2009-2010 Graduate Student Handbook

Doctorate

This handbook supplements—it does not replace—the information provided in the Graduate School Catalog (www.grad.umn.edu/catalog) and by the student’s track. Additional requirements tailored to your interests may result from discussions with your adviser.  Any changes in educational psychology core requirements will be distributed through the EPsy student electronic mailing list and posted at Educational Psychology Student News. Please be sure to read all the materials you receive since you are responsible for fulfilling degree requirements.

On this page:

1. Steps to earning the doctorate in educational psychology
   1. Degree coursework requirements
   2. Predissertation research requirement
   3. The preliminary examination in educational psychology
   4. Overview of degree requirements as a doctoral student
   5. Thesis preparation
   6. Thesis
   7. Final oral examination
   8. Graduation and commencement
   9. Overview of degree requirements as a doctoral candidate

Steps to earning the doctorate in educational psychology

The Graduate School requirements for the Doctorate are listed in the Graduate School Catalog or may be reviewed on the Graduate School's Web site. Graduate School and Department of Educational Psychology  requirements are briefly summarized here.

Ph.D. degree coursework requirements

Course requirements

The minimum number of credits required by the Graduate School for the doctorate are listed below. The far right column refers to the number of foundational core areas required by the educational psychology graduate program. The core requirement is a subset of the grand total of credits required by the Graduate School.

Thesis credits

A total of 24 thesis credits are required for the Ph.D. You may not register for thesis credits until after successful completion of the oral prelim. If the Preliminary Oral Examination Report is delivered to Graduate School before the second Thursday of a semester, you may register for thesis credits that semester. Please note: If your prelim oral is scheduled during the first ten days of a semester, you may want to consider registering for EPSY 8666 during regular registration, and then doing a drop/add once you are cleared for thesis credit registration, thus avoiding late fees. If you have questions, contact the DGS assistant for clarification.

Annual review

All graduate students must complete an annual student progress review.  The process for the review varies by track; follow the process for your track.  The purpose of this review is to monitor progress in the degree program and document development and achievements.  Failure to complete annual progress review may be grounds for termination from the graduate program in Educational Psychology.

Miscellaneous

1. 4xxx and EDHD 5xxx levels may not be used for graduate degree.
2. Grades. Courses taken to fulfill EPsy core requirements must be taken A-F. At least two-thirds of the course credits completed in this Graduate School and included on the Degree Program form must be taken under the A-F system. Grades of A, B, C (including C-), and S are acceptable.
3. Transfer of credits. Neither master's nor doctoral thesis credits may be transferred.
4. Time limit for degree completion. Work for the doctorate must be completed within 5 years after the oral prelim is passed. This 5-year period begins with the term following the completion of the oral prelim.
5. Active student status. To maintain active status, you must register every semester (not including summer). If you do not maintain your active status, you are considered to have withdrawn; your Graduate School records are deactivated. Deactivated students may not register for courses, take examinations, submit degree program or thesis proposal forms, file for graduation, or otherwise participate in the University community as Graduate School students. Those who wish to resume graduate work must request readmission to the Graduate School and, if readmitted, must register in the Graduate School for the semester of readmission to regain active status. Students who are readmitted will be held to course/credit requirements current at the time of readmission. See www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/registration/readmission.html for further details. Students readmitted will be held to course, credit, and prelim requirements in place at time of readmission.
   
   NOTE: Students cannot graduate during a term in which they are inactive. You need to defend, submit thesis to Graduate School, etc. by the last working day of the semester. The Graduate School does not approve late registration requests for the purpose of becoming active again. If you do not graduate in the semester in which you defend, you will need to register the following semester or apply for readmission. Contact gsdoc@umn.edu for clarification.
6. Language requirement. None required by either the Graduate School or educational psychology graduate program.
7. Thesis credits. You must complete written and oral preliminary examinations before you can register for thesis credits (see above).
8. EPSY 8666 registration. Ed Psych graduate students may not register for more than 24 credits of EPSY 8666(pre-thesis credits) during their graduate career.
9. Grad 999 registration. If you have no courses to take, you may register using the zero-cost/zero-credit option, Grad 999. Do not register for Grad 999 if you must be registered to hold an assistantship, maintain legal visa status, defer loans, receive financial aid, or for any reason other than to meet the Graduate School's registration requirement. Please note that EPsy students may not register for Grad 999 more than 4 times. If you register for Grad 999 more than 4 times, a registration hold will be placed on your record.

