Graduate training in psychology involves three types of required activities. First, the student is expected to acquire expertise through courses, seminars, readings, and colloquium attendance. Second, he or she must demonstrate mastery of the subject matter by passing course examinations and a qualifying examination. Third, the student is expected to engage in research activities and scholarship throughout graduate training, leading up to and culminating in the doctoral dissertation. |
Course Requirements, Residency, and Time Limits |
| The following is intended as a general outline of requirements, with details being provided in the Handbook for Graduate Students, which is distributed to students who are admitted to the doctoral training program. |
- All subsequent discussion of time requirements assumes two fall and/or spring semesters to equal a year. Specification of unit requirements assumes semester units. Summer units at USC are intrinsically equivalent, but comparability of quarter units (and equivalence of the time interval) must be determined by petition. Enumeration of specific course requirements assume that they are to be taken in the Psychology department at USC, unless otherwise approved. In general, all requirements are subject to adjustment for reasonable cause by means of petition.
- The Graduate School requires three years of graduate status and 60 units at USC or elsewhere for all doctoral students. Students in the clinical area must have, in addition, at least one full year of internship at an APA approved facility.
- All students must take a minimum of 36 substantive units, e.g., from lecture courses or seminars, at least 24 of which must be from Psychology. Units for directed research, thesis, and dissertation do not qualify as “substantive units.” The 24 units taken in Psychology must be distributed across core courses.
- Unless otherwise approved, students will take 24 substantive units during the first three semesters of residency, and the grades from these courses will provide the basis for “first-year screening.” To pass first-year screening, a student must have no less than a 3.0 grade point average for these courses, and will face probation and potential dismissal from the doctoral program if the grades fall below that average.
- After first-year screening, it is expected that the student, in working to complete both course and non-course requirements, will devote time each semester that is equivalent to the work needed by at least two courses. If at any time during this advanced work, problems lead a student to consider carrying a reduced academic load, he or she must petition for a deviation from regular progress, with approval by the faculty sponsor, the head of the area, and the associate chair of the department.
- Also after first-year screening and in consultation with a faculty advisor, the student should choose a guidance committee that most often consists of three faculty members from within the student’s area, i.e., BCS, Clinical, Developmental, Quantitative, or Social.
- By approximately the third year of residence, the student should schedule and pass a Qualifying Exam. The structure and form of the exam varies by area, and is often tailored by the student’s guidance committee. Commonly it will require demonstration of mastery of a range of topics within the student’s area of special interest, either through written examination or by treatise. During approximately the same period, the student will submit a dissertation proposal and will orally detail and defend the value of the research to be done.
- By the end of the fourth or fifth year, the student should submit and defend a dissertation that describes the research that was done, with analysis of the findings in relation to the relevant literature. If this is judged to be acceptable by the guidance committee and the Graduate School, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy will be conferred upon this individual.
- All degree candidates in Psychology are expected to be full-time students, even though they may do some work to finance their training either on or off campus. Except for advanced years, which may be occupied completely with work on the dissertation, the Graduate School considers that 8 semester units is a minimum full-time load, with 12 units being the maximum load.
- The doctoral program is designed with the expectation that a well qualified student can complete all requirements within five years, except for the clinical area, wherein a requirement for internship training extends the period.
- Extension of time beyond eight years from the date of admission must be requested by petition to the Graduate School. In no case may the time for completion extend beyond 10 years from the date of admission.
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