III.A. University Requirements
Students must adhere to the University requirements and regulations concerning degree conferral described in the WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog.
III.B. Master’s Degree
III.B.1. Doctoral Students
Doctoral students must earn a Master’s degree prior to earning a doctoral degree. Students entering a doctoral program with a Master’s degree from another university or in another field are not required to obtain another Master’s degree, but may be required to complete a thesis following the guidelines in Section IV (see the section on thesis waivers) or a comparable research project. If completion of a thesis is required by the Program Area Training Committee, the student may elect to obtain another Master’s degree.
Doctoral students entering the program without a Master’s degree will receive an M.S. degree in psychology upon completion of requirements specified in the WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog.
III.B.2. Maximum Time Limits for Meeting Master’s Degree Requirements
Doctoral students who do not complete their Master’s degree requirements by May 15 of their third year (see milestones) are ineligible for continued Departmental funding and also will be considered for dismissal.
The WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog provides information about maximum time limits for completing all course work used to meet Master’s degree requirements. Procedures for revalidating course work that falls outside the maximum time limit are also described in the Graduate/Professional Catalog. However, the Department may terminate students who fail to make adequate progress before the university maximums are reached.
III.C. Doctoral Degree
III.C.1. Courses
Many of the required and elective courses for the doctoral degree are taken in the student’s first two years on campus. The WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog explains how students can meet the department requirements for three courses in research design and data analysis based on the particular Program Area.
Independent Research (PSYC 797) - Students who are conducting research should enroll in at least one credit of PSYC 797 each semester during which they are research active.
Seminar on Teaching Psychology (PSYC 606) – Students who teach lecture courses are required to take a 1-credit Teaching Seminar simultaneously with their first experience teaching a lecture course.
Teaching Practicum (PSYC 790) – Students are required to enroll for 1-3 credits of PSYC 790 each semester or summer session during which they are teaching a Departmental course.
Other Practicum Courses (PSYC 630, 660, 670, 730, and 740) – Students in some programs are required to or may volunteer to engage in practicum experiences during their graduate education (see WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog). Both funded and unfunded practica are arranged only by the Program Area Coordinators, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Training. Students must not negotiate practica with out-of-Department individuals or agencies without the prior knowledge and consent of their Program Area Coordinator. Students must enroll for at least one credit of the appropriate practicum course during any semester or summer session during which they engage in paid or unpaid practicum work undertaken for the purpose of enhancing their education in psychology.
Program Area Course Requirements – Students must complete the core and elective courses specified by their Program Area Training Committee, as specified in the WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog.
III.C.2. Competencies and Other Requirements
Research Competency – Students are required to demonstrate research and communication skills through the development of a written Master’s thesis and a written dissertation, both based on empirical study of a psychological topic, and oral defenses of the thesis and dissertation.
The Department also expects students to conduct research in addition to the thesis and dissertation. Students normally receive Independent Study (PSYC 797) or other research course credit for this work.
Other Competencies – Some Program Areas require additional demonstrations of competencies. See the Program Area Supplement for further information.
III.C.3. Doctoral Qualifying Examination (Prelim)
Passing the qualifying examination is a prerequisite for admission to doctoral candidacy. The examination is often called the “preliminary examination” or “prelim” in this Department. Each Program Area Training Committee constructs and evaluates its own preliminary examination. Students should consult the Program Area Supplement for their program area’s requirement and procedure.
Students must specify a timetable for completing the preliminary examination in the Plan of Study and, depending on the program, may be required to specify the general area(s) for the preliminary examination.
III.C.4. Admission to Doctoral Candidacy
Admission to doctoral candidacy is by vote of the Department faculty, on the recommendation of the student’s Program Area Training Committee. To be considered for doctoral candidacy, the student must have completed all requirements for the Master’s degree (including documentation that the electronic thesis has been accepted by the library), passed the preliminary examination, and be advanced by the Program Area Training Committee for consideration by the Full Faculty. Program Area Training Committees’ recommendations are based on consideration of the students’ coursework and grades, satisfactory performance of professional duties (including clinical skills when appropriate), timely progress, satisfactory performance in research, and consistent exhibition of professional behavior.
