Current Doctoral Students

The Graduate School has developed a frequently asked questions website regarding COVID-19 and graduate education.  It addresses some useful items such as the S/F grade option, funding, and assistance. Please visit the following link for the FAQ at: https://gradschool.umd.edu/coronavirus/frequently-asked-questions . 

The Graduate Manual provides basic information about the doctoral program and includes the policies and procedures that affect students and faculty. The manual covers topics such as milestones, core courses, obtaining a Master’s degree, Ph.D. requirements, financial support, psychology associations, and many others.  You may also view an excerpt of our Grievance Policy and Procedure from the Graduate Manual here: /graduate/grievance-policy-and-procedure.

Students are also responsible for adhering to Graduate School policies and procedures contained in the Graduate Catalog. The Graduate School also imposes certain deadlines and it is the student’s responsibility to know all relevant dates. The Graduate School publishes a schedule of these important dates each year Graduate Forms & Deadlines. For Information regarding courses please visit Schedule of Classes.

The Graduate School Catalog is the official listing of the policies governing graduate education at the University of Maryland, College Park.

This Catalog documents policies and procedures set by the Graduate Council and the Graduate School, and is updated each academic semester to reflect changes and updates to policy.   Information on admissions policies, academic policies (including degree requirements), registration policies, and financial aid and student support policies are contained in the Catalog. Abstracts and information on academic degree and certificate programs, a list of graduate-level courses by program, and a roster of graduate faculty members are also included in each edition of the Catalog.

The University of Maryland, the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland, originated in 1856 as the Maryland Agricultural College and became one of the country's first land-grant institutions in 1867. The state assumed authority over the College in 1920 and formed the University of Maryland by joining the College with long-established professional schools in Baltimore. In 1988, the General Assembly of Maryland designated the College Park campus as the flagship institution for the University System of Maryland, which comprises 13 institutions across the state. The College Park campus is built around a central mall, anchored by McKeldin Library and the Main Administration Building. Fanning out from the mall are thirteen academic colleges. The University's mission is to provide graduate and undergraduate education of the highest quality, to pursue advanced research, and to serve the needs of the State of Maryland.

The University of Maryland and its surrounding area provide boundless opportunities for conducting research. The University's dynamic research environment allows students from all disciplines to undertake scholarly exploration of their special interests and to gain valuable practical experience. It also enables faculty members to advance their own areas of expertise and bring their research insights into the classroom. On campus, special facilities and a number of organized research centers, bureaus, and institutes promote the acquisition and analysis of new knowledge in the arts, sciences, and applied fields.

• When registering for PSYC799, 898, and 899, please be sure to register under your advisor's section number as indicated here.  Please note that section numbers are different from the fall/spring semesters to the winter/summer terms.
    
• For a current listing of what courses are being taught this semester, you may view here the Schedule of Classes
   
• View here the current Tuition and Fees
   
• Continuous registration is required each semester (including the summer session if you are advising with your adviser, using University facilities, or graduating in August). If newly admitted, register in the semester of admission in order to validate your admission. Registration is required in the semester of graduation, including one of the summer terms if graduating in August.
   
• Graduate students from other departments wanting to register for PSYC courses will need permission from the Department of Psychology.  To do so, you will need to email the instructor asking for permission and forward that email to PsycPhD@umd.edu for your registration block to be lifted.
   
• For current graduate students, please be sure to fill out the Schedule Request form, have your advisor approve of your course selection, and have him/her forward the Schedule Request form to PsycPhD@umd.edu for your registration block to be lifted.
   
• Once your registration blocks have been lifted, you may proceed in registering yourself via Testudo under Register and Enroll.  

All forms must be routed through the Graduate Studies Office for departmental processing and Director's approval.  The Graduate Office will then submit processed forms to their final destination.  Therefore, it is crucial that you submit forms to the Graduate Office at least a week prior to the deadlines set by the Graduate School if you are graduating in a particular semester.  Click here to view Important Graduation Deadlines for Spring, Summer, and Fall.   If you have any questions about any of these forms, procedures, or policies, or if you want a personalized checklist of what you've completed or forms you've turned in, please contact Archie Tablada at atablada@umd.edu.  

Departmental Graduate Forms
Grad Student Schedule Request (Must be approved by advisor every semester before blocks are lifted.  For more information about what section of independent studies to sign up for and the Schedule of Classes, click here).
Change of Advisor form (Must be signed by new and former advisor)

Graduate Assistant Statement of Mutual Expectations (SME) Forms
TA: Teaching Assistants
RA: Research Assistants
AA: Administrative Assistants
GA (Instructor): Instructors of Record

Templates and Formatting Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertation
Template Instructions
Full Template for Dissertations 
Lite Template for Dissertations
Full Template for Theses
Lite Template for Theses

Forms required for the M.S. Degree on way to Ph.D. (Submit forms to the Graduate Office at least one week prior to the deadlines of the semester you are graduating to allow for processing and departmental approval).  Click here to view Important Graduation Deadlines for Spring, Summer, and Fall.

1. Year 1 Outcome Assessment of 1st-Year Review (Must be completed by your advisor at the end of your first year).
2. Thesis Proposal form (Must be turned in immediately after your thesis proposal defense).
3. Application for Graduation (Apply in the semester you anticipate graduating or defend your thesis).
4. Master's Approved Program Form (Required courses for the MS degree include 6 credits 799, 601, 602, and 3rd Quantitative course.  Total credits must be at least 30-42 credits.  This form will be completed by the deadline on your behalf by the PSYC Graduate Office).
5. Nomination of Thesis Committee Form (Upon approval of this form, you'll receive an email from the Graduate Office of additional forms, which is the Report of Examining Committee package and procedures before a final thesis defense can occur).
6.  If you have a faculty you would like to serve on your committee that is not affiliated with the University or is not a member of the Graduate Faculty, you must nominate them by filling out the following forms:
- Nomination to Graduate Faculty Form
- Personal Information Form (SS# can be left blank and the nominee can call it in)
7. Thesis/Dissertation Embargo Request (To be submitted along with the Report of Examining Committee form)
8. Submit Approved Thesis online by the semester graduation deadline via DRUM/ProQuest (See formatting template above).
9. Year 2 Outcome Assessment of Research Competency (Must be completed by your advisor/committee members after your thesis defense).