Predissertation research requirement

Description and scope of project

The predissertation research project is a way station on the road to the dissertation. It is not as expansive or comprehensive as the dissertation, but is similar in architecture (e.g., literature review, methods, results, discussion) to the dissertation. The project can be viewed as a pilot study for the dissertation.

The predissertation research project is a collaborative effort between you and your adviser. It is expected that you will play an integral part in conceptualizing the project and in developing the research questions. As a guideline, you should take on such responsibility that, if the paper were to be published, you would be listed as first author of the paper.

The predissertation research project involves the collection and analysis of data, using either quantitative or qualitative research methods. The completed project should be approximately 20 to 25 text pages.

Requirements

1. Research review: With your adviser's guidance, you complete a focused review of the literature. You work with your adviser to formulate a research idea and to articulate and define their research idea.
2. Research proposal: Students develop a research proposal and obtain approval from your adviser. Students obtain permission from the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) (www.irb.umn.edu) for your proposed research.
3. Study implementation: Once the study is approved by the IRB, you collect and analyze data.
4. Results: Write up the results of your research.

Evaluation of the predissertation research project

The predissertation research project is evaluated by the adviser and another faculty member within EPsy who is on your committee. The two readers judge the project to be either acceptable or not acceptable. When judging the project, the evaluators take into account both the quality of the research and the quality of the written paper. If the project is determined to be not acceptable, the reviewers will provide feedback to you, you will make the necessary revisions,  and submit the project for reevaluation.

Recommended timeline

The following is a recommended timeline for completion of the predissertation research project, and illustrates the relation between your courses and the project. You may, with the approval of your adviser, follow a different timeline.

Research review: It's recommended that you complete research review during the first year of doctoral program. You may complete the review as part of a course requirement; however, you must obtain your adviser's approval for the topic and content of the review as it relates to the predissertation research requirement.

Research proposal: It is recommended that you complete research proposal during fall semester of second year. You may develop proposal as part of a required EPsy research course; however, you must obtain your adviser's approval for the content and format of the research proposal as it relates to the predissertation research requirement.

Study implementation and write-up: It is recommended that you implement and write up the study during the spring semester of second year. You may implement the study as a part of the special area research course; however, you must obtain your adviser's approval for the implementation and write-up as it relates to the predissertation research.

Relationship between course requirements and predissertation research requirement

Many of the predissertation research requirements can be completed in conjunction with required courses. Please keep in mind the following:

1. Remember that the completion of a course DOES NOT guarantee approval of the predissertation research requirement. Likewise, completion of the predissertation research requirement CANNOT BE DONE in lieu of taking a course. For example, completion of EPSY 5216 does not guarantee adviser approval of the research proposal. Likewise, completion of the research proposal cannot be done in lieu of completing EPSY 5216.
   
2. Although the course instructor evaluates the course project for purposes of assigning a grade, the adviser is responsible for ensuring that the work meets the requirements set out for the predissertation research project. The final decision regarding the acceptability of the predissertation project is made by the adviser and another EPsy faculty member, not by the course instructor.

Examples of acceptable projects

Pilot study: In collaboration with your adviser, conceptualize the project, formulate the research questions and hypotheses, and collect and analyze the data. The study serves as a pilot for future research (e.g., the dissertation).

Use of existing data: Make use of an existing data set, but work collaboratively with your adviser to conceptualize the project and formulate the research questions and hypotheses.

M.A. thesis: Complete an M.A. thesis. If the thesis is completed at an institution other than the University of Minnesota, your adviser and another faculty member within EPsy read the thesis to evaluate its appropriateness.

The preliminary examination in educational psychology

Overview

Doctoral students complete two phases of preliminary examinations. The first phase consists of the written prelim(s) to evaluate your written competence in Educational Psychology as well as in your specialty or special field. The second examination phase is the oral prelim.

The written prelim

You are required to take your written prelim within your track. Preparation for the written exam varies by track. You are therefore directed to your adviser and/or your track/program area for information regarding the written exam. Students who fail the written preliminary exam may take it one more time, as scheduled by his/her advisor.  If a student fails a second written preliminary exam in Educational Psychology, he or she will be dismissed from the graduate program in Educational Psychology. When you have successfully passed the written exam and completed the two required research methods courses and the predissertation research project, you must submit two forms: 

• Checklist for Showing Completion of EPsy Written Prelim Requirement [.pdf]
• Preliminary Written Examination Report [.pdf]

The oral prelim

The oral preliminary examination is taken after you have successfully satisfied the written prelim requirements and completed the majority of the courses listed on the doctoral program. "Majority of courses completed" is defined neither by the Graduate School nor the Educational Psychology Program, since you and your adviser are in the best position to determine when you are ready for the oral prelim. In general, the examination focuses on: (a) the oral prelim paper, and (b) courses listed on your Program form, including the minor or supporting field.

