The following are the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Psychology for students who leave the Ph.D. program or for continuing students who have successfully completed the requirements of the first two years of the Ph.D. program, complete an acceptable Master’s thesis and request the M.A. Degree.

Work toward the M.A. is optional for applicants admitted to the Ph.D. program. Students who continue in the Ph.D. program must satisfy all of the above requirements at the Ph.D. level of performance.

First Year Program

The following requirements must be completed by the end of the First Year

First Year Evaluation

At the end of the first year, the Graduate Affairs Committee will review the performance of first year students. Based on the above criteria, one of the following evaluations will be made:(1) continuance toward M.A.. without contingency (all criteria met satisfactorily), or (2) dismissal from the M.A. (at least one criterion below level required for M.A. degree). During the summer of the first year, students will receive a letter from the Department indicating their standing based on this first year evaluation.

(A): See AREA SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS for specific classes offered and required. Choice and schedule of classes should be discussed with advisor. Note that these courses can be used to fulfill Second Year Breadth Requirement (see G in Second Year Program).

(B): Students are expected to begin developing or participating in research projects and programs. Terminal M.A. students may enroll in either Psychology 595 or 596. Ph.D. students must enroll in Psychology 596. Psychology 595 or 596 activities are agreed upon in consultation with the student's advisor. By the fifth week of fall quarter, a written 595 or 596 Proposal must be submitted to the Graduate Office.

(C): Students are required to enroll in and attend the Psy 592 seminar series in their area as defined in the AREA SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS in Cognitive and Perceptual Sciences, Developmental and Evolutionary Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, and Social Psychology.

(D): This report is an accounting of accomplishments in 12 units of either Psychology 595 or 596 and may include: (1) a research proposal, (2) a literature review, or (3) a project write-up. The content of the report should be discussed with the student's advisor. Two copies of the First Year Progress Report must be submitted to the Graduate Office by the last day of instruction of spring quarter. Before the date spring quarter grade reports are due, the advisor's written evaluation of the student's research performance, including the First Year Progress Report, will be provided to the Graduate Assistant and to the student.

Second

The following requirements must be completed by the end of the Second Year

(A): Choice and schedule of classes should be discussed with advisor. Note that these courses can be used to fulfill Second Year Breadth Requirements (See G in Second Year Program).

(B): Students are expected to continue conducting or preparing research toward their Master's Thesis each quarter of their second year under the direction of their advisor.

(C): Students are required to enroll in and attend the Psy 592 seminar series in their area as defined in the AREA SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS in Cognitive and Peceptual Sciences, Developmental and Evolutionary Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, and Social Psychology.

(D): Students must form a Thesis Committee by filing the completed Master's Form I (Nomination of Thesis Committee for Master's Degree Candidates) with the Graduate Division. The Thesis Committee consists of a minimum of three members, including the student's advisor who serves as chair of the committee. A minimum of three members must be full-time Department of Psychology faculty members of the UCSB Academic Senate, at least two of whom must be in the student's area. The Thesis Committee must be approved by the student's advisor, the Graduate Affairs Committee, the Department Chair, and the Graduate Division. This form must be filed by the end of the first week of Fall quarter.

(E): By the fifth week of Fall quarter, students must submit and obtain approval of the written Thesis Proposal from each member of their Thesis Committee. The approved version of the proposal must be submitted to the Graduate Assistant by the end of the fifth week of Fall quarter.

(F): Students must submit three copies of their Master's Thesis to the Graduate Office by the last day of Winter quarter. The Master's Thesis reports either the results of empirical research or a literature review in the form of a journal article. The thesis should be prepared according to the Guide to Filing Theses and Dissertations at UCSB: A Handbook for Graduate Students (available from the UCSB Graduate Division). Students should discuss with their advisor all aspects of the research to be reported in the thesis. However, the thesis is to be written by the student alone. The Master's Thesis will be read by the Thesis Committee to determine if it meets the minimum standard for the M.A.. Written comments from committee members will be provided to the Graduate Affairs Committee and to the student. Should revision be required, the Graduate Affairs Committee will decide (in consultation with the advisor) when a revised version must be submitted to meet program requirements.

When approved by all committee members, students are responsible for complying with the Graduate Division requirement of filing two copies of the Master's Thesis with the Graduate Division and one with the Psychology Graduate Program Assistant by the last day of Spring quarter.

(G): By the end of the second year, as part of either the first of second year "Content" requirements, students must have completed one course outside of their area or the Department, and one course outside their area but within the Department, only one of which may be a course in statistics. Psychology 221C, 221D, 260 , 262 and 264 are considered outside all areas.

(H): All MA students are required to present their research orally at the annual Psychology Department Mini-Convention.

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