DOCTORAL STUDENT HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 DOCTORAL STUDENT HANDBOOK

2 Department of Educational Psychology Staff SZB (512) Dr. Cindy Carlson, Department Chair Dr. Chris McCarthy, Graduate Adviser Cates, Kim - Crim, Jena - Landes, Nicole - Larick, Pam - Administrative Assistant Office: SZB 504 Phone: (512) kcates@austin.utexas.edu See Kim for Educational Psychology Department Administrative Matters: Registration, Add/Drops, Purchasing, Travel, Rooms, IRB Process Executive Assistant Office: SZB 504F Phone: (512) jcrim@austin.utexas.edu See Jena for Budget, Personnel; Student Travel Awards; TAs Administrative Associate Office: SZB 262A Phone: (512) nlandes@austin.utexas.edu See Nicole for Counseling & School Psychology Program Administration: Purchasing, Travel, TARA Rooms Admissions Counselor II Office: SZB 504D Phone: (512) plarick@austin.utexas.edu See Pam for admission applications questions Stockwell, Virginia - Graduate Program Coordinator II Office: SZB 504C Phone: (512) vstockwell@austin.utexas.edu See Virginia for Doctoral and Master's Student Matters: Academic progress, Registration, Fellowships, Petitions, Travel Awards, Qualifying Process, Final Orals, Graduation

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 2 INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION... 3 Structure of the Graduate School... 3 Structure of the Department of Educational Psychology... 4 ADVISING AND REGISTRATION... 6 Late Registration... 6 Dropping and Adding Courses... 7 Continuous Registration... 7 Full-Time Course Load... 8 Maximum Course Load... 8 Leave of Absence... 8 Timely Completion of Degree (129) Hour Rule... 9 Federal Financial Aid... 9 Academic Warning, Dismissal, and Termination Grades/Symbols DOCTORAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Overview Core Area Courses Options for Completing Core Area Requirements Option 1: Completion of Core Area Courses Option 2: Primary Core Area Course Waiver Option 3: Primary Core Area Course Waiver Exams Course Waivers: Area of Specialization and Supporting Work Requirements Qualifying for Candidacy Required Coursework Qualifying Process Qualifying Process Submission Schedule Written Examination Oral Examination Effects of Area Probation on Qualifying Process Evaluation for Advancement to Candidacy Rubrics for Evaluating the Qualifying Document and Exams Qualifying Process Ratings Reports Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Application for Doctoral Candidacy Course Registration... 27

4 Dissertation Process Dissertation Proposal and Proposal Meeting Use of Human Subjects and the Institutional Review Board Departmental Subject Pool Dissertation Types Final Oral and Graduation Administrative Matters Final Oral Meeting COMPLETING A MASTER S DEGREE EN ROUTE TO THE PHD FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Continuing Fellowships Departmental and College of Education Scholarships and Fellowships Criteria for Awards Nonresident Tuition Waivers for Fellowship Recipients Professional Development Awards Additional Information for All Fellowship Recipients Employment as a Teaching Assistant, Assistant Instructor, Research Assistant Appointment Process Establishing Texas Residency STUDENT PROTECTIONS Student Grievance Procedure for Academic Complaints Petitions University Policies Protecting Students Student Grievance Procedure for Non-academic Complaints Student Employee Grievances Office of the Ombudsperson Disabilities STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Contact Information Scholastic Dishonesty Ethical Behavior STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES Research with Faculty Guidelines for Authorship Graduate Student Instructor Program Interdisciplinary Study - Doctoral Portfolio Programs... 46

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES The Learning Technology Center (LTC) Computer Services Wireless Computer Network The Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) Reserve Materials Copying/Duplicating Services Library Searches Graduate Student Writing Service Parking Information UT Shuttle Buses and Rail Department of Statistics and Data Services Intellectual Entrepreneurship (IE) Office of the Dean of Students JOINING PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS American Psychological Association Texas Psychological Association American Educational Research Association American Counseling Association Appendix A Quantitative Methods Flowchart Appendix B Area and Program Information for the Qualifying Process Appendix C En-Route Master s Specialization Requirements Appendix D Sample Forms for your Final Oral... 62

