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| The Graduate School |
GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN SCIENCES
Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Applied Science
The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Applied Science is an interdisciplinary, integrative degree involving faculty from the College of Engineering and the College of Sciences. The program is particularly suited to the emerging trends in the scientific and engineering communities.
Admissions
Admission to the doctoral program is based on reasonable evidence that the applicant will prove capable of scholarly research on a broad intellectual foundation. All students enrolling in the program must have a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, physics, mathematics, geophysics, computer science, or a closely related field, or be willing to complete coursework required in an existing Master’s program in one of the participating departments at UNO while pursuing the Ph.D. Admission decisions will be based primarily on grade-point average, Graduate Record Examination scores, and letters of recommendation. Foreign applicants (non-English speaking countries) must also have a satisfactory TOEFL score.
Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Applied Science Degree Requirements
Students enrolled in the program must satisfy all general requirements of the UNO Graduate School. Following are the formal procedural requirements for students to receive the Ph.D. degree in Engineering and Applied Science.
Ph.D. candidates must complete a minimum of 51 semester credit hours of graduate course work in an approved program beyond the Bachelor’s degree, not including dissertation writing. The credit hours may include up to 30 semester hour credits obtained in a Master’s degree program, if the area of the Master’s degree is relevant to the doctoral program.Up to six of these 30 credits may be for thesis research. In addition, a doctoral dissertation based on the results of original research under the guidance of a faculty committee and defended in a public examination is required for the doctoral program. At least 30 semester hours of dissertation credit must be earned.
Departments participating in the program are Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Computer Science, Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics, and Physics. The student’s dissertation advisory committee will consist of at least five members. No more than three can be from any one department. There must be at least one committee member from each of the colleges of Engineering and Sciences. Program qualification is administered by the department of the principal advisor(s). It is based on material in a typical departmentalized master’s degree program, or equivalent. Courses are chosen with the consent of the dissertation advisory committee. The committee shall consider the interdisciplinary nature of the program when they approve the courses. A minimum of nine credits (three courses) must be taken in each college. A General (comprehensive) Examination will be administered by the dissertation advisory committee. The examination will be based on material in the student’s program of study. After passing the General Examination the Ph.D. student is expected to write a dissertation prospectus and defend it before the dissertation advisory committee. After a successful defense and committee approval of the prospectus the student may pursue research leading to the dissertation. (The student may register for a maximum of 12 dissertation credits before successful defense and approval of the prospectus provided that Program Qualification has been successfully completed.) The dissertation should reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the program. There must be a final public defense of the dissertation administered by the dissertation advisory committee.
Financial Aid
Teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified graduate students on a competitive basis.
Master of Arts in Science Teaching
Master of Arts in Science Teaching Degree Requirements
The degree can be earned by completing a non-thesis program consisting of 33 credit hours of course work. The program requires 21 hours of science courses including at least six hours in each of two major science areas. The major science areas are Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics, and Physics. In addition, at least 12 of these hours must be in courses at the 6000 level. Three credit hours of approved Education course work related to the student’s area of scientific specialization are also required. The remaining nine hours may be taken in a major science area or a cognate area such as Education, Computer Science or Psychology. A minimum of 15 hours must be at or above the 6000 level.
The program requires an overall B average (3.0) or better in formal course work.
Biological Sciences
Program of Study
The Department of Biological Sciences offers programs of study leading to the Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences and Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology. Independent research is conducted under the guidance of a dissertation advisor and graduate committee selected by the student to reflect their research interests. Research specializations represented by the graduate faculty are diverse, including population and community ecology, conservation ecology, conservation genetics, molecular genetics, systematics and phylogeny reconstruction, and reproductive physiology.
Admission
After acceptance by the Graduate School, students will be admitted to graduate study upon recommendation of the Graduate Admissions Committee. In making its recommendation, the committee will consider the student’s previous academic record, Graduate Record Examination scores, and letters of recommendation. No student will be admitted without a commitment from a faculty member to serve as temporary advisor for the first academic year. Entering students may be required to take undergraduate courses to correct deficiencies in basic areas of biology.
Financial Aid
Teaching assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. Support from teaching assistantships is renewable annually and is conditional upon satisfactory performance and progress as assessed by the graduate committee. Some research assistantships may be available and are based on extramural funding to faculty members. Qualified applicants may also be nominated by the department for University fellowships and scholarships.
