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Copyright © 2003
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Please see this link for the most recent graduate catalog:
http://www.ualr.edu/gradschool/graduatecatalog.asp
Frequently Asked Questions
Departmental Comprehensive Examination
Q. When does one take comps?
A. Students take comps during their last semester, or the semester in which they plan to graduate.
Q. Are comps a written, oral, or combination exam?
A. The comps are currently a written examination.
Q. Is there any required paperwork that I must complete prior to taking comps?
A. The
Psychology Department does not require any paperwork at this time. However,
students are responsible for completing the Graduation Application through the
Q. What does comps entail? Or what are the main/core topics covered in comps?
A. Comps currently consists of three questions: one from statistics, one from research methods, and one from the offered track specializations (i.e., General/Experimental, Health, Industrial/Organizational).
Q. How does one know what to study or focus on in order to do well?
A. Students may wish to form groups to help each other study or they may even wish to meet with those professors writing the questions for advice on what or how to study. Students generally meet with the Graduate Coordinator (Dr. Hines) in order to discuss comps in more detail, so additional advice may be given at this time.
Q. How many attempts does one get to take comps? What happens if one fails?
A. If students are concerned about failing comps, they should meet with the Graduate Coordinator (Dr. Hines) for further information. If an individual does fail a section or sections of comps, then individual consultation will be necessary.
*** Details of the comprehensive examination are subject to change at the discretion of the department. Students should check with the Graduate Coordinator for current and up-to-date information. If students have additional questions or concerns, then they should also meet with the Graduate Coordinator to discuss further.
Master’s Projects & Theses
Q. What are examples of former students’ master’s project titles?
A. One may contact Dr. Webb for examples of previous master’s projects.
Q. What are examples of former students’ thesis titles?
A. One may contact Dr. Hines for examples of previous theses.
Q. Is a master’s project required?
A. Yes, a master’s project is required as a part of the course Advanced Psychological Methods, which is a requirement in the core curriculum for the Masters of Applied Psychology.
Q. What are the requirements for a master’s project?
A. The bulk of the master’s project is done in Literature Review in Psychology and Advanced Psychological Methods. Previous courses may assist students in completing the project.
Q. Which courses include work on the master’s project?
A. Students learn basic information on research design and the research process in Research Methods and Design in Psychology, Computer Statistical Package: Use in Psychology, and Advanced Behavioral Statistics. They then learn extensive information on a topic of interest to them as they perform a literature review and work towards a proposal in Literature Review in Psychology. They typically conduct and complete their project in Advanced Psychological Methods.
Q. Does one have to present or defend the master’s project or thesis?
A. If the student is simply working on his/her master’s project, then no formal presentation or defense is required as all work is done within the context of class (Advanced Psychological Methods). They submit a final paper to the professor as no committee or defense is involved. If the student is working on a thesis, there are proposal and defense requirements that one may review in the Graduate School Catalog and Thesis Guide.
Q. Is a thesis required?
A. No, a thesis is not required although students may choose to complete one as an extension of their master’s projects.
Q. How does one know whether or not he/she should pursue a thesis?
A. Students following the Experimental Psychology track are encouraged to pursue a thesis during their enrollment. Otherwise, students who want to transfer into a doctoral program after completion of the Masters of Applied Psychology program may wish to pursue a thesis in order to give themselves a more competitive edge in the application process. Students can oftentimes turn their thesis work into a publication which also gives them additional power in their application to doctoral programs.
Q. Does a student need a faculty advisor for the thesis? If so, how does one choose?
A. Students must locate a faculty mentor in order to pursue thesis work as they will not be able to complete it own their on. Students should find an expert who they have a good rapport with, perhaps through previous classes taken or through other discussion. If students are unable to locate a mentor, then they should contact the Graduate Coordinator.
Q. What specific dates does one need to know while working on the master’s project or thesis?
A. Students should check the Graduate School Catalog for thesis requirements. The Graduate Catalog can be found online at http://www.ualr.edu/gradschool/graduatecatalog.asp . Additional thesis information and a thesis guide can be found online at http://www.ualr.edu/gradschool/thesisinfo.asp and http://www.ualr.edu/gradschool/pdfs/thesisguide.pdf .
*** This information is meant only as a guide to some basic questions. For more specific and detailed information, one should consult the professor of Advanced Psychological Methods for information on the master’s project or the Graduate School Catalog and Thesis Guide for information on the thesis. Additional questions regarding master’s projects or theses may also be directed to the Graduate Coordinator (Dr. Hines) for further assistance.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Department of Psychology
2801 S. University
Little Rock, AR 72204-1099
501-569-3171
UALR
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