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Psychology > Graduate Programs > Information for Current PhD Students

Information for Current PhD Students

Graduate Handbook | Degree Timeline | Student Evaluation Procedures

 

Ph.D. Degree Summary of Requirements

Requirements for Ph.D. Degree

At least three semesters of full–time work or the equivalent in credits (8 semester hours per semester) must be spent in residence at the University of Hawaii. Typically, it takes between 2 and 4 years past the MA degree to complete the PhD. For clinical psychology students, an additional year is necessary for completion of the internship requirement.

Core Curriculum for Doctoral Candidates

  1. Foundation Courses: Two courses from two different Foundation areas are required for the MA. One additional course from an additional Foundation area is required for the PhD.
    1. Experimental: 621, 622, 626
    2. Psychobiology: 634
    3. Comparative: 631,633
    4. Developmental: 640, 642
    5. Social: 650
    6. Personality: 660
    7. Clinical: 670, 773, 774, 776
    8. Community and Cultural Psychology: 680
  2. Statistics, Psychometrics, Research Methods: One additional three (3) credit course in statistics, psychometrics, or research methods.
  3. Research Courses (7x9, 699): Students are expected to enroll in research courses each semester throughout their graduate training.
  4. Additional Concentration requirements.
  5. Dissertation (Psy 800): Students must enroll in a minimum of 1–credit hour of dissertation credit during the semester they defend and submit their dissertation.

The Doctoral Comprehensive Examination in Psychology

Details of the comprehensive examination process vary across concentrations.

The Doctoral Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is conducted under the auspices of the doctoral committee with the student's major advisor as chair. The student, in consultation with his/her advisor, recommends four additional members of the Graduate Faculty to serve on the doctoral committee. The majority of the members must be from psychology. At least one committee member must be on the graduate faculty in a discipline other than psychology or educational psychology. All faculty members of the dissertation committee must hold graduate faculty status. The composition of the committee must also conform to the department's policy on committee composition. A special petition must be completed if the student's proposed committee is at variance with these guidelines.

Working in close consultation with the committee chair, the student may begin preparation of the dissertation proposal. Once the proposal is completed, the student will take an exam during which the student will present and defend the proposal. Once the examination is passed, the student may begin the dissertation research. Collection of data (other than pilot data) for the final dissertation is not permitted until after the student has successfully defended his or her dissertation proposal.

When the dissertation topic and proposal has been approved by the doctoral committee, the Chair of Graduate Studies will inform the Graduate Division by filing Doctorate SPF II: Advancement to Dissertation Stage (which the student completes and returns to the Chair of Graduate Studies). This form, if appropriate, should be accompanied by a letter of approval from the University of Hawaii Committee on Human subjects. Students are subsequently notified that they may register for dissertation research (Psy 800). The candidate should look to the chair of his or her committee for primary direction concerning use of research methods, analysis of results and the writing of the dissertation. It is the joint responsibility of the student and the chair of the doctoral committee to see that all members of the committee are kept informed of the scope, plan and progress of both the research and the dissertation. It is the student's responsibility to keep all committee members informed of their progress and to obtain formal approval of the research endeavor. Upon completion of the dissertation, the student will take a final examination that is an oral defense of the dissertation. Given the approval of the doctoral committee and submission of Doctorate SPF III, the Graduate Chair will forward to the Graduate Division, the recommendation that the degree of Doctor of Philosophy be conferred.