Doctor of Philosophy in Conservation Biology Degree Requirements
Course Work: Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. Specific courses will be selected under the advisement of the committee and will depend on the research objectives and level of preparedness for those objectives. A minimum of 18 credit hours of course work must be at the 6000 level. The following courses or appropriate substitutions are required:
1. ‑Biological Sciences 6062, Scientific Communications (2 credit hours), to be taken during the first year of study.
2. ‑A minimum of two 6000-level graduate lecture courses in biological sciences, excluding seminars and Biological Problems (6 credit hours).
3. ‑A minimum of one statistics course taken for graduate credit (3 credit hours).
4. A minimum of one two-unit seminar course.
5. ‑Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language. In cases where a foreign language is not appropriate for a student’s research goals, a course providing more appropriate skills such as a computer language course may be substituted with the approval of the advisory committee.
Each of the above requirements should be satisfied during the first two years of study. In addition, after successfully passing the General Examination, students are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours of Biological Sciences 7050, Dissertation Research.
Graduate Committee and Exams–Each student is expected to select a major advisor by the end of the first year of study. A qualifying exam will be taken in the first year to assess whether undergraduate courses should be taken to address deficiencies in preparation. This requirement may be satisfied by taking the GRE biology subject test prior to enrollment. An advisory committee of at least three members of the graduate faculty will be appointed to direct the student in their research program. After the direction of the student’s research area has been clearly established, and prior to the general examination, the committee is enlarged from three to five members. All such committees are nominated by the department chair and appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. The General Examination is normally scheduled at the end of the second year of doctoral study. Prior to the General Examination the student will present a seminar open to the university community.
Dissertation: The Ph.D. degree requirements include submission of a dissertation embodying original research in a specialized area. The dissertation must be submitted to and approved by the student’s graduate committee and defended in an oral thesis examination that is open to the public.
Master of Science in Biological Sciences Degree Requirements
Master of Science candidates are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, including six credit hours of Thesis Research (BIOS 7000), six credit hours of 6000-level lecture or lecture/laboratory courses, and four credit hours of graduate seminar courses (which may include Scientific Communication, BIOS 6022). The remaining 14 credit hours must be at the 4000G or 6000 level and may not include more than four credit hours of Biological Problems (BIOS 6090). A minimum of 12 of the 24 non-thesis credit hours must be in the Department of Biological Sciences. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in graduate coursework, and a maximum of three credit hours of graduate coursework with the grade of C may be applied toward the degree requirements.
Advisory Committee: Each M.S. student has an advisory committee that directs the coursework and research. In the first semester in th M.S. program, the student selects a faculty member from the Department of Biological Sciences to serve as chair of the advisory committee. By the end of the second semester, the advisory committee is expanded to a minimum of three members. At least half of the members of the advisory committee must come from the department of Biological Sciences.
Thesis–The Master of Science degree requires a thesis embodying original research in a specialized area. The thesis must be presented in a public seminar and approved by the student's advisory committee in an oral thesis examination.
Biomedical Sciences Concentration
Based upon a collaborative agreement between the University of New Orleans and the Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Graduate Studies–New Orleans, graduate students interested in developing skills and expertise in research areas associated with biomedical applications may take courses and conduct research leading to the Master of Sciences degree with a Biomedical Sciences concentration. Students in good standing may enter the program with the approval of their major professor, their advisory committee, and in collaboration with a graduate faculty member at the LSUMC School of Graduate Studies. The faculty member at LSUMC School of Graduate Studies will become a member of the student’s advisory committee. A minimum of three credit hours of courses will be taken at the LSUMC School of Graduate Studies. Thesis research may be done at either or both institutions.
Chemistry
Admission
After the student has been accepted by the Graduate School, admission to graduate study in chemistry will be determined by the department upon the basis of Graduate Record Examination scores and the recommendations received in the application.
Programs in Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry offers both Masters’ and Doctoral programs. Both the M.S. and the Ph.D. are research degrees and require an original investigation by the student. Students may choose to pursue the Ph.D. degree directly from the baccalaureate degree, or after earning an M.S. degree.
Financial Aid
Teaching assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. Research assistantships supported by grant funds of individual faculty members are also available. Summer support is available in each type of assistantship. The amount paid is proportionately scaled to the academic year stipend.
