must complete a master's-level thesis before beginning work on a doctoral dissertation. Some areas have additional requirements, which are specified in each area’s handbook.

It is the student’s responsibility, in consultation with their major professor, to make certain all requirements of the area, department, and the Graduate School are fulfilled. The graduate coordinator in charge of graduate student records maintains a file for each graduate student.