Psychology Department
Thesis
Announcements
The Thesis Office is now requiring students planning to submit a thesis to
register prior to submitting thesis via a "Thesis Author Login Form:"
http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/thesis.html
PDF version of Psychology Thesis Guidelines available
(note: links are active on html version only, not PDF):
http://www.csulb.edu/~psych/gradprgm/currstud/thesisgd08.pdf
The University Thesis Office is now accepting theses printed on 20 lb paper - the special Southworth business paper is no longer a requirement!
A list of published Psychology department theses abstracts has been added to the
department, back to 1990:
MAIO:
http://www.csulb.edu/~psych/gradprgm/alumni/thesesio/thesesio.html
MAR:
http://www.csulb.edu/~psych/gradprgm/alumni/thesesmar/thesesmar.html
Information regarding thesis unit registration is listed on the Registration Concerns page of the Graduate Newsletter.
Please see note under Ethical Use of Subjects below regarding coming requirements for IRB.
Students are to send their self-produced Orals announcement to their thesis chair, via email attachment, at least one week in advance of their scheduled date. A template, generated in Word, has been posted on the department web site for your use. Please remind your thesis chair that he/she is to distribute your announcement via email to the faculty and to cc: me on the email - by doing so, your chair gives his/her approval.
Our masters' students may use the department's projector for PowerPoint presentations at their orals. Your thesis chair must check out the projector for you; you must supply your own computer. It is suggested that arrangements for using the data projector be made well in advance -- more and more the professors are using it for their courses.
A thesis committee Signature Sheet template is available to assist you -- it is generated in MS Word. (This is for your completed thesis manuscript - you may wish to have it printed out and available for your final oral for your committee to sign - see the Psychology Thesis Guidelines web page for details and advice: http://www.csulb.edu/~psych/gradprgm/currstud/thesisgd07.html.)
You may obtain the latest edition of the University Thesis Guidelines via the university library web site (in PDF).
The published submission time periods are listed on the University Thesis
Office's web site:
Semester
Submission Period For Theses
Dated
Winter 2008
12/3/07 - 1/11/08
January 2008
Spring 2008
2/15/08 - 3/28/08
May 2008
Summer 2008
6/6/08 - 7/11/08
August 2008
Fall 2008
9/12/08- 10/24/08 December 2008
You may submit your thesis as soon as the beginning date of the submission period. Theses are processed "first in, first out." Those submitted towards the end of the submission period will take longer to process than those submitted at the beginning.
The University Thesis Office will be checking for the following only: clear margins, permission letters, faculty signature and font size. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to make sure that all references are correct, the University and APA formats are being followed and that there are no typos. It is recommended that you contract with your typist for her or him to check references, and that you choose a typist familiar with the APA style and University requirements.
Out-of-town students are responsible for arranging for someone to walk their thesis through the process between the various offices and the Bookstore. The department does not handle this.
Thesis Support Groups
The UCLA-area MAR thesis support group is celebrating the successful completion of its members' theses, and is no longer meeting. If you're interested in helping to establish a local thesis support group, please let me know.
Thesis Guidelines/Faculty Research Areas
The latest edition of the Psychology Department Thesis Guidelines (not to be confused with the University publication) for Fall 2007 through Summer 2008 is available on-line. This handout takes you through the process of completing your thesis step-by-step via a detailed timeline/order of events. Also included are visual examples of how to do your Orals Announcement and your thesis committee's Signature Sheet.
Added to the bottom of the on-line version of the Guidelines is a list of links associated with the thesis process.
Also available is the updated list of research areas of faculty willing to chair or be a member of a Thesis committee.
Ethical Use of Subjects (Animal & Human)
University policy on the use of human subjects requires screening by the University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Any study involving human subjects, whether from the Psychology department subject pool or otherwise, must be reviewed by this committee. Please check their web site regarding instructions on filing IRB paperwork.
At the time of preliminary orals, you will receive a packet containing the URL of the IRB's web site. You are required to fill the protocol form via the IRB's web site (with your thesis chair's guidance) and submit to the IRB. No study involving human subjects may begin until IRB approval is obtained. Please plan your time schedule accordingly.
If you are using animals in your research, you must submit your proposal to the University Animal Welfare Board.
Requirements for Preliminary Orals
Prior to announcing Preliminary Orals, students must have their Thesis Committee approved by the Graduate Advisor. Please contact the Graduate Office as soon as you have determined your three committee members, so that the appropriate required paperwork may be sent to the College Office. The tentative title of your thesis is also required at that time.
Please don't forget to submit a copy of your thesis PROPOSAL (i.e., a copy of the same draft you're submitting to your committee) to the Graduate Office along with your Preliminary Orals announcement (abstract). Along the same lines, a copy of your thesis draft is required when announcing Final Orals -- again, a week before your Oral date.
Extended Loans from the Library
If you are enrolled in PSY 697, 698 (thesis) or GS 700, you may obtain a special loan card from the library which enables you to check out books for extended periods (basically throughout the entire semester). The Graduate Advisor's signature is required.
Department copies of published theses may be checked out from the Grad Office for 2-3 weeks. Some earlier draft copies are also available, for those who are preparing for Orals. Students may also check out published theses from the University Library. Department theses abstracts may be read on the department web site and are linked from the Current, Perspective and Alumni web sites.
Updated 8/27/08