Master of Science in Chemistry Degree Requirements
Upon entrance of the graduate program, each student will be given placement examinations covering undergraduate preparation in the major areas of chemistry. Results of these tests will provide a basis for selection of the courses to be pursued during the student's first year.
The minimum requirement for the degree of Master of Science is 18 credit hours of graduate course work. At least nine hours must be concentrated in one of the divisions of chemistry. In addition, a minimum of six hours must be taken across two other chemical divisions. With the approval of the student's thesis committee and the department chair, the additional three may be taken in graduate level non-chemistry courses. Also required for the Master' degree are nine hours of research/thesis (at the 7000 level), and three hours of credit in CHEM 6095 (Seminar) for a total of 30 semester hours. The candidate must obtain an overall B (3.0) average in formal course work, a B (3.0) average in the major area and a 2.75 average outside of the major area.
Courses at the 4000-level can only be used for graduate credit with the approval of the student's thesis committee and the department chair.
For those who are working toward the Ph.D. but wish to earn a Master of Science degree, passing grades in three cumulative exams (see next section) are required in addition to the aforementioned 30 hours of credit. In place of the thesis, the department will substitute an article accepted for publication, describing a substantial piece of research done while enrolled in the Graduate School.
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry Degree Requirements
The requirements for the Ph.D. degree are as follows:
1. ‑Placement examinations will be given to each student accepted for graduate work in chemistry in each of the major fields of chemistry. The student’s graduate committee will consider the results of these examinations as well as the student’s record in graduate course work in determining when the student is qualified.
2. ‑The minimum requirement for the Ph.D. degree is 18 credit hours of graduate course work. At least nine hours must be concentrated in one of the divisions of chemistry. In addition, a minimum of six hours must be taken across two other chemical divisions. With the approval of the student's thesis committee and the department chair, the additional three may be taken in graduate level non-chemistry courses. Required reading courses (CHEM 6090, 6091, 6092, and 6093, one hour each) are not counted as part of the 18 hours. Six credits in CHEM 6095 (seminar) and at least 32 research credits in research/dissertation (CHEM 7050) go toward completion of the 60-semester hour minimum.
‑Courses at the 4000-level can only be used for graduate credit with the approval of the student's thesis committee and the department chair.
3. ‑To become an applicant for the doctorate, a student must pass the qualifying exam. This exam is administered trough a cumulative system in which the student must pass three separate examinations for a total of nine. All cumulative examinations must be passed within a two-year period following entrance into the program, and are offered six times during each academic year.
4. ‑Before attaining full candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, a student must exhibit excellence, depth of understanding and high professional attainment in the field by successful completion of the general examination for the doctorate. This examination takes place in the fifth semester of study, and consists of a written report and oral presentation to the thesis committee that summarizes the student's research accomplishments and future studies.
Computer Science
The Department of Computer Science offers a program of study leading to the degree of Master of Science. The program is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate the needs of two kinds of students: those who have recently completed an undergraduate degree in computer science and want to further their education, and those practicing professionals who want to acquire specific academic experience relevant to their work.
The department also participates in the Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science program. Interested students should refer to the beginning of this Graduate Programs in Sciences section for a description of the program, admission criteria, and curricular requirements.
Admission
After acceptance by the Graduate School, admission to the graduate program in computer science will be determined by the department on the basis of undergraduate academic record, three letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and Graduate Record Examination scores. Admission to the program generally requires a composite score of least 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination; a mathematical background equivalent to Mathematics 2111, Mathematics 2112 and Mathematics 2721; and a computer science background including the equivalent of Computer Science 1583, Computer Science 2120, Computer Science 2125, Computer Science 2450, Computer Science 3301, and two upper-division courses. Students not meeting these requirements may be admitted to the program on a conditional basis, and must fulfill conditions imposed by the department in addition to the regular requirements for the degree. Students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than computer science may be admitted on a conditional basis.
Master of Science in Computer Science Degree Requirements
The department offers both thesis and non-thesis options in the master’s program. All candidates for the master’s degree must satisfy the following background, breadth, and depth requirements. No course may be counted toward the satisfaction of more than one of these requirements.