6 1 GENERAL RESOURCE WEBSITES You are responsible for information in this handbook and the following resources! Educational Psychology UT General Information Bulletin Graduate Catalog Registrar s Office Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) OGS Forms and Instructions Graduate Academic Policies edpsych.edb.utexas.edu catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/ catalog.utexas.edu/graduate registrar.utexas.edu utexas.edu/ogs utexas.edu/ogs/pdn utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/academic_policies Other helpful resources (just to get you started!) (repository of answers to frequently-asked questions about University-wide systems and processes ITO Help/Information (College of Education Information Technology Office) ITS Help Desk (University Information Technology Services) Department of Statistics and Data Sciences APA Style Manual utexas.edu/its/rc apastyle.org Student Employment Information UT Search & UT Directory

7 2 INTRODUCTION This handbook has been prepared by the Graduate Adviser and staff of the Department of Educational Psychology to help Educational Psychology doctoral students progress through their degree programs as smoothly as possible. Students should always reference the latest version of the Doctoral Student Handbook online at as most procedural changes will affect students regardless of cohort year. Although this handbook is an excellent resource, it does not include complete information about area of specialization requirements. Your faculty adviser and Area Chair/Program Director will be able to assist you with requirements not covered in this handbook (requirements are also on each area s webpage and/or in specific handbooks). This handbook also does not contain complete information covered by General Information and The Graduate Catalog. These are available at utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs and are important resources. In addition, the Graduate School website contains many rules graduate students must follow, and so becoming familiar with that site is important: Students are responsible for understanding the rules and policies that govern their academic degrees. This handbook will assist in that process. You are advised to use all resources available to you and to plan well in advance to meet necessary deadlines. If you cannot find the answer to your question in available resources, the Graduate Coordinator and Graduate Adviser are available to assist you.

8 3 INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION The Department of Educational Psychology (Department) is situated administratively within the College of Education. As a graduate student, however, you were admitted to both the Department and to the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin, because all graduate degrees are the responsibility of the Graduate School. Thus, you are enrolled in the Graduate School, and your field of study within the Graduate School is Educational Psychology (when you receive your diploma, it will be for a Doctor of Philosophy degree your field of study (Educational Psychology) and area of specialization (Area/Program) are on record in our office and at the Graduate School, but will not appear on your diploma). Structure of the Graduate School The Graduate School is composed of the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS), which includes the Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies and her staff, and about 100 Graduate Studies Committees. The Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Assembly are responsible for overall policy and for the quality of graduate work. Each department or field of study offering a graduate degree has a Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) that is composed of all active assistant, associate, and full professors (tenured and tenure-track faculty). The GSC sets policy and supervises the Department's graduate programs. It has an elected Chair of the GSC. Each department on campus has a Chair who oversees the functioning of the department. Each department offering graduate work also has a Graduate Adviser (who serves as the administrative link between the Office of Graduate Studies and the departments, programs, or schools), as well as a Graduate Coordinator (a staff member who assists the Graduate Adviser). The Graduate Adviser is nominated by the Department Chair and approved by the academic dean or deans involved in the program. In the Department of Educational Psychology, Dr. Cindy Carlson is the Department Chair, Dr. Christopher McCarthy is the Graduate Adviser, Dr. Toni Falbo is the GSC Chair, and Virginia Stockwell is the Graduate Coordinator. In addition to your Graduate Coordinator and Graduate Adviser, the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) is the central source of information for graduate students. OGS is the office that administers Graduate School matters and provides processes and guidelines for all stages of graduate study. OGS is located in the Main Building (Tower), Room 101. The legislative body of the Graduate School is the Graduate Assembly, a group of approximately 30 faculty members who are members of Graduate Studies Committees. Representatives are elected from among three groups of related academic disciplines. Six graduate students from degree programs across the Graduate School also serve as representatives on the Assembly (elected from members of the Graduate Student Assembly). Students from Educational Psychology sometimes serve in this capacity.

9 4 Structure of the Department of Educational Psychology The structure of the Department is depicted on the general organizational chart (Figure 1). Although mostly self-explanatory, a brief explanation of several components follows. The Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). The GSC includes all tenured and tenure-track teaching faculty in the Department. The GSC establishes degree requirements and policies for department requirements, student evaluations, advancement to candidacy, periodic student reviews, and other graduate student matters. It elects a Chair and a Vice-Chair. Student Representatives. Student representatives volunteer to attend some GSC meetings for discussions related to departmental policy and requirements, to serve on Standing Committees, and to provide assistance for departmental functions. (All GSC discussion of specific student matters is confidential, and student representatives are not present at student evaluation or review meetings.) GSC Executive Committee (GSC EC). The purpose of this group is to make decisions on student matters in an expeditious manner. The GSC EC decides on student petitions related to, for example, a leave of absence, waiver of department requirements, etc. The GSC EC is composed of the GSC Chair and Vice-Chair, who are elected by the GSC every two years, and the Department Chair and Graduate Adviser, who serve as ex officio members.

