1st & 2nd Doc Exam, Advancement to Candidacy, and MPhil
Most administrative matters pertaining to doctoral examinations and change of level are handled by the Registrar's Office at The Graduate Center. Please refer to the website for the Registrar's Office for all official GC policies, and for updates on University-wide forms and procedures.
The Psychology Executive Office has instituted additional policies to help students with the forms and procedures required by the Registrar's Office. These are outlined under the headings below, and are intended to ease the process of completing forms correctly and obtaining official signatures.
If you still have questions after reviewing the information below, please contact Basya Kasinitz at bkasinitz@gc.cuny.edu.
1st & 2nd Doc Exam, Advancement to Candidacy, and MPhil
The Ph.D. Program in Psychology requires all students to pass a First Examination, prior to registration for coursework above 45 credits. All coursework credit (including non-graded credits) and all transfer credits are included in computing this total. The First Examination is intended to assess the student’s progress and likelihood of continuing success in the Program.
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Each Area in Psychology determines the content and procedures for its own examination. Passing the First Doctoral Exam and completing 45 credits automatically advances the student to Level II.
Requirement: Please have the student’s Advisor or the Training Area’s Administrative Person send an email to Basya Kasinitz at bkasinitz@gc.cuny.edu, stating:
Student’s Name
EMPL ID #
Date the First Doctoral Exam was successfully completed
No First Doctoral Exam Form is required by the Psychology Executive Office. Please consult with your individual program's handbook/ Training area head or campus based administrator for required internal forms.
- If revisions are required, the date the First Doctoral Exam was successfully completed is the date the revisions were approved – not the original exam date.
The EO Office will notify the Registrar’s Office and the milestone will be noted at the bottom of the student’s transcript.
Failure to officially record the First Doctoral Exam will result in a Satisfactory Progress hold being placed on the student’s Registration. The student will not be able to register until the hold is cleared.
The Ph.D. Program in Psychology and the Graduate Center requires all students to pass a Second Doctoral Examination ‘within ten (10) registered semesters of enrollment in a doctoral program.’ Each Area in Psychology determines the content and procedures for its own examination.
Requirement: Please have the student’s Advisor or the Training Area’s Administrative Person send an email to Basya Kasinitz at bkasinitz@gc.cuny.edu. The email should state:
- Student’s Name
- EMPL ID #
- Date the Second Doctoral Exam was successfully completed: Month, Day,Year
- No Second Doctoral Exam Form is required by the Psychology Executive Office. Please consult with your individual program's handbook/ Training area head or campus based administrator for required internal forms.
Example: John Doe (23456789) passed the Second Doctoral Exam in Psychology on December 1, 2018.
* If revisions are required, the date the Second Doctoral Exam was successfully completed is the date the revisions were approved – not the date of the original exam.
The EO Office will notify the Registrar’s Office and the milestone will be noted at the bottom of the student’s transcript.
Failure to officially record the Second Doctoral Exam will result in a Satisfactory Progress hold being placed on the student’s Registration. The student will not be able to register until the hold is cleared.
Please see the "How to Advance to Candidacy" guide linked above.
A completed Dissertation Topic and Committee Selection Form initiates the process of moving to Level III and Advancing to Candidacy. This form requests the names of your committee members, the working title of your dissertation, and a summary of your proposed research. NOTE: The Graduate Center requires that at least three committee members be CUNY doctoral faculty.
All the information on this form may change up until the day you defend. Please resubmit this form with any requested changes to bkasinitz@gc.cuny.edu.
The Graduate Center awards the Master of Philosophy degree (M.Phil.) to doctoral students (with the exception of those enrolled in the Musical Arts or clinical doctoral programs – Psychology Clinical Programs are exempt) who are advanced to candidacy. The Registrar’s Office will send an email to the student informing them that they will earn the MPhil on the next degree conferral date.
SAMPLE EMAIL:
From: Registrar
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2020 2:35 PM
To: (student)
Subject: Advancement to Candidacy
Dear (Student),
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that, effective 5/22/20, you were advanced to candidacy for the doctoral degree in Anthropology. As a result of your advancement to candidacy, you have also qualified for the Master of Philosophy degree, which will be awarded on September 30, 2020.
Please accept my best wishes.
Sincerely,
Vincent J. De Luca
Senior Registrar