1. ‑Background requirement: the equivalent of Computer Sciences 4401 and 4501. Students who have not completed this requirement prior to enrollment are required to do so, for credit, as part of their curricula.
2. ‑Breadth requirement: students must take one 6000-level course that counts toward the degree requirements (three semester hours) in each of three different concentration areas as listed below.
3. ‑Depth requirement: students must take three additional courses that count toward the degree requirements (nine semester hours), of which at least two must be at the 6000-level. All courses must belong to the same concentration area (see list below). This concentration area must be different from the ones chosen to fulfill the breadth requirement.
The concentration areas, with specific subdisciplines falling under each area, are given in the following table. A detailed list of courses included in each area can be obtained from the department.
Theoretical Computer Science and Programming Languages
– Computability
– Analysis of Algorithms and Complexity
– Formal Languages and Automata
– Combinatorics and Graph Theory
– Formal Semantics and Type Theory
– Logic
– Programming Languages
– Compiler Construction
Systems and Network
– Operating Systems
– Hardware Architecture
– Parallel and Distributed Systems
– Networks
– Protocols
Software Systems
– Algorithm Design
– Data Structures
– Programming Methodologies
– Software Engineering
– Distributed Software Engineering
– Software Architectures
– Software Components
Information Assurance
– ‑Defense of information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and nonrepudiation.
– Cryptology
– Computer Security
– Information Protection
– Secure Information Exchange
Database Systems and Distributed Applications
– Data Modeling
– Database Systems and Distributed Database Systems
– Data Query Languages
– Programming and Architectures for the Web
– Spatial Database Systems
– Data Mining
– Mobile Computing
Computer Graphics and Visual Computing
– Computer Graphics
– Image Processing
– Data Visualization
– Visual Programming Languages
Artificial Intelligence
– Robotics
– Computer Vision
– Pattern Recognition
– Evolutionary Computing
– Expert Systems
– Machine Learning
– Data Mining
Students completing the master’s degree with thesis must maintain a minimum 3.0 average in all courses taken to satisfy the degree requirements, and a minimum 3.0 average in all 6000-level courses taken excluding thesis research. Each student is required to submit an acceptable thesis and give a satisfactory defense of the thesis. Thirty semester hours are required, no more than six of which may be thesis credit. No more than nine hours may be at the 4000 level. Up to six hours may be taken in approved graduate courses outside of Computer Science. Students choosing Information Assurance as their concentration must select the thesis option.
Students completing the master’s degree without a thesis must maintain a minimum 3.0 average in all courses taken to satisfy the degree requirements, and a minimum 3.0 average in all 6000-level courses taken. Each student is required to give a satisfactory performance in a comprehensive examination covering course work. Thirty-six semester hours are required, no more than 12 of which may be at the 4000 level. Up to nine hours may be taken in approved graduate courses outside of Computer Science.
All graduate students are expected to participate in the weekly departmental seminar.
Geology and Geophysics
The department of Geology and Geophysics offers a program of study leading to the degree of Master of Science in Geology. Admission criteria and curricular requirements are described below.
The department also participates in the Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science program. Interested students should refer to the beginning of this Graduate Programs in Sciences section for a description of this program, admission criteria, and curricular requirements.
Admission
After the student has been accepted by the Graduate School, admission to graduate study in Geology and Geophysics will be determined by the department on the basis of undergraduate academic record, letters of recommendation, and the Graduate Record Examination aptitude and advanced scores.
Financial Aid
Teaching assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. Research assistantships supported by grant funds of individual faculty members are also available.
Master of Science in Geology Degree Requirements
The minimum requirement for the degree of Master of Science is 24 credit hours of course work and six hours of thesis research credit for a total of 30 credit hours. Nine of the 24 hours of coursework must be earned in courses numbered above 6000. Credit is not given for M.S. students in GEOL 4005, 4006, 6005, and 6006.
Each graduate student is expected to participate in the weekly seminar, Geology 6090. A final comprehensive examination and a thesis are required of each candidate upon completion of course and thesis work.
Mathematics
The Department of Mathematics offers a program of study leading to the degree of Master of Science. The program is designed to provide a sound preparation for continued study toward a Ph.D. degree as well as prepare students for careers in business, government, industry, and teaching. The program provides courses for those interested in the modern applications of mathematics, the pure aspects of mathematics, or statistics.