The examining committee

The examination is administered by a committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, upon recommendation of the program faculty and the director of graduate studies (DGS) in the Department of Educational Psychology, on the basis of your official doctoral program. Successful completion of the oral prelim qualifies you as a "doctoral candidate."

Note: If it becomes necessary to change the composition of your committee, you must obtain signature (or e-mail) approval from the new member(s) to be assigned. Send the form to the DGS assistant so she may officially notify the Graduate School of the requested change.  As a courtesy, be sure to notify the member(s) to be replaced.

Timing of exam

There is no specified time when the oral prelim is to be taken. Plan to take the oral prelim when:

1. you feel prepared to be examined in the course content listed on your official doctoral program;
2. you have successfully completed the written prelim requirements by your track (program area);
3. you have prepared the oral prelim paper. Distribute your committee members at least two weeks before the oral prelim is held; and
4. your committee members are available. The prelim oral exam is valid only if all assigned committee members are present at that examination. Please note: If it becomes necessary to change the composition of your committee, you must obtain signature/e-mail approval from the new member(s) to be assigned. Send the approval to the DGS assistant so she may officially notify Graduate School of the requested change. As a courtesy, be sure to notify the member(s) to be replaced.

Registration

Schedule the oral prelim with the Graduate School (in 316 Johnston) at least one week prior to the event and after the following conditions are met:

1. The Degree Program form has been approved by Graduate School.
2. The Preliminary Written Examination Report: Doctoral Degree is approved by the director of graduate studies and recorded by the Graduate School.
   
   The Scheduling Form [.pdf] is available at www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/forms/gs12.pdf.
   
   The oral prelim may not be held
   1. during the summer (unless the members of the assigned committee agree to assemble without substitution);
   2. in the same semester in which you plan to hold the final oral examination.

The prelim oral paper

You select the topic and range of coverage of the prelim oral paper with the approval of your adviser. The intent of the paper is to integrate the literature in a circumscribed area of research. It should not include a specific plan of your dissertation.

The paper is modeled on those integrative reviews found in the Review of Educational Research, Psychological Bulletin, or Psychological Review. Conceptually, the paper is neither a mindless listing of studies in excessive detail, nor a widely speculative paper with no evidence offered in support of argument. It is not flawed by theoretical gaps in the literature review. Instead, the paper coherently identifies major issues in the area chosen; it is guided by ideas and uses information selectively and critically with respect to those ideas; and reflects methodological sophistication in the description of research strategies and results. Being analytic, integrative, and topically constrained, it is not to be discursive or of excessive length. Normal range: 20-40 pages of double-spaced text.

Distribute a copy of the oral prelim paper to each committee member at least two weeks before the exam.

The oral prelim examination

The nature of the oral prelim is determined by your adviser and committee members. Review the material in this handbook and the Graduate School Catalog. (www.catalogs.umn.edu/grad/gen/phd.html.)

Immediately prior to the preliminary oral examination, the committee chair must state the objectives of the examination and, in consultation with the other members of the committee, determine how the examination is to be conducted. Immediately after the examination, you will be excused and the committee will take a written vote prior to discussing the examination. Following discussion, a second and final vote must be taken; the committee members then sign the Preliminary Oral Examination Report in the columns corresponding to their individual votes.

You will have passed the examination if the vote is unanimous to pass or to pass with reservations. The outcome will also be recorded as a pass if the voting proportions are 3 pass/1 fail for four-member committee, 4 pass/1 fail for a five-member committee, 5 pass/1 fail or 4 pass/2 fail for a six-member committee. Candidates who do not earn committee votes in these proportions fail the preliminary oral examination. If a single vote to pass with reservations is recorded in an otherwise unanimous committee vote to pass, the outcome will be recorded as a pass. If, however, any vote of pass with reservations is needed to achieve the minimum number of votes required to achieve a vote of pass, the outcome will be recorded as pass with reservations.

If the committee decides that you have either passed the examination without reservations, or have failed the examination, you must be informed immediately and the report of preliminary oral examination form returned to the Graduate School office no later than the first working day following the examination.

