Getting Started
Students are encouraged to work closely with a faculty member’s research program for their thesis project. The Psychology department’s web site has a list of faculty research interests and on-going projects. This document is updated at the beginning of each Fall semester. The MAPR Seminar PSY 696 has been revised to strengthen its thesis component.
If you are unsure about a project or about the format of the written materials, previous theses are available via the University Library, through the ProQuest database. Links to abstracts and full text on the database are listed on the department web site by program: MAPR, MSHF, MSIO. Some recent full text theses may be viewed and printed via the database (access to full text is available to current students). However, keep in mind that formatting requirements may have changed – please defer to the Format Manual for Theses and Dissertations, available on-line via the campus library (it is formatted as a visual example of the required style – minus the headers and footers). Also helpful is the Mini Manuscript example.
You must apply for Advancement to Candidacy during the semester you first enroll in PSY 698 (Thesis) or already have been Advanced to Candidacy. Also, you must have a thesis Chair by the time you request to register for PSY 698. Get the registration course class number from the Psychology Graduate Office to register for your thesis units – the name of your thesis Chair is required to register for thesis units (this will be verified with the faculty member). Thesis units must be taken in increments of three (either 3 per semester or all 6 at once), for your program total of 6 units.
If you have completed the required number of thesis units for your program but have not completed the thesis, you must continue to be enrolled in the University. This can be accomplished by enrolling in GS 700B through the Extension Office (CPIE). Enrollment in GS 700B maintains your status in the University at the cost of one unit (no credit earned, however). Please see the Graduate Newsletter for details. Please be aware of the seven-year limit rule regarding coursework.
For each semester that you enroll in Thesis units (PSY 698), you will receive “RP” on your transcript. (This stands for “Report in Progress.”) At the time of final orals, your Thesis Committee will determine a grade for your thesis. Once your thesis is accepted by the Thesis and Dissertation Office, an electronic Change of Grade will be sent to the Enrollment Services Office, to be used to change your total units of PSY 698 (six for all programs) from “RP” to the grade you receive. For example, if your committee gives you an “A” on your thesis, you will receive 6 units of “A” as your grade for PSY 698 once your thesis is accepted (there is no grading for GS 700B). Do not register for extra thesis units beyond your required 6 units – this will result in a delay in your graduation processing and a “W” (or worse) on your transcript!
The University thesis office’s handbook, Format Manual for Theses and Dissertations, is available on-line via the Library’s web site, as a PDF version (print pages as needed).
Contact information: Thesis and Dissertation Office, Rm LIB 501 (fifth floor), (thesis@csulb.edu, 562-985-4013); Psychology Graduate Advisor (Diane.Roe@csulb.edu, 562-985-5000); Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (Deborah.Thien@csulb.edu, 562-985-5381).
Your first step will be to approach a full time tenured/tenure-track Psychology department faculty member to ask them to serve as your thesis Chair. Although it is not necessary to have done research with a professor to ask them to chair your committee, it’s usually expected for your topic to be related to their research interest(s). Very often, the Chair will then help you select your other members. Three members are required and usually more are permitted, but more members will require more coordination at each stage. All of the members must participate live during the meetings (members other than the Chair may Skype if necessary), but the Chair must be physically present at both preliminary and final orals, as well as the student author (if you are no longer in the area, you must make arrangements to be here physically). Please check with all members as to their plans for the future, including sabbaticals, and in particular as to summer plans (often orals wind up being later than you planned). Once you have your committee members selected, contact the Graduate Advisor to report your committee members for department approval. COVID-19: While classes are taught online, Orals meetings are taking place via Zoom.
MA-Psychological Research Thesis Committee Members:
A MA-Psychological Research thesis committee shall consist of at least two full-time in residence, tenured/tenure track faculty members from Psychology (including the Chair) and one other individual who holds at least a Master’s degree. If there are compelling academic reasons, a student may petition the MA-Psychological Research Program Committee to approve a thesis committee that includes a tenured/tenure track faculty member from Psychology who shall serve as the Chair, a tenured/tenure track CSULB faculty member from another department or program, and other individual(s) from the community who hold(s) at least a Master’s degree.
MS-Industrial/Organizational Thesis Committee Members:
A MS-Industrial/Organizational thesis committee shall consist of two full-time in residence, tenured/tenure track faculty members in Psychology, including the Chair; the third may be any professionally qualified person with a minimum of a Master’s degree.