The department also participates in the Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science program. Interested students should refer to the beginning of this Graduate Programs in Sciences section for a description of the program, admission criteria, and curricular requirements.
Admission
Admission to graduate study in mathematics will be determined by the Graduate School and the Department of Mathematics. Mathematical maturity and sufficient knowledge for efficient and timely advancement in the graduate program are essential.
Students who wish to enter the graduate program should prepare themselves by successfully completing an undergraduate program that includes the equivalent of at least 18 semester hours of upper division mathematics courses. This undergraduate program should include the equivalent of these courses: Mathematics 3512, 4101, and 4102. Any student who has been admitted to graduate study in mathematics, but who has not completed the equivalent of these three courses, must complete the equivalent of these three courses as soon as possible. (Note: Graduate credit is not given for these three courses.)
Financial Aid
Graduate Assistantships are available to a limited number of qualified applicants. Students who would like to apply for a Graduate Assistantship should contact the Graduate Coordinator in the Mathematics Department.
Master of Science in Mathematics Degree Requirements
The general regulations of the Graduate School, set forth elsewhere in this catalog, apply to the graduate program in mathematics. The departmental requirements for the Master of Science Degree are given below.
The student must complete one of the following three sets of courses: (1) Mathematics 4221, 4224, 4251, 4411, 4511, 4230 or 6251, 6211 or 6411, 6221 or 6224; (2) Mathematics 4411, 4511, 4611, 6450, and at least three of the following: 4213 4512, 4518, 4711, 4721, 6242, 6411, 6451, 6611; (3) Mathematics 4511, 6301, 6304, 6311, 6312, 6341, 6342. These three different sets of courses represent the following three areas of mathematics: (1) applied mathematics, (2) pure mathematics, and (3) statistics.
The student must complete at least 18 hours of 6000-level courses in the Mathematics Department. The student must obtain at least a 3.0 average in all 6000-level courses taken, excluding Thesis Research, whether or not the course is offered for degree requirements. The total number of semester hours required is 36. The student must give a satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination that covers courses given for graduate credit. The student must complete at least two sequences of courses in the Mathematics Department, at least one of which must contain a 6000-level course. (A sequence is two courses which cover closely interrelated material; for example, 4221-6221 or 6450-6451.) The choice of sequences must be approved by the department.
The student is given the choice of whether or not to write a Master’s Degree Thesis. Students who choose to write a thesis must give a satisfactory performance on an oral presentation of the thesis.
Physics
The Physics Department offers the MS degree in Applied Physics and the MS degree in Physics. The MS in Physics requires original research on the part of the student. The MS in Applied Physics has thesis and nonthesis options.
The department currently has strong research programs in theoretical and computational aspects of acoustics, geophysics, electromagnetics, elementary particles, and astrophysics. Excellent experimental research activities are being conducted in fluid dynamics, condensed matter and materials physics, magnetism, spintronics, surface physics, and observational astronomy.
The department also participates in the Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science program. Interested students should refer to the beginning of this Graduate Programs in Sciences section for a description of the program, admission criteria, and curricular requirements.
Admission
The student should have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree program at a university or college approved by a recognized accrediting agency. The student’s record should indicate a high level of performance and promise, particularly in the field of physics.
After the student has sent the Graduate School application to the Admissions Office , admission to graduate study in physics will be determined by the Department of Physics on the basis of the student’s previous academic record, scores on the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination, and (for financial assistance) letters of recommendation. Requirements for admission without deficiencies are general chemistry, mathematics through differential equations, and satisfactory coursework in the major areas of classical physics.
Financial Aid
Teaching assistantships are available to a limited number of qualified applicants. Research assistantships and fellowships supported by grant funds of individual faculty members are also available.
Master of Science in Applied Physics Degree Requirements
The M.S.. in Applied Physics provides maximum flexibility for each graduate student in designing a program of study which combines a core of fundamental physics with a strong companion course of studies in applied physics or a related area of science or engineering. Close cooperation between the Physics Department and representatives from the student’s specialty area will assure an interdisciplinary climate for study and research.