Should the committee decide that you passed the examination with reservations, you must be informed immediately. The committee then has one week in which to discuss the reservations, determine the most appropriate means for removing them, and write a letter to you which clearly stipulates both the nature of the committee's reservations and the additional steps required to remove those reservations. A copy of this letter must be forwarded to the Graduate School. When the required steps have been completed, a second letter must be sent to you confirming that the committee's reservations have been removed; a copy of this second letter must also be sent to the Graduate School. The final oral examination cannot be scheduled until the Graduate School has received this second letter. The chair of the preliminary oral examination committee must write both letters on behalf of the committee.

If the preliminary oral examining committee recesses without having determined whether you have passed the examination, the chair of the committee must send a letter to the dean of the Graduate School explaining the reasons for the recess and noting the date on which the examining committee will reconvene. If the recess will be longer than one week, the Report of Preliminary Oral Examination must be returned to the Graduate School, 316 Johnston Hall. A new examination report form will be mailed to the chair of the committee one week before the date on which the committee will reconvene.

Registering for thesis credits

Beginning with the term following completion of the oral prelim, you may begin registering for thesis credits (EPSY 8888). NOTE: If the Preliminary Oral Examination Report is completed and returned to Graduate School by the second Thursday of the semester, you may register that semester for EPSY 8666 during regular registration period and change to EPSY 8888 to avoid paying late fees). Otherwise, registration for thesis credits cannot begin until the following semester.

Advanced doctoral candidates

Advanced doctoral registration allows candidates to be certified as full-time students while registered for only one credit (EPSY 8444). Faculty advisers and the DGS affirm that each student is indeed working full time on the thesis or project.

EPSY 8444 is intended only for advanced doctoral candidates who have completed all courses included on the degree program, passed their preliminary oral exam, and registered for all thesis credits, but still are working full-time on the research/writing of their thesis. This registration allows you to be considered a full-time student for graduate assistantship employment or loan deferment purposes. However, it is available for any eligible advanced graduate student, whether employed as an graduate assistant or not, thus providing a less expensive registration for hiring department and self-supporting students who have loans to defer. Prior to registration in EPSY 8444, students submit the Application for Advanced Doctoral Status to the DGS each semester. Details on this status may be found at www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/registration/FTE_procedures.html.

Overview of degree requirements as a doctoral student

(From matriculation to completion of the oral prelim)

The following schedule of events should be regarded as a checklist to help you conceptualize the steps to be taken in attaining doctoral candidacy. This checklist supplements, but does not replace, the information listed in the Graduate School Catalog.

Many of the forms are available online at www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/forms/. For explanations, go to www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/degree_completion/doctoral/.

Notes:

1. Your 5-year time limit to complete the doctorate begins with the semester following successful completion of your oral prelim.
2. Your next step is to begin working on your thesis prospectus. The Thesis Proposal and Statement forms are to be submitted by the end of the semester following completion of your oral prelim. If it is not submitted during this time, a hold will be placed on your record.

Thesis preparation

Writing the thesis prospectus

Consult with your adviser on how to prepare your thesis prospectus. At this time, there is no Department of Educational Psychology policy statement regarding thesis prospectus.

Working with your thesis planning panel

The thesis planning panel consists of your adviser and at least two additional members: one from the major and one from the supporting program or minor. Ordinarily these members will become the thesis readers.

The functions served by the thesis planning panel are two-fold. First, the panel reviews your prospectus and offers suggestions and feedback on its conceptualization, design, and feasibility. Second, panel members shall have the opportunity to clarify their expectations of the project and to define the criteria by which you will be judged during the final oral examination. Although the educational psychology program does not require that your thesis planning panel convene as a group, you and/or your adviser may choose to do so for the above purposes.

The thesis planning panel must approve the dissertation prospectus before you can submit the Graduate School's Thesis Proposal and Thesis Statement forms to the DGS for approval. If these forms are not submitted by the end of the semester following the preliminary oral, a hold will be placed on your record by the DGS, making it impossible for you to register for classes, obtain a transcript, etc.

Secure approval to use human subjects in research

All research which involves the use of human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB). This is a federal policy which applies to funded and non-funded student research involving human subjects. Information may be found at www.irb.umn.edu.

Submit the following completed forms to the DGS

(a) Thesis planning panel form (an Educational Psychology form) [.pdf]
(b) Thesis/Project Proposal form  (This Graduate School document consists of three forms: Transmittal, Title and Proposal) [.pdf]

Graduation Packet

Request a Graduation Packet from the Graduate School  (www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/forms/
grad_packet/doctoral/confirm.html).

