Timeline
PhD students in Psychology who are required or choose to complete the Psychology MA typically complete the final exam in spring of their second year or in their third year. Leading up to the final exam, you will work closely with your advisor(s) and committee to submit written exam materials for review and establish a timeline for the final oral exam.
Steps & Resources
Thesis Review & Final Exam Forms
- Committee Submission Workflow - Review examination committee policies and declare or update the examination committee. Submit the semester before you plan to defend when possible.
- Reviewer’s Report Form (Plan A MA only) - initiate the electronic workflow when you distribute your thesis manuscript to your committee (the manuscript must be submitted at least 14 days before the defense).
- You will have the option to attach an electronic copy of your thesis if desired.
- Plan to initiate this workflow about three weeks before the exam and final oral exam when possible.
- Work with committee members to ensure they complete the form three business days before the exam whenever possible to prevent delayed access to the final oral examination form.
- A final oral examination cannot proceed if all committee members have not attested that the thesis is acceptable for defense or acceptable with revisions.
- Final Examination Form - initiate this form for your committee chair at least one day before the final oral exam will be held. GSSP will email you the link 1-3 business days after the last reviewer completes the reviewers’ report form.
Scheduling
- All Psychology faculty are expected to maintain their Google Calendars to facilitate meeting scheduling. This allows you to use Google Calendar’s Find a Time tool. If all committee members do not actively maintain their calendar, or you do not have view access to their availability, consider using Doodle or another scheduling tool to identify times in common with your committee members.
- Work with your committee to determine the exam modality. If you will be holding a remote defense, review and follow the Procedure for Holding Master’s Oral Exams Remotely.
- At least two weeks before your oral exam, contact your Area Support Specialist and tell them:
- The date and time of your MA oral defense
- The names and emails of your committee members
- The name of the faculty member who is serving as the chair of your committee
- The modality of your exam (in-person, hybrid, or remote).
- Note: MA exams are closed-door with the student and committee members only.
Results
- Thesis review (Plan A only): All committee members designated as reviewers must read your dissertation and certify that it is ready for oral defense. This is communicated by the Reviewers’ Report Form. You will receive email notifications communicating the results.
- Final Exam Results: Committee chairs communicate oral exam results verbally at the end of the exam and report the results using the electronic final exam form you released to your chair before the exam (see forms, above). You will receive confirmation emails from GSSP when the results form has been received and processed.
- For Plan A, a passing result clears you to move forward with final edits, the thesis deposit process, and related forms.
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