Seven Year Rule/Change of Program
You have seven years from the end of the first semester's coursework used for your program to complete your Master's degree. Any courses older than that must be revalidated. It is highly suggested that you do not let your coursework go over seven years - revalidation is a lot of work for both the student and the thesis committee, who must revalidate the coursework (see below). Contact the Psychology Grad Office before final orals for further information. Please don't let your entire program (courses other than thesis units) go over seven years -- it gets much more complicated. Please, please avoid this!
If your entire program is not over the seven year limit, your thesis committee revalidates your outdated coursework by either a written or oral process during your final orals. The University expects you to be up-to-date on the course content -- the current theories and knowledge in the field, not necessarily what was covered when you took the course(s). Your committee will be provided paperwork from the Psych Grad Office that lists the courses requiring revalidation; however, you should check with your committee well in advance regarding any suggested articles or other publications to aid in preparation.
For those whose entire program is over seven years, the revalidation process is more formalized. Your entire program coursework will need to be revalidated, via written exam only. Again, you would be tested on course content as the classes would be taught today.
Revalidation of a course is considered valid for no more than two semesters.
Change of Program
If you want to make a change in your program after advancing to candidacy, you must file a "Change of Graduate Program" form with the Psychology Grad Office. This tells the Master's Evaluator in the Enrollment Services Office what courses to check for when he or she does your grad check and/or your actual clearance for graduation. Also, you will not be cleared for graduation until the University Thesis Office notifies Enrollment Services that your thesis has been received (i.e., paid for -- you need to give your receipt number to the Thesis Office).
Updated 10/31/06