The Department offers both thesis and non-thesis options in the Applied Physics program. In the thesis option, the minimum requirements are 24 hours of coursework and six hours of thesis research , for a total of 30 semester hours . In the non-thesis option, the minimum requirement is 33 hours of coursework. In both options the graduate work must include at least 18 hours of physics and 9 hours in a specialty area (which may be physics) . At least 18 hours of work must be at a level of 6000 or above. Each graduate student is expected, if possible, to participate in the weekly seminar, Physics 6198. (A maximum of one hour credit in Physics 6198 may be used to satisfy program requirements.) Furthermore, each MSAP student must demonstrate a proficiency in classical mechanics and electrodynamics at or above the levels of Physics 4302 and Physics 4503.
After coursework is substantially complete, the candidate will be required to take a comprehensive examination. In the case of students who elect to do a thesis, the comprehensive examination will be an oral one in which the questions will be primarily on the thesis and related matters.
Master of Science in Physics Degree Requirements
All candidates must attain a level of proficiency in the areas of electromagnetic theory, advanced mechanics, and quantum mechanics as represented by Physics 6501, 6301, and 6401, respectively. Although there is no specific minor requirement, the student is expected to have earned a minimum of six semester hours in approved courses in mathematics beyond the level of differential equations as represented by Mathematics 2221.
The minimum requirement for the Master of Science degree in physics is 24 credit hours of coursework plus at least six hours of thesis credit. The thesis credit is given only after a satisfactory thesis has been submitted. Of the 24 credit hours of coursework a minimum of 18 must be in physics of which at least 12 are taken in courses numbered above 6000. Each graduate student is expected, if possible, to participate in the weekly seminar, Physics 6198. A maximum of one hour credit in Physics 6198 can be used to satisfy program requirements.
A comprehensive final examination, which shall be either written or oral or both, must be passed by the candidate in at least the major field and the thesis.
Psychology
Admission
An applicant is accepted for graduate work in psychology upon recommendation by the department and subsequent admission to the Graduate School. The department’s recommendation for admission is based on the student’s performance on the Graduate Record Examination, letters of recommendation, and on the student’s academic performance. The department may recommend full or conditional admission. If admitted on a conditional basis, the applicant must fulfill the conditions imposed by the department.
Programs Offered
The department offers a Master of Science degree in Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology with specializations in Applied Biopsychology and Applied Developmental Psychology. The curriculum integrates coursework in basic psychology with research and practicum experience in applied psychology. Students are expected to:
1. ‑develop competence in one of the two major content areas of behavioral science represented in the department (e.g. biological and developmental psychology),
2. ‑conduct research based theoretically in the student’s major content area but focused on the application of behavioral science, and
3. ‑develop a core of skills in the delivery of psychological and consultative services and gain experience in the roles of the behavioral scientist in medical, biomedical and/or applied-developmental settings.
Financial Aid
A limited number of teaching assistantships are available to qualified students. Research and service assistantships supported by faculty grants or contracts are also available.
Master of Science in Psychology Degree Requirements
All students must complete requirements for the M.S. degree while working on the Ph.D. requirements. A minimum of 40 credit hours is necessary for the M.S. degree, although some students may be required to take additional hours to remedy undergraduate training deficiencies or in order to meet particular career goals.
1. ‑General Core: Core courses are required for all graduate students. They include Psychology 6311, 6312, 6050, 6091 (four credit hours), 6350, and 6550.
2. ‑Speciality Core: In addition, each specialty recognized by the department has designated additional courses as core to their programs. All applied developmental students must take Psychology 6101, 6102, and 6610. All applied biopsychology students must take Psychology 6801, 6802, and 6810.
3. ‑Research Courses: All students must register for research, Psychology 6090, each semester (excluding summer) they are not registered for thesis credit. A minimum of six hours of credit for Psychology 6090 is required.
4. ‑Minimum Grades: A student who receives a C or lower in a core course (general or speciality) or who drops a core course while earning lower than a B will be dropped from the program. If a student receives a C or less in a non-core course, that course must be repeated in order to earn graduate credit. All students must maintain a B average for all courses in order to remain in the psychology graduate program.
5. ‑Thesis: Every student is required to complete a thesis based on her or his own original research that clearly demonstrates ability to identify significant problems, design and conduct scientific studies, and report findings in an appropriate fashion. The thesis research must be of publishable quality. A minimum of six credit hours of thesis research, Psychology 7000, is required, although the student must be registered for thesis research each semester he or she is working on it until it is accepted by the thesis committee. An oral defense of the thesis is required.