10 ACADEMIC & ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY DOCTORAL AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION 5 COLLEGE of EDUCATION Manuel J. Justiz, Dean OFFICE of GRADUATE STUDIES Judith H. Longlois Senior Vice Provost and Dean DEPARTMENT of EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Cindy Carlson, Chair Jena Crim, Executive Assistant Nicole Landes, Administrative Associate Pam Larick, Admissions Counselor Kimberly Cates, Administrative Assistant GRADUATE PROGRAM in EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Christopher McCarthy, Graduate Adviser Virginia Stockwell, Graduate Coordinator GRADUATE STUDIES COMMITTEE (GSC) All tenure/tenure track faculty in Educational Psychology GSC Executive Committee Toni Falbo, Chair Tiffany Whittaker, Vice-Chair Cindy Carlson, Department Chair Christopher McCarthy, Graduate Adviser DOCTORAL AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, CULTURE, & LEARNING SCIENCES Diane Schallert, Chair QUANTITATIVE METHODS Tiffany Whittaker, Chair SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY Timothy Keith, Program Director COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY Aaron Rochlen, Program Director Germine Awad Keisha Bentley-Edwards Andrew Butler Stephanie Cawthon Toni Falbo Kristin Neff Erika Patall Marie-Anne Suizzo Richard Valencia Tasha Beretvas Jodi Casabianca Gary Borich Barbara Dodd Edmund Emmer Keenan Pituch James Pustejovsky Greg Allen Sarah Kate Bearman Cindy Carlson Erin Rodriguez Kevin Stark Deborah Tharinger Ricardo Ainslie Kevin Cokley David Drum Christopher McCarthy Stephanie Rude Delida Sanchez Alissa Sherry

11 6 ADVISING AND REGISTRATION You will register for each semester and summer session through the Registrar s Online Services (ROSE) at utexas.edu/student/registrar/registration. In order to register, you must first be advised by your faculty adviser, whose signature will go on an advising card. Being cleared for registration involves removal of the advising bar and course bars. It is highly advisable to go immediately from advising to get cleared for registration, because courses sometimes fill up and our own EDP students who delay getting cleared for registration cannot get the courses they need. You should also register as soon as possible to ensure your course is not cancelled due to low enrollment. Late registration can also affect your instructor s ability to obtain a TA for the course, because eligibility is based on the number of students registered for a course by a particular deadline. Late Registration Late registration is a serious matter. Because there are increasing budgetary issues, and because UT receives no funding and supervising faculty receive no credit for students who register after the 12th class day, students pay increasingly higher late registration fees, and the amount of paperwork (and legwork) needed to register late escalates quickly. The Dean of the Graduate School will not grant petitions for waivers of late registration fees. If you register late (or forget to pay for your classes on time and, therefore, have to register late), you must the Graduate Coordinator the circumstances that led to your late registration. These circumstances will be reviewed by the Graduate Adviser and, if there is still space available in the courses you need, and if he decides to petition the Dean to allow you to register late, you must complete the late registration form (utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/pdf/pet_late_registration.pdf); obtain the signature of the instructor(s); obtain the Graduate Adviser s signature, along with the accompanying petition; walk those to the Dean s Office in the Main Building (Tower), and plan to spend some time in three different Main Building offices and to pay the tuition, fees, and late fees the same day.