Forms required for the Ph.D. degree (Submit forms to the Graduate Office at least one week prior to the deadlines of the semester you are graduating to allow for processing and departmental approval).   Click here to view Important Graduation Deadlines for Spring, Summer, and Fall.

1. Certificate of Research Competence (This form is in lieu of successfully defending a master's thesis)
2. Comprehensive Exam Result form or TIE Project (CLIN) (Must be turned in after completing the TIE Project or passing comps in order to advance to candidacy).
3. Year 3 Outcome Assessment of Comprehensive Exam (Must be completed by your advisor/committee members after passing your comps).
4. Application for Admission to Candidacy (You're eligible to apply for Candidacy after the passing of comps)
5. Dissertation Proposal form (Must be turned in immediately after your dissertation proposal defense)
6. Year 4 Outcome Assessment of Dissertation Proposal (Must be completed by your advisor/committee members after proposing your dissertation)
7. Application for Graduation (Apply in the semester you anticipate graduating or defend your dissertation).
8. Nomination of Dissertation Committee Form (Upon approval of this form, you'll receive an email from the Graduate Office of additional forms, which is the Report of Examining Committee package and procedures before a final dissertation defense can occur).
9. If you have a faculty you would like to serve on your committee that is not affiliated with the University or is not a member of the Graduate Faculty, you must nominate them by filling out the following forms:
- Nomination to Graduate Faculty Form
- Personal Information Form (SS# can be left blank and the nominee can call it in)
10. Oral Defense Announcement (Must be turned in at least 2 weeks before Oral Defense).
11. Thesis/Dissertation Embargo Request (To be submitted along with the Report of Examining Committee form)
12. Year 5 Outcome Assessment of Dissertation Defense (Must be completed by your advisor/committee members after successfully defending your dissertation).
13. Submit Approved Dissertation online by the semester graduation deadline via DRUM/ProQuest (See formatting template above).
14. Internship Completion form (Must be turned in upon completion of your internship-CLIN & COUN only)
15. Graduation Surveys (Required for all UMD doctoral).
 

Department's Graduate Outcome Assessment Forms (to be completed by advisor & committee members)
Year 1 Outcome Assessment of 1st-Year Review
Year 2 Outcome Assessment of Research Competency
Year 3 Outcome Assessment of Comprehensive Exam 
Year 4 Outcome Assessment of Dissertation Proposal
Year 5 Outcome Assessment of Dissertation Defense
 

Petitions, Requests, and Waivers
https://gradschool.umd.edu/forms 

General Forms
Immunization Record Form (Required for all graduate students upon admission)
Parental Accommodation Application
Graduate Assistant Statement of Mutual Expectations (see Google Doc version here)

Most of the following forms are PDF files and may require you to download and install the latest version of Adobe’s (free) Acrobat Reader.  If you are having technical difficulties, please contact the OIT Help Desk. 

All other graduate forms can be found on the Graduate School website.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
This link https://go.umd.edu/bsoscommencement24 or below, you will find helpful information to help you prepare for your special day.

For those of you graduating and or attending/walking at our May 22nd at 3:30 PM commencement ceremony, regalia is required to be worn.  You have the option to purchase or rent regalia online or in person at the UMD Bookstore.  Information on where and how to order is provided here: https://commencement.umd.edu/graduation-regalia-information.  All Ph.D. regalia rental requests must be submitted by April 1st.  They will not be taking any late rental submissions. All rental gowns must be returned no later than ​​June 3, 2024, to avoid a non-refundable $500 replacement fee. ​ ​Rental gowns will be available for pick-up approximately one week before the event.  

* Doctoral Candidates who are undecided or pending defense are strongly encouraged to request a rental gown before the deadline. Payment is deferred until rental regalia is picked up.

Ordering Deadline: March 12, 2024 (Price: $1,264.00)
Rental Request Deadline: April 1, 2024 (Price: $248.75)
*Rental Due Back Date: No Later Than June 3, 2024 ($500 Non-Return Fee)

Campus-Wide Ceremony

Monday, May 20, 2024 / 6 p.m. / SECU Stadium

The University of Maryland will hold its Spring 2024 Commencement on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 6 p.m. for Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024 graduates at SECU Stadium.

Additional information regarding the campus-wide ceremony, tickets, regalia, and safety measures will be added to commencement.umd.edu as it becomes available.

BSOS College Ceremonies

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 / Ceremony #1, 3:30 p.m. & Ceremony #2, 7 p.m. / Xfinity Center

In addition to the campus-wide ceremony, BSOS and the other colleges and schools will hold ceremonies. BSOS college ceremonies for August 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024 graduates will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. There will be two ceremonies for BSOS units; the organization of the ceremonies is displayed below.

*May 2024 ceremonies will include August 2023, December 2023, and May 2024 graduates. We estimate approximately 700-800 graduates per ceremony, based on the number of graduates and pre-pandemic attendance rates.

Live Streams

Live streaming will be available for both ceremonies. Please check this page closer to the day of the ceremonies for links to watch live.

Frequently Asked Questions

Graduation Checklist

Commencement Coordinators by Department