For Incoming Students
- First, set up your myUMBC account (MUST be done in order to accept the offer of admission)
- For onboarding information for your Graduate Assistantship- Please email Arianne Burroughs (aburroug@umbc.edu)
- For International Students
- International Student Arrival Guide 2022
- International Student Orientation is required for all incoming international students
- This is run by the International Student and Scholar Services
- You will not be able to be paid as a Graduate Assistant until you have relocated to the Baltimore area.
- We will use a temporary place holder until you get a Social Security number, but you will need to prioritize going to a Social Security Administration office to start the process of getting your Social Security number.
- We cannot help you with this process nor can the university or Psychology department give you a Social Security number to use.
- I-20 Information and Financial Responsibilities
- The university needs you to input the needed information so that we can create the I-20 form for you. You will need the I-20 to apply for your F-1 Visa.
- New Student Checklist
- Includes Orientation information for all incoming students
- Maryland Residency Form to assess you for in state tuition eligibility
- Health Insurance Information for Graduate Assistants
- Graduate Assistant Handbook
Registration
- If you need to take a course at another institution to complete your degree program here, information on the process can be found on the Graduate Schools website.
- The form from the Registrar’s office is here: https://registrar.umbc.edu/forms/enrollment-forms/#usm
- Excess Credits- If you need to register for more than 12 credits in any semester, you will need to register for all of the courses that you can and then email Dr. Jeffrey Halverson (jeffhalv@umbc.edu) to request assistance with manually registering for the final course. In your email you will need:
- Permission from your Mentor to register for the classes
- Your full name and Campus ID number
- The name, session, and instructor for the course you want to register for.
- GRAD601
- Is used by Graduate Assistants to help maintain their full time course load. This is a 5 credit course that you can register for and use your GA hours.
- PSYC799– Master’s Thesis Research (Can be 2 to 6 credit hours per course)
- Six credit hours are required for the master’s degree
- PSYC899– Doctoral Dissertation Research
- Prerequisite: Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Required.
- A minimum of 2 semesters are required for graduation.
- PSYC900- Psychology Internship Course
- This course can be used if a student is on internship and has already completed their dissertation.
Degree Progression Guide
(This is an example plan to show progression, individual timelines will vary by student)
- 1st Year
- Registering for classes- Please speak with your Mentor about what initial courses you should register for.
- Students typically do not register for classes until closer to Orientation in the Fall. If you register too early, then you will start getting tuition payment reminders until classes start.
- We will make sure that there is a seat in any class for you. So you do not need to register early to save your spot.
- Students typically do not register for classes until closer to Orientation in the Fall. If you register too early, then you will start getting tuition payment reminders until classes start.
- Getting Fees paid
- Fees are paid for students for the first 3 years their are in the program
- Adding a Masters degree to your PhD program
- The Concurrent Master’s Degree Program Application can be found on the Grad School’s website. It is a one page form that requires your signature and the signature of your Graduate Program Director (Dr. Steven Pitts for HSP and Dr. Susan Sonnenschein for ADP).
- Please use this form if you are wanting to graduate with your Masters as part of your doctoral program.
- Please only submit the DOC version of this form. The Grad School cannot process the PDF.
- The Program Code is either HSPS or ADPS
- The Track codes are: BEME CON for BMed, CASP CON for Community, and CLPS CON for Clinical track.
- The codes for the semester are a little difficult. If you mean August 2022, then the code is 2228. This is because 2022 and August is the 8th month. So use the first and then final two numbers of the year followed by the last number of the month to get the semester code.
- The Concurrent Master’s Degree Program Application can be found on the Grad School’s website. It is a one page form that requires your signature and the signature of your Graduate Program Director (Dr. Steven Pitts for HSP and Dr. Susan Sonnenschein for ADP).
- Registering for classes- Please speak with your Mentor about what initial courses you should register for.
- 2nd Year
- Beginning to work in the UMBC Psychology Training Clinic
- Thesis Process
- Due two (2) months prior to the final exam.
- Check with your Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Catalog for related information regarding: preparation of your thesis, examination committee, final examinations and other requirements for the master’s degree.
