Requirements for the Master of Science Degree

1. 30 graduate credits, 6 of which must be research credits

2. Completion of Master’s thesis

Time Limits for the Master's Degree

1. Normal Minimum - 1 year

2. Normal Maximum - 3 years; permission for additional time must be requested from the Graduate School via the Vice Chair for Graduate Studies.

3. The policy regarding extensions beyond the three year time limit for the Master's Thesis: A six month extension will be granted if the rationale stated on the written request is acceptable. No meeting is required with the student. This six-month extension will be the only one given. If the Master's Thesis is not completed at the end of this period, the student will be recommended for termination.

The Master’s Thesis

1. The thesis is expected to be an empirical study of sufficient scope that the student demonstrates mastery of all phases of design, analysis, interpretation, and writing of original research.

2. A formal proposal for the thesis research must be presented to and approved by the student’s committee. Although some research mentors require a proposal meeting, a formal meeting of the thesis committee is not required for approval of the proposal, but all members of the committee must review and approve a written proposal.

3. All research that involves human subjects must be submitted to and approved by the Rutgers Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to the collection or analysis of any data. Even projects that use existing data must be submitted to the IRB for prior approval. Requirements, deadlines, and all forms are available at the website. All students must complete the Human Subjects Certification Program (HSCP) and successfully pass the HSCP exam before their research proposal will be approved by the IRB. Students are encouraged to take the on-line course during their first semester. Instructions to access the on-line course and exam are: (a) Open your browser to https://webct.rutgers.edu; (b) Click on "Log on to myWebCT". Security Alert screen(s) may pop up; to each question, select "yes" or "ok"; (c) You will be at the "Logon to WebCT" page. Follow all directions from there.

4. Timing of the thesis:

   1. Students should begin planning for their thesis research during the first year of graduate study. An ideal time to complete the proposal is during the summer between the first and second year.

   2. Students are strongly encouraged to complete their thesis research during the second year of graduate study.

5. Procedures and Regulations governing the Master’s Thesis

   1. Application for Admission to Candidacy

   1. Be sure that the original final transcript from your undergraduate school is on file in the Psychology Department, Room 207, Busch Campus by the end of your first semester.

   2. Complete the face page of the Application for Admission to Candidacy form after at least two semesters of graduate work, but in any case no later than the third semester, whether or not a thesis committee has been formed. This form is available in Room 207, Psychology Building, Busch Campus.

   3. Return the form with the face page completed to the Graduate Administrator of the Psychology Department for signature of the Chair for Graduate Studies in Psychology.

   4. The signed form will be filed with the Graduate School, 25 Bishop Place, College Avenue Campus.

   2. Master's Committee:

      1. The Committee normally consists of a Chairperson and two members. They must all be either members or associate members of the Graduate Faculty. Students may nominate one additional member of the thesis committee who is not a member of the Graduate Faculty of Psychology. In this case, however, there must still be three members of the Graduate Faculty on the committee, bringing the total number of members to four. The student must submit a current vita of that person and a brief statement on the reason this person would be useful on the Committee. All outside Committee members must satisfy the criteria for associate membership on our Graduate Faculty. If less than two members of the committee are Psychology Department faculty, the chair must write a memo explaining why departmental faculty are not appropriate, and why selected committee members are appropriate.

      2. Complete the Master's Thesis Committee form. This form can be obtained from Room 207, Psychology Building, Busch Campus. The completion of the form includes obtaining the concurrence and signature (to indicate that concurrence) of the Clinical Area Coordinator. You will be notified of the approval of your Committee by the Graduate Director. The form is then filed in the office of the Vice Chair for Graduate Studies.

   3. Final Examination for M.S. Degree

      1. The clinical area does not require an oral defense of the thesis, although some research mentors will require such a defense. All members of the thesis committee must be given a written copy of the thesis for review and approval. Committee members must be given sufficient time to review the thesis (ideally, two weeks), and the student should anticipate feedback and recommendations for revisions from committee members. All Committee members must approve the thesis.

      2. Obtain your Application for Admission to Candidacy Form (previously filed with them) from the Graduate School and submit to the Chairperson of your Committee. (Be sure that you have completed at least 24 course credits and 6 research credits required for the Master's Degree.)

      3. The Chairperson will record the results of the final examination on this form signing Part II - A and C, or B. The “final examination” is the final decision of the Master’s Committee to accept or reject the thesis. Final acceptance or rejection of the thesis may be based solely on an evaluation of the written thesis, or an evaluation of both the written thesis and an oral defense of the thesis. It is then your responsibility to have it signed by the other members of your Committee.

      4. The Thesis title, Part II-C, must also be filled in. Return to the Graduate Administrator of the Psychology Department for processing prior to obtaining the Graduate Director's signature. Completed forms must be filed with the Graduate School no later than three weeks before Commencement (no later than announced deadlines for October and January).

   4. One copy of the Master's thesis is required by the Graduate School. A booklet entitled "Style Guide for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation" may be obtained from Room 207, Psychology Building, Busch Campus. You are required to submit an abstract not exceeding 350 words.

   5. If you want a diploma, file the yellow diploma application form with the Registrar's Office (see deadline dates). This form may be obtained from the Registrar's Office, The Graduate School Office, or the Psychology Department Office.

6. Deadline Dates (Listed in Bulletin of the Graduate School):

1. The exact deadline date changes by a day or so each semester so students should double check with the Graduate Administrator for exact dates.

