Current Graduate Students

Information for Currently Enrolled Students in Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology (EPIT) Graduate

Degree Programs

The following guidelines provide general information about steps for your degree completion. These guidelines are in addition to your program requirements, please consult the individual web page for your program for additional information.

Who Will My Advisor Be?

Upon admission to a graduate degree program in EPSY, students will be assigned a temporary academic advisor. For students in graduate programs in EPSY not culminating in a thesis or a dissertation (M.Ed., Ed.S., non‐degree), your temporary advisor will likely become your formal advisor as you move throughout your program. These more structured programs often involve some connection to teacher certification and the advisor serves in a role that is more consistent with that process than an advisor who supervises major projects associated with the other degree programs. Students in the M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs are not required to submit an advisory committee form.

For those students in the MA and Ph.D. programs, your temporary advisor is a graduate faculty member of your area of specialization who will guide you through the selection of your initial classes and answer general questions about your program. Because it may take some time for students to become acclimated to the university and the specific program, it is not uncommon for your temporary advisor to serve in that role for a few semesters. Students often change their advisors once they have solidified a research topic of interest. A change of advisor is formalized when the student has notified the temporary advisor, new advisor, and the respective program coordinator about the requested change. The program coordinator then informs the Graduate Coordinator’s assistant about the change. The student’s advisor then assists the student in the selection of a formal advisory committee. This committee is official when the appropriate advisory form is approved by the graduate school:

For the MA,  http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_advcomms.pdf

For the Ph.D.,  http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_advcomphd.pdf

Who Can Serve on the MA or Ph.D. advisory committee?

Consult your program’s individual website for specific information on the membership of the MA and Ph.D. advisory committee. In general for students in ACD, GCE, REMS, and SPY, the Ph.D. committee must have a minimum of four members (3 of whom have to be members of the graduate faculty). Individual programs have requirements concerning the composition of the doctoral committee (e.g., two or more members from the student’s program, a member outside of the program or department). For MA programs, the chair of the committee must be a member of the graduate faculty. The minimum number of faculty on the MA committee is three. Consult your individual program website for

additional information on the membership of the MA thesis committee. Any changes to the advisory committee must be submitted formally to the department’s graduate coordinator who will forward the appropriate documentation to the graduate school.

For the MA,  http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_advcomms.pdf

For the Ph.D.,  http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_advcomphd.pdf

How Do I Register for Classes?

Each semester students must speak with their advisor about appropriate and available classes. Once classes are agreed upon, the advisor will “clear” the student to register for classes or send an email to the Graduate Coordinator’s Assistant to provide that clearance. Some classes at UGA are Permission of Department (POD) or Permission of Major (POM). These courses require special clearance. To obtain that clearance, the student must contact the instructor of record for that course and that instructor must contact the appropriate departmental representative in the department or college to provide clearance. Faculty and staff in EPSY have clearance to clear POM or POD courses in EPSY only. For courses outside of the department, please contact instructor of record for clearance. At times, students are prohibited from registering for classes because of “flags” on their accounts. Often times, these flags are the result of failure to submit required proof of immunization, proof of undergraduate degree completion, and unpaid fines. The department cannot clear students to register unless these flags are removed. Course syllabi can be found at this website: (https://syllabus.uga.edu/Browse.aspx) while course descriptions can be found at this website: (http://bulletin.uga.edu/).

Can Undergraduates Take Graduate Classes?

Yes, undergraduates can take 6000‐ or 7000‐level classes if they are members of the UGA Honors Program or are within

3‐6 hours of completing the bachelor’s degree. Departmental policy prohibits undergraduates from enrolling in 8000‐ or

9000‐level classes given the needed research and statistics background to successfully comprehend the material in these

classes. Approval for undergraduates to take graduate classes must be secured the semester prior to the start of classes in which the undergraduate wishes to enroll.

How and When Do I Submit My Program of Study?

The program of study must be submitted by the established timetable provided by the graduate school each term

(www.uga.edu/gradschool, see Deadlines). A program of study can be submitted during the semester in which the student intends to graduate, provided it is submitted to the graduate school by the required deadline. The graduate school considers it the student’s responsibility to submit all official forms required for degree completion. Failure to submit the program of study by the required graduate school deadline may result in postponing the graduation to the next term. It is recommended that the program of study be submitted the semester before the student intends to graduate.

The program of study is a form that lists a coherent set of classes that constitute the larger program. For M.Ed. and Ed.S. students, the program of study is approved by the major professor. For MA and Ph.D. students, the advisory committee approves the program of study. For students in ACD, GCE, REMS, and SPY, please consult your program’s webpage to review required courses that must be included on your program of study (e.g., ERSH 6600, ERSH 6200, EPSY 6010 or equivalent). The appropriate program of study form that needs to be submitted to your major professor/advisory committee for the respective programs in the department is found below:

For M.Ed. programs: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_prgnonphd.pdf For Ed.S. programs: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_prgnonphd.pdf For MA programs:

http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_prgmams.pdf For Ph.D. programs: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/finalphdprg.pdf

After approval by the graduate school, any changes to the program of study for any degree programs (M.Ed., MA, Ed.S., Ph.D.) approved by the major professor and advisory committee must be submitted to the department’s graduate coordinator and then forwarded to the graduate school with this form: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_recochgprog.pdf.

