TRAJECTORY
What To Expect The First Year
Much of a student’s time during the first year is devoted to required course work--thecore integrated course in Social and Personality Psychology and its Lab, Research Methods & Design, Statistics, and Current Issues in Social/Personality (see courses section). Students also are involved in research. Students are encouraged to participate in research apprenticeships, such as working with faculty advisors on some aspect of their current research; and, in the second semester, the formulation of a question and initial literature review for the Second Year Research Project. Students also participate in other subprogram-wide events like Subprogram Meetings and gatherings with other programs.
Students in the first year can choose to participate in research groups, enroll in an elective course, take one or more of the research modules, and volunteer for a Subprogram subcommittee, such as the Curriculum Committee. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of colloquia sponsored by the Developmental or Environmental Psychology subprograms and by other units of the Graduate School, such as Women's Studies.
During the spring of the first year, students are provided guidelines/instructions for the subprogram’s First Doctoral Examination. With the assistance of their advisors, students begin preparing their conceptual examination, during the spring term. Students submit their final examination at the end of June between the first and second years.
What To Expect The Next Few Years
There is great variation in students' interests, goals for training, research projects, concurrent activities and life demands. All of these lead to variation among students in actual time required to complete the Ph.D. In some cases more time is needed, for example, when the dissertation involves collecting longitudinal data or the student is adding extra courses as part of an interdisciplinary concentration or certificate program. In other cases, such as those for students who have completed some course work at other institutions, the schedule of requirements may be shortened. Students work with advisors and mentors to establish and maintain the schedule that is best for them. What is important is that there are specified goals and a plan to achieve them. Also, students need adhere to the university-wide requirement that the CUNY Ph.D. be completed no later than 8 years after matriculation (students who matriculate after the completion of 30 credits of transferable graduate school work at another institution must complete all requirements within 7 years).
Nevertheless, the Program in Social/Personality is designed so that it is possible to complete it within four to five years of work. To meet that goal, students follow a sequence like that presented below:
First Year:
Core required courses (see program courses)
Participation in Brown Bag (see events) Seminars, Program Meetings, 1st Year Proseminar
Collaborative research with faculty
Second Year:
Course work and participation in Brown Bags and Program Meetings
Design, conduct and write-up Second-Year Research Project
Advancement to Level II (this comes with successful completion of the First Doctoral Examination and 45 course credits, and brings a reduction in tuition -- see University Handbook for details)
Third Year:
Course work and participation in Brown Bags and Program Meetings
Continued involvement in research
Write and defend the Second Doctoral Examination
Fourth Year:
Continued participation in program activities and optional course work
Submission of Dissertation Topic Proposal
Advancement to Level III (the comes with the completion of all course work, the approval of the Dissertation Topic, and it brings a reduction in tuition -- see University Handbook for details)
Write and defend dissertation proposal
Dissertation research
Fifth Year and Beyond:
Complete and defend Dissertation
Job applications