Dissertation Proposal

Part IV: Dissertation Proposal

Part IV of the Qualification is the dissertation proposal. This follows Parts I, II, & III of the Advancement process and will be an oral proposal including outside examiners. The dissertation proposal should contain a description of the field and the problem. There should be a description of the intended experiments. It is intended that students will pursue most of their dissertation research after the proposal, not before. Some pilot experimentation may be performed prior to the Qualification; indeed, the dissertation advisor may require that such pilot work be completed. There is a limit of 20 pages (typed, double-spaced). The scheduled date, time, & place of the proposal is the responsibility of the student. An email attachment of the proposal should be made available to committee members at least two weeks prior to the examination.

All members of a committee need not absolutely be present at the proposal and defense; however, all members must sign the appropriate forms in person. Proxy signatures are not sufficient. It is possible to conduct the dissertation proposal with only three or four members present, if the absent members have made arrangements separately to examine the student's proposal.

Post-Advancement Information

Psychology 299’s
Advancement to Candidacy. For research purposes students enroll in Psychology 299 for independent study units after Advancement (as opposed to PSYC 296 taken before Advancing).

In Candidacy 3-quarter Requirement
Once advanced, students must be enrolled for three quarters (with full fees), or on a leave of absence for three quarters, or a combination of enrollment and leave for three quarters before they can complete their dissertation and file for a Ph.D.* Most students will TA. A 25% or 50% TA covers the majority of the fees.

Students must either be on a leave of absence or a registered student. Students do not have to be registered or on a leave the quarter they file for a Ph.D. if they were registered or on a leave the quarter before. They will be required to pay a filing fee of approximately $120.

*All students are entitled to three quarters of a leave of absence, with an additional three quarters of parenting leave. For more information about Leave of Absence (LOA) please click here.