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Psychology > Graduate Programs > Information for Current MA Students > Masters Degree Timeline

Masters Degree Timeline – Procedures, Suggested Timelines and Notes

I. First Year – Preliminary Conference and Admission to Candidacy

  1. Appointment of interim advisor.
  2. Discussion of pre–program deficiencies with advisor and Graduate Chair.
  3. Formulation of degree plan with advisor to be approved by the Graduate Chair; degree plan specifies required courses.
  4. Student submits Master's Plan A Student Progress Form (SPF) I to the Chair of Graduate Studies prior to the end of the first semester, accompanied by a petition to transfer in credits if applicable.
  5. Qualifying and First Language exams not required.
  6. General exam not required; candidacy is based on one or more semester's performance.

II. Second Year – Advancement to Thesis Stage

  1. Thesis topic and committee formed.
  2. The thesis committee consists of at least 3 members of the graduate faculty, and must conform with the department policy on committee composition.
  3. Second Language and Comprehensive Exams not required.
  4. Obtain approval or exemption from University of Hawaiëi Committee on Human Subjects.
  5. Written proposal submitted to committee members.
  6. Student submits Master's Plan A SPF II to the Chair of Graduate Studies, together with approval letter (if required) from the University of Hawaii Committee on Human Subjects

** Thesis proposal must be approved and SPF II submitted prior to semester in which student plans to register for Psy 700 (Thesis research) **

III. Completion of Thesis

  1. Enrollment in Psy 700 (6 credits required).
  2. Submission of completed draft of thesis to thesis committee.
  3. Oral examination administered.
  4. Upon completion of thesis revisions, student submits Master's Plan A SPF III Final Examination and Approval of Thesis to Chair of Graduate Studies

** SPF Forms can be downloaded from http://www.hawaii.edu/graduate/download/list.htm **
** Graduate Division requirements for Graduation include application for diploma, fees, and submission of final copies of thesis to Graduate Division **

Petitioning for Admission to the Ph.D. Program

Admission to the PhD program from the MA program is not automatic, however, it is expected that the majority of graduate students will continue with their doctoral course of studies upon successful and timely completion of their masters degree course of studies. Applicants for admission to the PhD program will be evaluated by the faculty based on an assessment by the thesis committee of the student's performance in the program. The critical concern is the student's ability to conduct the rigorous level of inquiry necessary to successfully pursue the PhD in psychology. This evaluation is conducted when a student, usually during the final semester of the MA degree, submits the Petition for Admission to a Doctorate (available to download from http://www.hawaii.edu/graduate/download/list.htm) to the director/coordinator of his /her area of concentration coupled with a current CV and statement of purpose. The application is reviewed by the program or concentration faculty, who make a recommendation to the Graduate Chair, who may approve or deny the petition.