12 7 Dropping and Adding Courses Students may drop or add courses (approved by their faculty advisers and cleared by Department staff) through ROSE during the first four class days of a long semester and the first two class days of summer sessions. During the fifth through twelfth class days of the long semesters, and the third and fourth day of summer sessions, SZB 504 registration staff can make adds and drops for students who have their faculty advisers approval for the changes. After these periods, students are permitted to add classes only under exceptional circumstances. If you add a class late, you must the Graduate Coordinator the circumstances that led to your late course addition. These circumstances will be reviewed by the Graduate Adviser and, if there is still space available in the courses you need, and if he decides to petition the Dean to allow you to add the course late, you will need to complete an add/drop form; obtain the signature the instructor; obtain the Graduate Adviser s signature, along with the accompanying petition; and walk those to the Dean s Office in the Main Building, and plan to spend some time in Main Building offices to get approval for the late add and to pay the tuition and fees. Graduate students may drop a class through the last class day of a semester, and the instructor will assign a symbol of Q (Quit) or F (Fail). The form you will need to drop a class can be obtained from Graduate Coordinator. Because the form requires the signatures of both the instructor and the Graduate Adviser, it is best to decide to drop a course before the last week of classes. If you wait until the last week of class, you will need to walk the paperwork to OGS yourself in order to ensure timely recording of the change. Check your registration carefully! Please verify through ROSE, and with the instructor on the first day of class, that you are, in fact, registered for the courses you intend to take. Several students have received an F or NC (no credit) grade at the end of a semester after diligently attending class and completing assignments, but for the wrong class! This typically happens for courses with the same EDP course number, but different unique numbers, or for courses with the same names but different EDP course numbers. An F or NC grade cannot be changed except with approval of the Graduate Dean. The Graduate Dean does not take kindly to petitions of this nature from the Graduate Adviser, as graduate students are expected to be responsible and intelligent enough to ascertain they are in the correct class! Please, therefore, take the time each semester to be certain you register for the correct courses. Continuous Registration All students are expected to register and pay tuition and fees by the appropriate deadlines of the fall and spring semesters of each academic year until graduation (this continuous registration rule does not apply to summer sessions). After doctoral students are admitted to candidacy, registration for dissertation hours is required each long semester until completion of the final oral defense meeting and graduation, whether or not the student is actually making any progress on the dissertation. A special exception exists only for Counseling Psychology and School Psychology students who successfully defend prior to the fall semester in which their internship begins (see page 27).

13 8 Full-Time Course Load Doctoral programs in Educational Psychology require full-time student status (at least nine hours) until the student has been approved for doctoral candidacy. Full-time status is also necessary to receive most University fellowships, reside in University housing, and be employed for an academic appointment (Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Assistant Instructor, etc.). Full-time student status is also required for visa permits for international students (until they reach candidacy), and is frequently required for student loans or deferment of existing loans (check the Office of Student Financial Services or your lender). Full-time registration in the summer, for the purposes of having an academic appointment (TA, RA, AI, etc.) is three hours (either summer session). Until the doctoral student enters candidacy, approval to take a reduced load (less than nine hours) requires a petition to the GSC Executive Committee (GSC EC) via the Graduate Adviser. Contact the Graduate Coordinator for complete instructions. Maximum Course Load The maximum course load for a graduate student in the long semester is 15 hours and 12 hours across the twelve weeks of summer sessions. A heavier course load must have the recommendation of the Graduate Adviser and approval of the Graduate Dean. Approval is granted only one time and under certain circumstances. Contact the Graduate Coordinator if you need to take more than the maximum number of hours. Leave of Absence Requests for a leave of absence must be recommended by the Area Chair/Program Director and be approved by the Graduate Adviser. Contact the Graduate Coordinator for instructions. If a student has been admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree, the GSC Executive Committee (GSC EC) and Graduate Dean must also approve a leave of absence. If the leave is approved by the Graduate Adviser and GSC EC, the Graduate Adviser will petition the Graduate Dean for approval. The Graduate Dean approves such leaves of absence only in rare and unusual circumstances (typically documented medical reasons and never for financial reasons). A leave of absence must be requested and approved well in advance of the semester(s) for which it is requested. Because there are several steps to the approval process, students should plan adequate time to receive a decision. A student on leave of absence may not use University facilities or receive advice from any member of the faculty. To request a leave of absence, contact the Graduate Coordinator.

14 9 Complete information on late registration: utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/academic_policies/late_register.html Complete information on adding/dropping courses: utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/academic_policies/add_drop.html Complete information on withdrawing: utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/academic_policies/withdrawal.html Complete Academic Calendar: Timely Completion of Degree Coursework (including courses used for the purpose of waiving degree requirements) to be included in the program of work for the doctoral degree must have been completed within six years prior to advancing to candidacy (although there may still be required coursework to be completed after filing for candidacy). The Area Chair/Program Director and Graduate Adviser must approve any exceptions. Students have two years beyond admission to doctoral candidacy to complete the doctoral degree. After the two-year period, student progress will be reviewed annually by the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), which may recommend additional coursework or termination if satisfactory progress is not being made. This recommendation is made to the Dean of the Graduate School, and approval results in mandatory compliance by the student. 99 (129) Hour Rule The Texas legislature does not like slackers! Therefore, members passed a law imposing nonresident tuition on all students (regardless of state residency classification) who exceed 99 hours for completion of the doctoral degree. Doctoral-level coursework is any coursework taken by a student seeking a doctoral degree after the completion of thirty semester hours of graduate credit; therefore, you will be subject to the 99 Hour Rule after you have completed 129 hours in your doctoral degree program (The first 30 hours of graduate coursework are considered to be master's hours, regardless if they are taken in a master's or in a doctoral program). NOTE: This rule does not apply to Counseling Psychology and School Psychology students -- Based on national comparisons and standards requiring an excess of these hour limits, students in Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, and Clinical Psychology programs across the State of Texas are exempt from the 99/129-hour rule. Federal Financial Aid All students who are receiving federal financial aid are subject to the "excessive hours" limitations of the Office of Student Financial Services. A Satisfactory Progress Appeal form must be filed and approved in order for you to receive federal financial assistance if you exceed 40 hours for a master's degree, or 160 hours for doctoral degree (without a master's) and 140 hours for a doctoral degree (with a master's -- even if the master's degree is from another university, and regardless of how the degree was financed). In addition, there is a maximum amount students may receive from federal financial aid. Further information can be found at finaid.utexas.edu or by contacting your Student Financial Services representative.