Qualifying Examination

1. The candidate meets with their Qualifying Committee Chairperson. The Chair­person of this four-person committee must be a full member of the Graduate Faculty in Psychology. The remaining three persons may be either members or associate members of the Graduate Faculty. There are provisions for ap­pointing members to this Committee from outside the Psychology Graduate Faculty, where this would reflect the interdisciplinary character of the student’s program. It is the responsibility of the student, in collaboration with the Committee Chairperson, to select the three additional members of this Committee. It is possible for the same person to chair both the student's Dissertation Commit­tee and Qualifying Examination Committee, but the committee should not overlap substantially with either the Master’s Thesis or anticipated Dissertation committee.

2. The student then meets with the chairperson of this Committee to generate 10 topic areas. The Chairperson will consult with the other three Committee members as indicated. Together, the student and Committee Chairperson will select eight topics for further thinking and formalize exact questions. The student may then show the Area Coordinator these eight questions for a final check. The student should then distribute questions to the other Qualifying Examination Committee members for their suggestions and approval. Suggested changes, if any, will be referred back to the Committee Chairperson.

3. Conceptual formulations are primary to the qualifying examinations topics, although clinical applications of these formulations are usually germane. Some overlap between thesis and dissertation topics and the qualifying examination topics is acceptable, but exact duplication is to be avoided. It is advisable to avoid topics that are either too narrow or too broad, on the one hand, or so under investigated that no literature is available, on the other. It is recognized that these topics may require modification as preparation for Qualifying Examination proceeds. In this event, the student will check and confirm with the Chairperson of his or her Committee.

4. After obtaining approval of the eight questions from all members of the committee, the student is expected to prepare a Reference List for all eight topics. The primary purpose of this list is to demons­trate broad mastery of the essential elements involved in a scholarly review of each topic. The student is not expected to produce an exhaustive, all-encompassing bibliography. In fact, the choices are, in themselves, a reflection of the student's knowledge and professional acumen. In preparing the list the student may and should consult with the Committee Chairperson and other Committee members. This list should be in the hands of all Committee members at least five weeks prior to the date of the examination. This will give the Committee members time to suggest additions or other changes and the student time to react accordingly. The student should contact each Committee member for approval of the reading lists.

5. It is the student's responsibility to arrange a mutually convenient date and time for the Qualifying Examination. Committee members should explicitly be advised that at least two hours of their time will be required.

6. Exactly two weeks prior to the date of the oral qualifying examination, the student contacts the Qualifying Committee chairperson to determine which two of the eight topics are to be prepared in essay form. It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to give considerable thought to this choice beforehand, discussing the matter with his or her colleagues in the process.

7. Exactly one week prior to the date of the oral examination, the student presents copies of his or her two essays to all Committee members. These essays, double-spaced and referenced in APA style, should be highly readable, scholarly productions that reflect mastery of the subject, awareness of lacunae and unresolved issues, and organizational ability. While the optimum length is a matter for the student to decide, it is expected that no paper will be less than 20 pages, excluding references, and it is hoped that none will be much greater than 30. (These specifications are guidelines rather than mandatory).

8. At the oral qualifying examination, the student should be prepared to discuss and expand upon either or both of these papers, any of the other six subject areas or anything within the domain of clinical psychology that is broadly relevant to the eight topics. The student, of course, is not expected to be knowledgeable about everything that he or she is asked. The student should bring to the Qualifying Examination venue a copy of all necessary forms for signing by the Committee members. The Qualifying Committee makes a pass/fail decision at the end of the examination. If there is an unsatis­factory performance, the Committee can either recommend termina­tion or re-examination. In either case, the entire Clinical faculty reviews the recommendation and makes the final decision.

9. Procedural aspects of the qualifying examination

   1. Complete the Qualifying Examination Committee form. A copy of this form is attached or may be obtained in Room 207, Psychology Department, Busch Campus. Completion of the form includes obtaining the concurrence and signature (to indicate the concurrence) of the Program chair. You will be notified of the approval of your Committee by the Graduate Director. The form is then filed in the Office of the Vice Chair for Graduate Studies.

   2. Time limits for passing the Qualifying Examination are no later than six years after a student registers in Graduate School and at least two semesters before the final oral examination for the Ph.D. degree.

   3. Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Ph.D. Degree

      1. Obtain the Admission to Candidacy form in Room 207, Psychology Department, Busch Campus.

      2. Complete the face page and submit to the Chairperson of your Committee after taking the Qualifying Examination. The Chairperson of your Committee will record the results by signing A or B on page 2. It is then your responsibility to have it signed by the other members of your Committee.

      3. Return to the Graduate Administrator of the Psychology Department for processing prior to obtaining the Graduate Director's signature. The signed form must be sent to the Graduate School Office or you will not be admitted to Candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

      4. You must remain in registration until you receive your Ph.D. If you don't, you will be dropped from the Program.

10. The qualifying examination must be completed and passed before any Ph.D. dissertation credits are taken. This means that no student may formally commence work on his or her doctoral dissertation until this portion of the qualifying examination has been completed successfully.

11. The Qualifying Examination must be completed at least 2 terms before completing the doctoral degree. The Ph.D. may be obtained a minimum of two and a maximum of 4 years after the Master’s degree. The student must remain in continuous registration with the University, although the student may register for Matriculation Continued in any semester that the student is not working on the dissertation.

Postscript

The Qualifying Examination is best viewed as an opportunity for the student to "show off" what has been learned over the years and for the faculty to take pride in the accomplishments of their progress. It is not deliberately intended to be an anxiety provoking or threatening ordeal.