Graduation Checklist

As an upcoming grad in the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University, here’s what you need to know—and do—to assure an enjoyable, glitch-free commencement day.

Master's thesis

1. Meet with your advisor 
   Coursework requirements: Behavior analysis | Industrial organizational behavior management
2. Permission to elect Course 7000
3. Completed Program of Study form for psychology
   - This form is completed by the the department's administrative assistant and signed by the graduate advisor. After form is completed, the graduate training administrative assistant will send to the Office of the Registrar.
4. 30 Credit hours of coursework and six credit hours of PSY 7000 are required.
5. Appoint a thesis committee.
   Complete the Committee Appointment form.
6. Apply for graduation and graduation audit (review the graduation application instructions and deadlines).
7. Schedule a defense with the psychology graduate training administrative assistant located at 3532 Wood Hall.
8. Signature forms are required at orals.
   1. Submit two original copies of the thesis approval form with your finished thesis the department's administrative assistant and to the Graduate College.
   2. The thesis defense form is to be signed at the time of the defense and returned to the department's administrative assistant.
9. Turn in your completed thesis to the Graduate College along with the signed defense forms.

Master's project

1. Meet with your advisor.
   Coursework requirements: Behavior Analysis | Industrial Organizational Behavior Management
2. Completed Program of Study form for psychology
   This form is completed by the the department's administrative assistant and signed by the graduate advisor. After form is completed, the graduate training administrative assistant will send to the Office of the Registrar.
3. 30 Credit hours of coursework and six credit hours of PSY 7100 are required.
   IOBM practicum option courses that should be listed.
4. Apply for graduation and graduation audit (review the graduation application instructions and deadlines).
5. Complete the required project defense form.

Doctoral dissertation

1. Meet with your advisor
   Coursework requirements: Behavior Analysis | Clinical | Industrial Organizational Behavior Management
2. The permission to elect dissertation credit hours form requires all signatures. 
3. Schedule a comprehensive exam date.
   Meet with an advisor, then contact the psychology graduate training administrative assistant to schedule a date to take the exam.
4. Have all committee members initial the dissertation committee appointment form. If your 4th committee member is not a faculty member from Western Michigan University, you must obtain a vita from them and give it to the psychology graduate training administrative assistant.
5. Completed Program of Study form for psychology
   This form is completed by the the department's administrative assistant and signed by the graduate advisor. After form is completed, the graduate training administrative assistant will send to the Office of the Registrar.
   Please notify the department's administrative assistant before applying for graduation to process the final program of study for graduation auditing.
6. Apply for graduation and graduation audit (review the graduation application instructions and deadlines).
7. The dissertation defense scheduling form must be completed.
   All program requirements must be completed the semester before you plan to defend. Contact the graduate training administrative assistant or form and room information. Send one copy to the Graduate College at least two weeks before you plan on defending, and the other copy to the psychology graduate training administrative assistant. Failure to complete other steps may result in a delay for defense approval.
8. Signature forms required at orals.
• Three original dissertation approval forms.
• The dissertation defense form for BA and IOBM / dissertation defense evaluation for Clinical has to be signed at your orals and then returned to the psychology graduate training administrative assistant.
9. Completed dissertation and accompanying forms turned in to the Graduate College along with the Dissertation Check-in Form.