- Submit the Nomination of Members for the Final Master’s Examination Committee form.
- The Graduate School will then notify the Chairman of the Committee and the Dean’s selected representative of the approved/appointed committee by returning the above form showing Graduate School approval and appointment of the Dean’s representative.
- Due two (2) weeks before the thesis defense.
- After the final defense has been scheduled, the student should submit the Certification of Readiness to Defend the Master’s Thesis form. This will be signed by the Committee Chair (and Co-Chair, if relevant) and GPD. The Graduate School will then send the Procedures for Examination of the Master’s Thesis and the Report of the Examining Committee form to the Dean’s representative of your committee.
- Due within two (2) business days after the oral defense. The Representative for the Dean returns the completed Report of the Examining Committee form to the Graduate School.
- Due two (2) months prior to the final exam.
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- Approval Sheet & Thesis
- The signed approval sheet and electronic thesis must be submitted to UMI/ProQuest by the dates per semester listed below. The original signed approval sheet must also be submitted to the Graduate School.
- Fall: December 1
- Summer: August 1
- Spring: May 1
- The signed approval sheet and electronic thesis must be submitted to UMI/ProQuest by the dates per semester listed below. The original signed approval sheet must also be submitted to the Graduate School.
- Certification of Completion- The below dates are the last day to submit the Certification of Completion of Master’s Degree Requirements form.
- Approval Sheet & Thesis
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- Fall: December 20 Please only submit the DOC version of this form. The Grad School cannot process the PDF.
- Summer: August 19
- Spring: May 19
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- 3rd Year
- Comprehensives /Qualifying Exam (if eligible)
- Internship
- Money for Interview travel
- Please submit an Request Ticket (RT) and select Graduate Student and then Travel from the drop down menus.
- Money for Interview travel
- HSP Clinical Track Externship Process and Timeline
- 4th Year
- You must be admitted to candidacy within five years after admission to the doctoral program. Once you have fulfilled all the requirements for candidacy, please submit the Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy form.
- Due six (6) months prior to defense. Please submit the Nomination of Members for the Final Doctoral Examination Committee form as well as a curriculum vitae for any nominees who are not members of the Graduate Faculty.
- Request for Approval of Dissertation Proposal
- Certificate of Readiness to Defend Doctoral Dissertation
- Due 2 weeks prior to defense
- Announcement of PhD Dissertation Defense [PDF]
- Also due 2 weeks prior to defense
- Certification of Completion of the Clinical Internship (For Human Services Psychology Students Only) [PDF]
- 6th Year
- Apply for Graduation
- August Graduation
- Apply to Graduate: April 1 – June 15
- Supplemental Application Due: June 30
- December Graduation
- Apply to Graduate: July 1 – September 15
- Supplemental Application Due: September 30
- May Graduation
- Apply to Graduate: December 1 – February 15
- Supplemental Application Due: March 1
- Please look out for Nicole Mooney to email you a Supplemental Application to complete before she can process your Graduation Application
- If you do not end up graduating that semester, then you will need to email Nicole Mooney to have your application cancelled. Otherwise you will not be able to apply for graduation in a later semester.
- August Graduation
- Permission to Participate in the Commencement Ceremony Before Completing the Clinical Internship (For Human Services Psychology Students Only) Request [PDF]
- Apply for Graduation
Ways to get involved in the Department
- Becoming a Teaching Fellow
- Becoming a Program Representative for either HSP or ADP
- Program Representatives are expected to attend monthly program specific meetings.
- As well as attend monthly Graduate Program Committee (GPC) meetings.
- In each meeting, the representatives have a voice but no vote.
- Program Representatives will assist with “visit day” (which will be “Virtual Visit Week” this year)
- Program Representatives serve as a liaison between HSP or ADP students and the HSP or ADP programs.
- To become a Program Representative, please email your Program Director.
- Getting a Summer TA job
- Email Eileen O’Brien if you are interested in a Summer TA position
How To:
- Change your track
- Email your Program Director and CC your Mentor and Graduate Program Coordinators
- Request a Deferral
- Request a Leave of Absence
- Leave the Program