Information for Current Community Psychology Graduate Students
Required Orientation Program
All new graduate students (both full-time and part-time) must attend the Fall Orientation meeting held early Fall semester. Notices will be posted in the Department Office. Current information about the graduate programs is presented at this meeting and questions are answered. The Fall Orientation meeting provides the opportunity for graduate students to meet and socialize with each other and the faculty.
Campus I.D.
All graduate students need to obtain a SCSU Student ID. Student IDs are available on the main floor of Atwood Memorial Center. The SCSU Student ID can be used for Campus Purchases, Learning Resources Center, Computer Lab Printing, Recreational Facilities, Athletic Events, SCSU Ticket Discounts and other services. Information about the Campus Card can be obtained from
http://www.stcloudstate.edu/~scsucard.
Schedules and Registration
Class schedules are usually available in the lobby of the Administrative Services Building one-week before advance registration. In addition to listing courses offered, the schedules contain information about when and how to register for classes, the process of dropping and adding courses, the payment of fees, and other pertinent information. Registration information is also available on line at: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/academics. Some classes require permission from the instructor to register and you must contact the faculty member teaching the course. Note: It is extremely important to pre-register for classes. Each semester courses with low enrollments may be dropped from the schedule. To prevent this from occurring it is necessary to pre-register as soon as possible.
Graduate Student Mailboxes
Each graduate student is assigned a mailbox, located in the Graduate Student Office located in the Community Psychology Department Office. Notices and/or information regarding speakers, current events and information are distributed to students in their mailboxes.
Graduate Student Computer Account and E-mail Address
Each graduate student is required to obtain an SCSU computer account and e-mail address. Several courses require students to access computers and it is necessary to have a SCSU computer account. Information on how to set up a SCSU account, e-mail, downloads, and other computer related questions can be obtained by contacting the SCSU Computing & Technology User Services at http://lrts.stcloudstate.edu/about/ctus/.
Student Advisement and Blue Sheets
Each student is assigned an advisor upon acceptance into the graduate programs in the Community Psychology Department. Students may change their advisor if desired, however a Change of Advisor Form needs to be completed and submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Each student must complete a Proposed Program of Graduate Study form (Blue Sheet) that is submitted to the Department Chair and Dean of Graduate Studies. Graduate students are encouraged to complete the Blue Sheet during the first semester of their program.
Thesis versus Non-thesis Option (Plan A or Plan B)
All Community Psychology Graduate Programs includes a Research Component (CPSY 675 Research Methods and CEEP 678 Introduction to Graduate Statistics. For those students who are planning to pursue a doctorate degree at sometime, conducting research, publishing a research work, and making presentations at state and national professional meetings are encouraged. For many students, these activities are accomplished through the development and implementation of a Research Thesis.
For Graduate students who plan on completing a thesis, students enroll in CPSY 699 Thesis for 6 credits. If the research proposal involves the collection of data on human subjects, graduate students must submit their thesis project to the SCSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) located in the Office of Sponsored Programs (http://osp.stcloudstate.edu).
Information regarding the process and format for thesis work is available in the Graduate Bulletin and at http://bulletin.stcloudstate.edu/gb/options/components.html. Additionally, graduate students may obtain a copy of "A Manual for the Preparation of Field Studies, Theses, Creative Works, or Starred Paper(s)" from the Graduate Studies office in AS -121.
Graduate students who elect the Non-thesis Option, Plan B, additional coursework is required and students must pass a Comprehensive Examination in their area. Comprehensive Examinations are scheduled during the end of the Spring Semester and students must notify their advisor and/or Graduate Coordinator regarding their intent to take the Comprehensive Examination.
Internships
All Community Psychology Graduate Programs require students to complete internships, the number of hours of contact and credit vary for each program. Graduate students have completed internships in a variety of settings throughout Minnesota. Each internship site must meet the supervision requirements set forth by the Minnesota Board of Psychology and other accrediting agencies. Students are required to obtain malpractice insurance during their internship. Information regarding malpractice insurance can be obtained from the American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org) or American Counseling Association (http://www.counseling.org).
