Psychology Graduate StudentOrientation

Graduate Students

Program Handbooks

• You are strongly advised to have a careful read of the relevant Program Handbook– Available at http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/psyo/graduate.html – We [the Psychology Graduate Studies Committee] would like any

feedback you would like to provide on the handbooks and the programs

• Also note that all graduate documents [e.g., proposals, final versions of theses /dissertations, comprehensives, etc.] should be forwarded to Marla in electronic form for our records– she will keep the Coordinator of our Grad program upto date on

progress

Student’s Year 1Master’s DegreeEstablish Supervisory Committee

– complete form and send to Marla]

If IGS, Program Committee should have been established on entry

– establish thesis committeeTri-Council ApplicationCourseworkAnnual Progress Report due at end of term

– used for funding decisionsCommence discussion with supervisor about thesis, prepare proposal and ethics submission

PhD DegreeEstablish supervisory committee

– complete form and submit to Marla)

If IGS, Program Committee should have been established on entry

– establish dissertation committee

Tri-Council ApplicationCourseworkAnnual Progress Report due at end of term

– used for funding decisions

LEAVES OF ABSENCE– available if

something significant occurs

• leaves stop the clock– but you must

prepare a Plan for Completion

• the Annual Report

LIFE HAPPENS

Student Year 2Master’s DegreeResearch Proposal Approval

• you must submit a formal proposal and have your Committee approve it

– it protects everyone if there is an agreed upon plan

Ethics Approval (if required)• submit only AFTER formal

proposal approved by your Committee

Research in progress• discuss format & authorship• 1st author to candidate?

Apply for doctorate• seek advice from supervisor

PhD DegreeTri-Council Application

• still eligible

Completion of Comps• Committee must approve • you are expected to complete

within 36 months

Approval for Research Proposal• formal proposal

– it protects everyone if there is an agreed upon plan

• Committee gives OK• public presentation and

defence

Student Year 2Master’s DegreeApply for doctorate• seek advice from

supervisor

Annual Progress ReportThesis Defense, Completion• select format• supervisor gives to

Committee when “ready”• work backwards

considering availability in the summer

PhD DegreeAdvanced to Candidacy • timeline 18 – 36 months

requires completion of comps & defense of dissertation proposal

Ethics Approval (if required)Discuss format and authorship

• candidate has first authorship

Annual Progress Report

The Unexpected

Student Year 3

Master’s Degree• Student completed or

not?• cannot enter PhD until

completed and so does not have access to funding associated with doctoral program

• REQUEST EXTENSION– Include the Plan for

Completion

PhD Degree• Tri-Council Application• Candidacy by Year End at

the latest– defend dissertation

proposal

• Research in Progress– discuss authorship– Candidate as first author

• Annual Progress Report– Issues?

Student Year 4PhD Degree• Research analysis• Writing Dissertation

– Drafts and more drafts– To Committee when

“ready”• Approval of Dissertation• Annual Progress Report• Dissertation Examination

– Timing again!! but even more important because of externals

Questions?

Thesis / Dissertation Scheduling

Thesis / Dissertation Scheduling Master’s Degree

To schedule a defence, Grad Studies require:

• 2 paper copies and 1 electronic copy of the thesis

• Accompanying forms– Master’s Examining

Committee – Master’s Thesis

Recommendation for Examination

• 3 possible dates and times • A commitment of 2.5 hours for the

defence

PhD Degree

To schedule an exam, Grad Studies require:

• 1 paper copy and 1 electronic copy of the dissertation

• Accompanying forms– Recommendation of Doctoral

Supervisory Committee – Recommendation of External

Examiner for Examination – Recommendation of University

Examiners for Doctoral Exam – Supervisory Committee

members participating in the examination

FAILURE!!• We have high academic standards• UBC ranks 22nd in the world • Failing a student is unfortunate BUT it means

that we are upholding our standards• We don’t give a ‘pass’ because they have

paid fees, been here a long time, “it’s as bad as so-and-so, and we passed them”, or we feel sorry for them!

It Takes a University to Nurture a Graduate Student

Program Coordinating Roles

• Graduate Studies– Recommendations for

Admission / Tri-council, GES, UGF

– Progress Reports / PhD Candidacy Forms / Degree Completion

– K Drive Maintenance

• College Graduate Studies Committees– Graduate Council & IGS

Committee– policies and procedures

recommendations to Senate

• Department Head– Admissions Approvals– Graduate Course Approvals– Tri-council Appraisals– SISC Clearance

• Graduate Co-ordinator– Chairs Psychology

Graduate Studies Committee

– progress reports– thesis proposals

• Psychology Graduate Studies Committee– admissions applications

• special cases [e.g, tranfer student]

– allocation of Teaching Assistantships & funding

– Departmental policies• Handbooks

• Supervisor– admissions recommendation– program plan– creates supervisory

committee with student input

– thesis/dissertation proposals– annual progress reports– remain familiar with relevant

policies and procedures of College & Department

• Supervisory Committee– approves program plan– approves thesis /

dissertation proposals– approves thesis /

dissertation to defence– forms part of

examination committee– remain familiar with

relevant policies and procedures of College & Department

• Student– enroll in courses– apply for scholarships– input in supervisory

committee membership– works with supervisor /

committee to develop thesis / dissertation proposal

– progress reports– defend proposal and

thesis / dissertation

TAship

• Students offered TAship– under BCGEU collective agreement– 384 hrs; 16 weeks × 12 hrs ON AVERAGE– IF satisfactory performance, will be renewed [2 yrs Masters;

4 yrs Doctorate]– Can decline but funding must still be available

• Training workshops part of work hours• Agreement between faculty and student as to job– YOUR school requirements should be taken into

consideration when assignments given [e.g., timing of your Stats exam]

Issue Resolution Contacts

• Appropriate procedures for problem resolution

Questions?