After a positive Department faculty vote, the Director of Graduate Training notifies the student and Department Chair, and routes the information to the student’s file in the Department’s Graduate Office. The Department Chair informs the Eberly College Office of Graduate Students of the date of advancement to candidacy when submitting the forms to create the dissertation committee. If a student is not recommended for admission to doctoral candidacy by either the Program Area Training Committee or the Department faculty, the student will be terminated from the program.
III.C.5. Continuous Enrollment
Students formally admitted to candidacy are subject to WVU continuous enrollment requirements for graduate students as a condition of their continued candidacy.
A student who fails to enroll will be dropped from candidacy unless the student has been granted a leave of absence. If the student then wishes to request readmission to candidacy, the student must first retake and pass prelims. In addition, students who have been inactive (i.e., not enrolled) for two or more years must reapply for admission to the Department and University before completing a degree.
III.C.6. Maximum Time Limits for Meeting Doctoral Degree Requirements
The WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog provides information about maximum time limits for completing all course work used to meet degree requirements following admission to doctoral candidacy. However, the Department may terminate students who fail to make adequate progress or for other reasons at any time.
In the event a student fails to complete the doctorate within five years after admission to candidacy, the university allows for requests for an extension. Students who need an extension should follow the university guidelines.
If a student does not meet the time limits specified in the student’s Plan of Study, the Program Area Training Committee may terminate the student or stipulate another time limit that is less than the maximum stipulated by the WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog.
III.D. Course and Thesis Waivers
III.D.1. Course Waivers
Students may request waivers for any course listed in the Plan of Study by documenting competency in the material covered in the course. Competency may be demonstrated through completion of an equivalent course or through other experiences (e.g., applied work, independent reading, or passing an examination).
To apply for a waiver, a first-year graduate student must complete a Waiver Request Form and submit it to the WVU faculty member who currently teaches the course. The faculty member will assess the student’s competence (which may include giving the student an exam), and complete and sign the waiver form. If approved by the faculty member, the waiver will then be considered by the GTC. If the GTC approves the waiver, the signed Waiver Request Form will be returned to the student to be attached to the Plan of Study.
Students must submit waiver requests to the faculty member who currently teaches the course by September 15, and then to the graduate training committee by October 1. These due dates allow time to consider the request prior to the student’s Plan of Study meeting. However, if the request is to waive a course that is normally required for students during their first semester, the student must submit a Waiver Request Form no later than Monday of the week prior to the start of classes. Unless the instructor of the course recommends a waiver of the course prior to the first day of class, the student must attend, but not enroll in, the course. If the waiver is not recommended, the student must then add the course by the University deadline.
III.D.2. Thesis Waivers
A student entering the program with a Master’s degree with a thesis from an accredited university may request waiver of the thesis requirement. Typically, waivers of the thesis are provided only when the student has previously completed a thesis that is deemed equivalent to what would normally be done at WVU.
To apply for a waiver, the student must complete a Waiver Request Form and submit the form and a copy of the thesis to the Coordinator of the student’s Program Area Training Committee, by September 15 of the student’s first year in the program. The Coordinator circulates the document among all core faculty members of the appropriate Program Area Training Committee. After reading the thesis, the faculty may ask to meet with the student and discuss the research in an informal oral examination.
The faculty will develop a consensus evaluation by the Plan of Study due date. Two outcomes are possible:
- The document may be accepted as completely meeting the thesis requirement if, in the opinion of the faculty, the thesis is comparable in scope, purpose, method, and execution to theses successfully completed within the program. The student’s progress in the program will be judged according to the probation and dismissal dates for major academic milestones for students entering with a master’s degree, as specified in Section V.C and in the Program Area Supplements.
- The document may be judged as not acceptable. In this case, the student will follow the standard sequence of steps to complete a thesis within the program (proposal, research, oral defense, etc.), but will not be required to obtain another master’s degree. The student’s progress in the program will be judged according to the probation and dismissal dates for major academic milestones for students entering with a bachelor’s degree (including Department and in the Program Area milestones).