Thesis

The doctoral thesis shows proficiency in independent scholarly inquiry.

The preparation of the doctoral thesis should meet both APA and Graduate School guidelines. Consult the APA Publication Manual and the Graduate School handout entitled "Preparation of the Doctoral Thesis/Project" (available at www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/forms/gs16.pdf or outside of 316 Johnston).

After the Thesis Title and Statement forms have been approved by the DGS and Graduate School, proceed through the following steps:

1. Conduct the study, staying in contact with your adviser and committee members.
   
   Any major changes in protocol involving the use of human subjects in research must be referred to the University's Institutional Review Board.
   
   Any major changes in research design or purpose must be referred to the DGS who will determine whether a revised Thesis Title and Statement form will need to be forwarded to the Graduate School.
   
   Note: Do early review for commencement participation deadlines.
2. With the approval of the adviser, copies of the draft thesis are distributed to the thesis readers. Allow at least 30 days between the distribution to the reviewers and the tentative date of the final oral examination.
3. Your thesis readers must unanimously certify that the thesis is ready for defense. Submit the signed Reviewer's Report form to the Graduate School at least two weeks before the final oral examination.
4. At least two weeks before the final oral, distribute a copy of the thesis to the remaining members of your committee.
   
   Note: The approved and completed thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School by the last working day of the month you want to graduate.

Final oral examination

The final oral cannot be scheduled during the same semester in which the preliminary oral is taken. You are responsible for scheduling and confirming the time and place of the exam with all committee members and for providing this information to the Graduate School. Any changes in the membership of the examining committee must be approved by the DGS and the Graduate School prior to the scheduling of the examination. Please note: If it becomes necessary to change the composition of your committee, you must obtain signature/e-mail approval from the new member(s) to be assigned. Bring/mail/e-mail the approval to DGS assistant so she may officially notify Graduate School of the requested change. As a courtesy, be sure to notify the member(s) to be replaced.

The following requirements must be met before Graduate School will authorize you to take the final oral:

1. Your Preliminary Oral Examination form must be on file in the Graduate School. If you passed the preliminary oral with reservations, a letter notifying the Graduate School that those reservations have been removed must also be on file.
2. You must have an approved Thesis Proposal form on file with the Graduate School.
3. All courses on your Degree Program form are complete (all grades are recorded on the transcript).
4. You must have registered for 24 doctoral thesis credits.
5. Your Reviewer's Report form must be on file with the Graduate School. (Thesis reviewers are to have two weeks to read and consider the thesis.)
6. You must be a currently active Graduate School student, i.e., you must have registered in the Graduate School for the semester in which you are defending. If you are not currently active, you must file a Change of Status form to request readmission to the Graduate School. If readmitted, you must register before you will be permitted to schedule your examination.
7. The final oral examination must be taken within five years of the semester following the preliminary oral examination, or an approved extension of the time limit must be on file.

The Graduate School Catalog states, "The final oral examination consists of a seminar in which the candidate presents the thesis and to which the scholarly community is invited." So that your dissertation seminar can be announced, inform the DGS assistant as to the time, place, and title of the presentation. A notice of each final oral examination will be posted on the bulletin board outside 250 Education Sciences Building, and in Educational Psychology Student News to inform interested persons. Only the committee members will remain in the room and participate in the vote at the end of the presentation.

Graduation and commencement

There are two commencement ceremonies each year: January through June graduates usually attend the spring ceremony in late April or early May; July through December graduates usually attend the fall ceremony in December. To be eligible to participate in commencement, we must have your Thesis Proposal and Thesis Planning Panel forms on file. You are encouraged, but not required, to attend. If you plan to attend a ceremony, forms must be submitted by October 1 for the fall ceremony and March 1 for the spring ceremony; be sure to have the forms to the DGS assistant for signature four days prior to the deadline. The Commencement Attendance Approval form [.pdf] must be signed by both your adviser and the DGS, indicating your eligibility to participate. Submission of the form to the Graduate School by the deadline is crucial, as commencement planning begins several months before the ceremony. Thus, failure to meet the deadline will render you ineligible to attend, even if the form is signed by your adviser and the DGS.

Overview of degree requirements as a doctoral candidate

(From completion of the oral prelim to commencement)

The chart below is intended to help students conceptualize the steps needed to earn the doctorate. It supplements, but does not replace, the information listed in the Graduate School Catalog.

Many forms are available at www.grad.umn.edu/current_students/forms/doctoral.html.

July 2009