Women's Studies reviews all joint Psychology and Women's Studies students winter term of their second year. This meeting is intended to offer the student and faculty members an opportunity to discuss the student's progress in the program and plans for future research. In other words, it is not a screening, but part of the mentoring process. At the time of the fourth term review, it is helpful to have completed your PSYCH 619 project, but not necessary.
The Fourth Term Review has two main purposes: to assess the student's progress in the program and to map out a plan to the dissertation. The committee will ask questions about any gaps in the record to date; whether the student has any concerns about the training received and if so, what additional training she might need; and the direction of the research. The meeting can be thought of as part evaluative and part mentoring about the future. Students find the mentoring and planning done in this meeting very helpful.
The student:
1. Begins by selecting a committee. The review committee will consist of:
- A faculty member affiliated with Women's Studies
- A faculty member affiliated with Psychology
- A faculty member with relevant expertise from any department
If faculty members are unfamiliar with the process, the Women’s and Gender Studies Director of Graduate Studies will designate a committee chair, generally the joint faculty member, and meet with them to discuss procedures.
2. Arranges an agreeable meeting time with their committee (before May 1). The meeting should be 1.5 hours in duration. The student also coordinates a meeting space (in Psychology or Women’s and Gender Studies). The Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Program Coordinator can assist if necessary. The student must inform the WGS Grad Program Coordinator of the confirmed meeting time/place and committee members.
3. Submits the following materials to the Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Program Coordinator at least one week before the proposed meeting:
- short self-appraisal/statement about progress and future research plans (2-3 pages)
- unrevised writing sample of any length from any course (with or without instructor comments) or PSYCH 619
- an updated c.v.
The Women's Studies Graduate Coordinator will collect comments from all faculty who have taught the student in a course, print out an updated transcript, and create a 4th term review packet with all relevant information. The Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Coordinator will distribute the packet to members of the student’s committee in advance of the meeting. The meeting will be an opportunity to:
- review and discuss the student’s academic record
- discuss student progress in the joint program and future research plans
The major topic of discussion will be the PSYCH 619 project. (It is helpful but not necessary to have completed it). The committee will assess progress within the context of the joint PhD program and will assist the student in setting up the next steps.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Psychology Fourth Term Review Form should be completed and filed with the Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Coordinator.
