This course examines the interplay of individual and contextual factors and sets the stage for the remainder of the student's study in the Program. Core Comprehensive Requirements - Ph.D. candidates must select at least one approved course from three of the four programmatic knowledge areas. Reflecting the program's commitment to training in both depth and breadth, all students must pass qualifying examinations before beginning their dissertations. The program will administer qualifying examinations twice each year, once during fall semester and once during spring semester. Students should announce, to the Program Director, their intention of sitting for a particular examination at least three months in advance of the date of the examination.
Students preparing for qualifying examinations at the same time often form study and support groups.
The qualifying examination is administered in the Psychology Department over the course of six hours, with an extra hour to be used as a lunch break. This is a closed book exam, but you may bring one page of notes. All students taking the examination at the same time are given the same four questions, which they will not have seen until the beginning of the examination. These questions are designed to assess their understanding of individual and contextual issues in human development and the methods psychologists use to study these issues. Each student chooses to answer three of these four questions.