Approved waiver requests will then be considered by the GTC. If the GTC approves the waiver, the signed Waiver Request Form will be returned to the student to be attached to the Plan of Study and documented in DegreeWorks.
III.E. Course Grades
III.E.1. Letter Grade vs. “P/F” Grades
The WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog contains information regarding the use and interpretation of letter grades, and “P/F” grades for graduate students.
Student performance in any courses other than independent study, practicum, and professional development courses will be assigned a letter grade (“A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F”).
In some circumstances, students may audit a course. Students who audit are charged the typical fees for enrolling in the course, but do not receive credit or a grade. Students who are considering auditing a course should speak with their academic and research adviser(s), and the course instructor, before registering as an auditor.
III.E.2. Incomplete (“I”) and No Report (“NR”) Grades
Conditions under which the grade of I is given are described in the The WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog. The Catalog also explains how grades of “I” affect a student’s GPA and graduation status. The grade of NR is assigned by the Admissions and Records Office when no grade is reported by the course instructor. Faculty modify grades of “NR” and “I” through STAR.
III.E.3. Grades of “C” or Below
A grade of “C” or lower (including “F” or “U”) in any course taken by a graduate student is unsatisfactory and is grounds for probation. A total of two grades of “C” or lower results in the student being automatically placed on probation and is grounds for dismissal. If placed on probation, the student must fulfill the requirements specified in the probation letter for probationary status to be removed (see the section on probation and the Graduate Catalog for details).
Students who earn a grade of “C” or lower in a course, regardless of probation status, are strongly encouraged to develop a plan with the Program Area Training Committee to remediate the course content.
III.F. Graduation
III.F.1. Application for Graduation and Diploma and Declaration of Defense Date
At the beginning of the semester in which a student plans to graduate, the student must email the Department’s Assistant Director of Graduate Training so that a change in status can be processed. The student then completes an “Application for Graduation and Diploma” form (available online through the student’s MIX account and the STAR system).
Due dates for meeting graduation requirements will be distributed via email by the Director of Graduate Training at the beginning of each semester and also will be posted above mailboxes in the main office of the Department.
If a student is deleted from the graduation list, they must file a new “Application for Graduation and Diploma” form.
Even if a student meets all requirements for graduation, the student’s transcript and diploma can be withheld by the Office of Admissions and Records if the student has outstanding University bills. Students must return all keys before leaving campus.
The Director of Graduate Training is the student’s point of contact in the Department for information about graduation deadlines and procedures.
III.F.2. Degree Conferral Letters
Students sometimes request a letter from the university confirming that a degree will be conferred. Such conferral letters are most commonly requested by students on pre-doctoral internship or students leaving for a position before the degree is officially conferred. Only the registrar can supply such letters. When a conferral letter is needed, the department must certify the student for graduation (early) in DegreeWorks. Then, the Eberly Director of Graduate Studies emails the registrar with the request. Unfortunately for students on internship, confirmation of conferral letters cannot be requested until it is possible to certify that the internship requirements have been met (i.e., there is zero chance the internship requirement will not be met). Generally, this means that such letters are only available when the internship period is nearly complete. Students with questions about conferral letters can email registrar@mail.wvu.edu to see what letter can be obtained at that time, prior to all requirements being met.
III.F.3. Early Participation in Commencement
Students who will graduate in August and wish to participate in graduation ceremonies in May can apply to participate, and such requests are typically granted if all degree requirements except ETD acceptance or completion of the internship have occurred. However, students may only participate in the May ceremony in the year immediately preceding the August graduation. Students who will be on internship for a year (e.g., Clinical/Clinical Child students) are not eligible to participate in graduation in the term before their internship, even if all other degree requirements have been met.
III.F.4. Policy on Enrollment During Final Semester
Graduate students are subject to University requirements for continuous enrollment as specified in the WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog during the semester (or summer) of graduation and must complete registration by the normal registration deadlines.