15 10 Academic Warning, Dismissal, and Termination Registration in the Graduate School beyond the first semester or summer session depends on three factors: 1) satisfactory progress in absolving any admission conditions; 2) maintenance of a GPA of at least 3.0 in all graduate coursework; and 3) approval of the student s GSC. A graduate student whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be warned by the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). The student must attain a satisfactory GPA during the subsequent semester or be subject to termination. The student may not drop a course or withdraw from a course during this period without approval of the Graduate Adviser and Graduate Dean. Unless the course is only offered CR/NC, EDP students must pass all courses used to satisfy degree requirements with a letter grade of B- or better (See, also, the Doctoral Degree Requirement section). Supporting Work (out-of-area/department courses) exceptions will be noted in your online program of work. NOTE: Areas of specialization will evaluate their students at least annually, and have guidelines that govern probationary status. Students should contact their Area Chair/Program Director to learn what circumstances can lead to probation. The GSC may recommend termination to the Dean of Graduate Studies if a student is not making satisfactory progress. A student who has been dismissed or terminated may be readmitted to the Graduate School by petition to the GSC of the previous department, or by petition to the GSC in another department. Grades/Symbols For graduate courses within the Department, students may receive the following symbols: letter grades (A-F), credit/no credit (CR/NC), course drop (Q or F), total withdrawal for a semester (W), temporary delay in reporting of the final grade (X), permanent incomplete (I), and ongoing coursework (*). The ongoing coursework symbol (*) is used for dissertation, thesis, and master s report ongoing courses where a final grade (CR) is given upon completion. Although internship may be ongoing, it is given a CR/NC grade each semester. When a student fails to complete the required assignments for a particular class, the instructor may elect to give the student a temporary incomplete (X). Incomplete Grades: Students receiving an X in a course must complete the necessary work for the course before the last class day of the subsequent long semester or the X will automatically convert to a permanent incomplete (I) on the student s record. Students who wish to be employed for an academic appointment (TA, AI, GRA, etc.) may acquire no more than one X and one I, two X s, or two I s. See utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/academic_policies/grades.html for more information.

16 A N N U A L S T U D E N T REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION DEPT. PRE-QUALIFYING PROCESS CORE AREA COURSES 3 courses each in Methods Core Area and Content Core Area -- and --- REQUIRED AREA/PROGRAM PRE- QUALIFYING COURSEWORK QUALIFYING PROCESS ADVISER SELECTED (work with adviser one year) QUALIFYING DOCUMENT SUBMITTED 11 R E V I E W APPROVED FOR CANDIDACY QUALIFYING EXAM(S) EVALUATION BY THE GSC TERMINATION AREA PRE-CANDIDACY NON- COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS Possible Master s SPECIALIZED COMPETENCY CANDIDACY DISSERTATION PROPOSAL MEETING IRB PROCESS REMAINING COURSEWORK, INCLUDING SUPPORTING WORK DISSERTATION AND FINAL ORAL Ph.D. in Educational Psychology INTERNSHIP (CP & SP STUDENTS)

17 12 DOCTORAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Overview The flow chart on the next page depicts the Department requirements for a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology. Requirements include the following: foundational (core area) courses (which include comprehensive examinations); passing the pre-candidacy qualifying exam procedure; completing supporting work courses; completing additional area of specialization and other requirements, including the specialized competency (set by the Area Chair/Program Director of each area of specialization); and completing the dissertation and final oral. Each of these steps will be discussed below. Specific pre-candidacy area of specialization and other requirements are indicated on students online programs of work. Cross-listed courses taught by EDP faculty cannot be counted as out-of-department courses. Core Area Courses There are two core areas (Methods and Content) in which all Educational Psychology doctoral students are expected to demonstrate competence. Students who wish to waive one of the primary core area courses must submit a waiver form (available from the Forms link at during their first fall semester. The Core Area Committee will review the waiver request and, if the waiver is not granted, the Committee will determine whether the student has the option to take a waiver exam. Waivers are not allowed for secondary courses.

