The suggested schedule may vary for specific graduate programs or sequences. Students anticipating a summer or fall graduation should adjust this flowchart for the appropriate semester dates and deadlines.

During the first semester

Review the Faculty Research Interests Web site
Meet with faculty members whose research interests are congruent with yours and talk about potential thesis topics

During the second semester

Choose a psychology faculty member to serve as your thesis committee chair and discuss a tentative thesis topic
Submit the Preliminary Department Approval of Thesis Committee Chair and Topic form to the Graduate Psychology Programs Office and request a course override for your first hour of PSY 499 Master's Thesis
Consult with your thesis committee chair in selecting a psychology faculty member for your thesis committee
Choose a psychology faculty member to serve as a thesis committee member
Submit the Department Approval of Thesis Committee and Topic form to the Graduate Psychology Programs Office and request a course override for the remaining hours of PSY 499
Attend a thesis proposal of a student within your program or sequence to familiarize yourself with the process

By the end of the first year

Work with your thesis committee chair to review relevant literature and develop a thesis proposal
Review the Graduate School's Guide and the APA's Publication Manual
Determine if you will need IRB or IACUC approval for your research and review the IRB or IACUC requirements, if applicable
Write your thesis proposal
Contact the Graduate Psychology Programs Office and request a reader be assigned
Arrange a mutually agreeable date and time with your thesis committee members and reader to present your thesis proposal
Contact the Graduate Psychology Programs Office to reserve a room and any needed equipment for your thesis proposal
Submit the Graduate School's Thesis proposal form and one copy of the thesis proposal to the Graduate Psychology Programs Office
Provide a copy of your thesis proposal to each thesis committee member and the reader
Propose your thesis

During fall semester of second year

Submit the required IRB or IACUC forms, if applicable, to the appropriate office
Inform the Graduate Psychology Programs Office of your IRB or IACUC protocol number, if applicable
Conduct your thesis research after receiving approval for your thesis proposal from the Graduate School
Attend a thesis defense of a student in your program or sequence to familiarize yourself with the process

Last semester before graduation

Submit a Degree Audit as an e-mail attachment to your program or sequence coordinator for approval
Review the Graduate School Dates and Deadlines for relevant deadlines

By April 1 for a May graduation

Write your thesis while working with your thesis committee chair
Submit your draft proposal to the thesis committee member for review

By April 15 for a May graduation

Submit your thesis to the Graduate School for a format check
Obtain a Right-to-Defend form from the Graduate School
Arrange a mutually agreeable date and time for your thesis defense with your thesis committee and reader
Submit the Right-to-Defend Form and one copy of the thesis to the Graduate Psychology Programs Office at least five working days prior to the defense date
Contact the Graduate Psychology Programs Office to reserve a room and any needed equipment for your thesis defense
Defend your thesis
Make all changes to your thesis as required by your thesis committee
Submit your thesis to the Graduate School
Provide your thesis committee with a copy of the bound thesis