General Guidelines on Transferring Credits to UGA

Courses for consideration for transfer into a degree program at UGA and in any EPIT program that are taken at another institution or agency must have been taken at an accredited institution (e.g., SACS accreditation or equivalent – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). Courses taken through Georgia’s RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) network are not eligible for transfer as graduate credit at UGA. These courses are typically taken as continuing education credit (PLUs) for teacher certification and are NOT transferrable as graduate credit into a degree program at UGA. Students are encouraged to consult the UGA Graduate School’s policy on transfer of credit for specifics on the types and number of courses that may be transferred.

Master’s Programs. If graduate credit earned at an accredited institution constitutes a logical part of the student’s program, transfer of credit may be allowed when recommended by the student’s major professor and graduate coordinator, and when approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Such transfer of credit cannot exceed six semester hours and must fall within the time limit of the degree. Transfer credit cannot be used to fulfill the requirement that 12 semester hours on the program of study be open only to graduate students. No grade below B may be transferred. The courses to be transferred may not have been used in a degree program at another institution. Transfer grades are not used in calculating cumulative averages. All requests for transfer credit, with accompanying official transcripts, must be in the Graduate School by the midpoint of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. This request must be submitted using this form:

http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_reqtrfcre.pdf.

Specialist Programs. Specialist in Education degree candidates may transfer up to 6 hours from an accredited institution where the student had been fully admitted into an Ed.S. degree program. This credit must meet the same criteria as credit transferred for master’s degrees. This request must be submitted using this form: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_reqtrfcre.pdf.

Doctoral Programs. No courses taken at another institution prior to admission to the doctoral degree program

at The University of Georgia are eligible for transfer. A maximum of nine hours of credit earned after admission to UGA may be transferred pursuant to the following guidelines. If graduate credit earned at an accredited institution constitutes a logical part of the student’s program, transfer of credit may be allowed when recommended by the student’s major professor, advisory committee, graduate coordinator, and when approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Such transfer of credit must fall within the time limit of the degree. No grade below B may be transferred. The courses to be transferred may not have been used in a degree program at another institution. Transfer credit may not be used to satisfy the residency requirement. If the residency requirement has not been satisfied and the transfer course is taken during the Fall or Spring semester, a “break” in residency will occur unless the student is also registered at UGA. Transferred courses may not be included in the 16 hours of 8000 and 9000 level credit on the program of study. Transfer grades are not used in calculating cumulative averages. All requests for transfer credit, with accompanying official transcripts, must be in the Graduate School at least 30 days prior to the time the student plans to graduate. This request must be submitted using this form: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_reqtrfcre.pdf.

Who is Responsible for Submitting Forms?

The graduate school places the responsibility for completion of all forms on the individual student. The university and the graduate school send timely reminders for the due date for all relevant forms for your graduate degree to your UGA email address. Failure to comply with deadlines for receipt of forms may postpone your graduation. Forms must be signed by your major professor, advisory committee, and the departmental graduate coordinator. Once signed by the required parties, the department files your paperwork for you with the graduate school. Please do not send forms to the graduate school directly. Please check the graduate school website each semester for the deadlines for submission of forms (http://www.grad.uga.edu/deadlines.html).

M.Ed. and Ed.S. Final Examinations

For students enrolled in the M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs, please consult your programs policies concerning a final

examination for your degree. All M.Ed. and Ed.S. students must submit an approved final examination form to the graduate school. Students have the option of taking a written comprehensive examination or completing an applied project (EPSY 7650 or 8650). Once a student’s applied project or final examination is approved, the student submits the following form, used for both the final examination or the applied project, signed by the faculty who evaluated the work to the graduate coordinator who will forward the documentation to the graduate school. Please note that semester deadlines for meeting the due date for receipt of forms each semester. Students cannot graduate from a M.Ed. or Ed.S. program unless this form is received by the graduate school: http://www.coe.uga.edu/epit/pdf/mededsfinal2.pdf.

Master’s Thesis Defense

Students who are working toward the Master of Arts degree must complete a thesis. The thesis is an original research

project proposed by the student and agreed to by the members of the MA advisory committee. Students prepare a document consistent with the guidelines of the American Psychological Association and the University of Georgia Graduate School. For a student who uses human subjects in his or her research project, approval must be obtained by UGA’s Institutional Review Board. The student must submit the written thesis document to the advisory committee a minimum of two weeks before the formal defense. After a successful defense, the advisory committee completes this form which is signed by all members of the advisory committee, student, and departmental graduate coordinator: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_apprform.pdf. This completed document must reach the graduate school by the deadlines established by the graduate school each term.