6. ‑Comprehensive Examination: Every student must pass a Comprehensive Examination after completing the first year core courses.
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology Degree Requirements
After completion of the masters’ requirements, students must pass a Qualifying Examination in order to continue to work toward a doctoral degree. During the entire period of work toward the doctorate, a student’s program of study is guided by a doctoral advisory committee. The full advisory committee consists of the major professor who acts as chairperson, one or more representatives of at least one minor field outside, and at least three other graduate faculty members of the department. At least two members (including the chairperson) must be full-time members of the department, and at least one member must be a full member of the UNO graduate faculty. The committee is nominated by the chair of the department and is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. The doctoral advisory committee may also serve as the dissertation committee, but it is acceptable to replace up to two departmental faculty with other scientists who have expertise in the dissertation area.
The student’s doctoral program of study must meet the following standards, which includes a minimum of 48 credit hours beyond those required by the M.S. degree.
1. ‑Doctoral Core Courses: Applied Biopsychology students must take at least two (six hours) of the following courses: Psychology 6820, 6830, 6840, and 6895. Applied developmental students must take Psychology 6195, 6620, and 6801. The advanced seminar, Psychology 6195, must focus on advanced methods in developmental research.
2. ‑Electives: All students are required to take nine hours of elective coursework. The nine hours of electives must be chosen from content courses; research and practicum beyond the minimum cannot be used as electives.
3. ‑Research: In addition to the dissertation requirements outlined below, all students are required to take six hours of independent research, Psychology 6090. Also, students must register for at least three hours of research credit every semester they are not registered for dissertation hours (excluding summers).
4. ‑Teaching: Three hours of Teaching of Psychology, Psychology 7010, are required of all students.
5. ‑Practica: Twelve hours of practica are required for all students (Psychology 6191 or 6891). The purpose of the practica is to give students first-hand experience in an applied setting. The emphasis is on the application of experimentally-derived principles within the context of a service-delivery system. The practicum experience is arranged to provide an opportunity for students to begin to develop and practice a variety of skills in their areas of specialization.
6. ‑Minor: A minimum of nine hours of minor coursework is required of all students. The intent of the minor requirement is to broaden the student’s educational experience by taking courses outside the student’s major program of study. Three hours of the required nine may also be used as general electives. Core courses may not be used toward the minor. The specific content of the minor is determined by the student’s doctoral advisory committee.
7. ‑Social Basis of Behavior: All students must satisfy a requirement of three credit hours or the equivalent in the area of social bases of behavior. This requirement may be satisfied by (1) coursework, such as Psychology 6400 Social Psychology, Psychology 6170 Socioemotional Development, or a directed readings course in social bases of behavior taken under Psychology 6090; or (2) demonstrating competence in social bases of behavior as part of the Ph.D. qualifying examination. If coursework is selected to satisfy the requirement, the credit hours earned may be considered part of the required six elective hours (unless the course is used to satisfy other requirements).
8. ‑General Examination: All students must pass a General Examination which is administered when the student’s coursework is substantially completed. The General Examination must also include both a written and oral defense which is typically related to the student’s proposed dissertation topic. The General Examination must also include portions related to the student’s chosen minor.
9. ‑Dissertation and Final Defense: All students must complete a dissertation and register for a minimum of six hours of Psychology 7050. The student must be registered for dissertation research each semester he or she is working on it until the final examination is passed. The dissertation must demonstrate a mastery of research techniques, ability to do original and independent research, and skill in formulating conclusions that in some way enlarge upon or modify the existing knowledge base in psychology. The final examination is the oral defense of the dissertation. The final examination committee is appointed by the dean of the Graduate School. In most cases it will consist of the student’s doctoral advisory committee, although the dean may add additional members.
10. ‑Internship: A student may elect to take an internship and the student must be registered for Psychology 7191 or 7891 throughout the internship (minimum of six hours). It must involve the equivalent of 12 months of supervised full-time experience. It must be supervised by a licensed psychologist. To qualify as an internship, a minimum of 1,500 hours at the site must be completed within 24 months and it must be approved by the department. The internship is an intensive, advanced, supervised experience required to be a practicing psychologist. To be eligible for an internship, the student must have completed all coursework and passed the General Examination. Only the dissertation may remain.