18 13 Options for Completing Core Area Requirements Option 1: Completion of Core Area Courses All doctoral students in Educational Psychology, regardless of area of specialization, must demonstrate generalized competency. This is demonstrated by completing designated course work in each of two core areas. Methods Core Area Primary Courses Two primary courses must be successfully completed. One of the following statistics courses: EDP 482K Experimental Design and Statistical Inference OR EDP 382K Correlation and Regression The following core psychometrics course: EDP 380P Psychometrics: Theory and Methods Secondary Courses Numerous secondary courses satisfy the rest of the Methods Core Area requirement. One secondary course is required and must be taken after successful completion of the prerequisite primary course. EDP 482K EDP 382K EDP 380P EDP 380P EDP 384 EDP 380P Experimental Design and Statistical Inference* Correlation and Regression* Applied Psychometrics Item Response Theory Qualitative Research Methods Evaluation Models and Techniques Note: *If not taken as a primary statistics course. Areas/Programs may have specific requirements, and those are indicated on students online programs of work. Content Core Area The following courses are approved to satisfy the Content Core Area requirement. Students must successfully complete one course from each list and a third course from either list. Learning Courses EDP 382L EDP 382L EDP 382L Psychology of Learning Motivation and Emotion Instructional Psychology Human Development & Social Courses EDP 381M EDP 385 EDP 385 Seminar in Social Psychology Individual through the Life Cycle Child and Adolescent Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Development

19 14 Option 2: Primary Core Area Course Waiver The GSC has approved a process for doctoral students to apply for a waiver from one or more primary core area courses (Note: secondary Methods Core Area Courses cannot be waived). The goal is to allow students who have had prior graduate courses that are the equivalent of existing primary core area courses to be excused from taking these again. The core area course waiver process will take place during the fall semester of the first year of a student's program. If a student chooses not to participate during that time, it will not be possible to do so in future semesters. Following are the procedures to be followed (the waiver form can be obtained from Forms link at 1) The coursework must: a. Substantially duplicate the content of the core area course for which you seek a waiver, b. Be graduate-level coursework, c. Have been completed with a grade of B or better. 2) Submit a "portfolio" showing your work in the prior course(s). This portfolio should include as many of the following items as possible: a. Course description and course syllabus, including readings; b. Textbooks, papers, projects, and other assignments, including transcripts showing grades you received; c. Exams and other indicators of proficiency, including grades you received. 3) Items missing from #2 should be summarized as best you can. Please be aware that a request for a waiver with no supporting material other than a transcript grade will not be successful, because the reviewers will have no basis for judging the nature of the content or your level of proficiency in it. 4) Submit these materials to the Graduate Coordinator's office (SZB 504) as soon as possible, but no later than 5pm the third Friday in September. Organize the materials carefully, with an index, and be sure identifying information and a page number is on each item. Core area course waiver requests cannot be submitted after the student s first semester. 5) A committee for each core area, appointed by the Graduate Adviser, will review the requests for waivers. This committee consists of faculty in the area who teach the core area courses, and other faculty as needed. Students will be notified in writing of the committee's decision.

20 15 Option 3: Primary Core Area Course Waiver Exams If a student s primary core area course waiver request is denied, the core area committee has the option of allowing the student to take the corresponding core area course waiver exam. Course Waivers: Area of Specialization and Supporting Work Requirements Students may seek to waive either out-of-department course requirements or area of specialization course requirements, if the courses meet appropriate criteria. These waiver requests should be submitted as soon as possible in order to ensure approval for the program of work. For the area of specialization course requirement waivers, the following procedures apply: 1) The coursework must: a. Substantially duplicate the content of the course or requirement for which you seek a waiver, b. Be graduate-level coursework, c. Have been completed with a grade of B or better. For both types of waivers: 2) Course waiver forms are available from the Forms link at Submit the form to the appropriate faculty, as indicated on the form. 3) Submit whatever supporting documentation the appropriate faculty requests. 4) If approved by all appropriate faculty, submit the approved waiver to the Graduate Coordinator for inclusion in your online program of work.