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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 if any advisor.
  3. Formulation of degree plan with advisor.
  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 for waivers or substitutions of course requirements 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, all of whom hold graduate faculty status and at least one of whom is a member of the core psychology faculty.
  3. Second Language and Comprehensive Exams not required.
  4. Obtain approval or exemption from University of Hawaii 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. Petitions for admission from the MA to the PhD program should be completed in the semester the student will be graduating from the MA program, to ensure that there is not an interruption in the student’s status as a full-time student (which could have adverse consequences for financial aid, visas, and other matters). Students seeking admission to the PhD must first petition the faculty of the concentration in which they are studying. If the concentration approves, the concentration coordinator brings (a) a letter of application from the student, which summarizes his or her accomplishments within the MA program and plans for the PhD program, and (b) a copy of the student’s curriculum vitae to the faculty as a whole (via the Graduate Chair), who then vote on the student’s admission to the PhD program. If approved, the student submits the Graduate Division form, Petition for Admission to a Doctorate (available to download from http://www.hawaii.edu/graduate/download/list.htm) to to the Graduate Chair, who will sign it and transmit it to Graduate Division.