Doctoral Written and Oral Comprehensive Examinations

All students pursuing a doctoral degree must write and defend oral comprehensive examinations. Each program has a slightly different approach to written and oral comprehensive examinations. Please consult the individual web page for your program for additional information. While there is variation among programs, the graduate school must be notified a minimum of two weeks prior to the oral examination. Students should send the following information to the Graduate Coordinator’s Assistant who will formally submit the request for the defense date to the graduate school: student name, major, last four digits of social security number, examination date, examination room location and building, major professor’s name, and names of all committee members. The graduate school processes this information and returns formal signature documents to the department to sign following a successful defense. The faculty formally vote on the written examinations prior to the oral defense. The faculty indicate their pass or fail score on the one document that is forwarded from the graduate school to the committee, Written and oral examinations must be completed prior to the prospectus defense.

Dissertation Prospectus

All students pursuing a doctoral degree must defend a dissertation prospectus. This is the last step of the doctoral

program required for the student to become a doctoral candidate. The prospectus must be a written document that is defended orally for the advisory committee. Upon successful defense, the major professor and advisory committee complete an internal form document the successful prospectus defense: http://www.coe.uga.edu/epit/pdf/PROSPECTUS_APPROVAL.pdf. At this time, the admission to doctoral candidacy form is also completed and forwarded to the graduate coordinator who will send the appropriate documentation to the graduate school: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_candphd.pdf.

Dissertation Defense and Final Examination

The dissertation is an original research project proposed by the student and agreed to by the members of the Ph.D. advisory committee. Students prepare a document consistent with the guidelines of the American Psychological Association and the University of Georgia Graduate School. For a student who uses human subjects in his or her research project, approval must be obtained by UGA’s Institutional Review Board. The student must submit the written dissertation document to the advisory committee a minimum of three weeks before the formal defense. The major professor notifies the graduate coordinator of the date and location for the defense. A formal request for the defense of the dissertation must be made to the graduate school a minimum of two weeks prior to the defense through this website by the department’s graduate coordinator: http://www.gradsch.uga.edu:5080/announcements/new_defense.htm. After a successful defense, the advisory committee completes this form which is signed by all members of the advisory committee, student, and departmental graduate coordinator: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/forms&publications/body_appphddis.pdf. This completed document must reach the graduate school by the deadlines established by the graduate school each term. In addition, the doctoral candidate who wishes to participate in the commencement ceremony, must submit information to the graduate school with this form: https://gradschoolforms.webapps.uga.edu/commencement_applications/new.

How Do I Submit Grievance about a Concern that I have?

While unfortunate, at times students have concerns about courses, grades, or other incidents that occur during the course of their program of study. The department follows this policy on concerns raised by students:

“An EPSY student has the right to file a grievance. However, the accused instructor also has a right to be informed of any grievance against him or her. This procedure is intended to protect the student while retaining due process for the faculty member. Therefore, the EPSY student grievance procedure is:

1.   Student submits grievance in writing to the Graduate Coordinator.

2.   The Graduate Coordinator will serve as the Chairperson of the Student Grievance Review Committee. The results of the review will be sent to the student (copied to the student’s academic program advisor and the Department Head). The student will decide if the review committee’s response is satisfactory.

3.   If the student is satisfied, no further action is required.

4.   If the student remains dissatisfied, he or she should file an appeal with the Department Head (copied to the student’s academic program advisor).  The Department Head will determine the next step.

In addition, students can also contact the UGA Student Ombudsperson.

Applying to Graduate

All students who are working to complete a graduate degree program at UGA must apply to graduate. This can occur as late as the semester in which the student intends to graduate but must be received before the deadline provided by the graduate school. Graduate application deadlines are enforced by the Graduate School. Students who do not file by the deadline may pay a late fee for the late application forms to be filed. Students should complete this electronic form which is filed directly with the graduate school: https://gradschoolforms.webapps.uga.edu/graduation_applications/new.

How Do I Obtain the Certification I Received on my Professional Teaching Certificate?

The department does not process paperwork for students who are adding certification to their Georgia teaching credentials. Students who need assistance in completing required paperwork are asked to consult the College of Education’s certification officer, Ms. Kate Character in the Office of Student Services (122 Aderhold Hall; (706) 542‐

1717). In addition, the human resource officers of the school districts in which the applicant is employed often process these certification requests.

How do I fund my education?

Applicants who wish to be considered for financial support should complete the application for financial support. This application can be found at this web link:  http://www.coe.uga.edu/epit/students/Assist.pdf. Applications can be sent by email to the graduate coordinator or mailed to the physical address, Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Georgia, 323 Aderhold Hall, Athens, Georgia, 30602. The University of Georgia Graduate School web page also has valuable information about funding available for incoming graduate students (www.uga.edu/gradschool). Applicants who are seeking degree programs and accompanying certification should also considered reviewing the Georgia College 411 website for service

cancelable loan programs for those pursing degrees and certification in critical shortage areas

(http://gacollege411.org).

How Do I Get Involved in the Department’s Student Organizations?

The department hosts two student organizations that support students through lectures, travel funding, and student engagement: