Teaching experience is not a departmental requirement, but may be imposed as a requirement by the student's Ph.D. committee. Teaching experience for students planning academic careers is strongly recommended. Students who decide to obtain teaching experience should arrange for faculty supervision of their class instruction and register for PSY 6947 (Graduate Instruction Methods) for the number of hours appropriate to the teaching assignment (1-3 hours). Other opportunities for enhancing teaching skills are available through the Department's Teaching Workshop and the University's Center for Teaching Enhancement.

The minimal research requirements in the Department are represented by the thesis and dissertation research. A minimum of six (6) thesis hours and twelve (12) dissertation hours are required (PSY 6971 and PSY 7980, respectively). Students are encouraged to be involved in research activities beyond these minimal research requirements, however.

Graduate students must collect their own data on M.A. and Ph.D. projects. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by their committee in writing and forwarded to the Graduate Program Committee. Assistance in data collection by others will be approved only when the procedures demand additional help. At all times, the graduate student must be immediately available during the period of data collection to deal with problems that may arise.

Graduate students are responsible for conducting their own statistical analyses. Beyond the usual free consultative services available to students on this campus, students are forbidden to use paid statistical or research design consultants to analyze and interpret the results of M.A. or Ph.D. data. Violating this rule provides grounds for dismissal of the student and the paid consultant, should this person be a graduate student in psychology.