The Scholarly Tool

The purpose of the scholarly tool is to enhance the student’s expertise in research or professional skills. A student should consult with his or her thesis or dissertation committee about the choice of a scholarly tool and have the choice approved in writing by the committee before undertaking the tool. See the Appendix for the form titled "Approval of Scholarly Tool [PDF]." Satisfactory completion of the tool should be reported to the Assistant Chair for Graduate Studies.

The scholarly tool may be satisfied by any of the following four options:

1. Completing six or more hours of course credit in advanced statistics, beyond the hours required by one’s doctoral program, with grades of “B” or better.
2. Completing six or more hours of course credit in computer courses with grades of “B” or better. PSY 7130, Advanced Regression Analysis, may serve as one of these courses. The other course would most likely be taken outside of the department.
3. Passing a Foreign Language Proficiency Examination. These are administered nationally by Educational Testing Service. Application forms are available at the Office of Graduate Student Services on the third floor of Wilson Hall. The minimum passing score is the 34th percentile on the Social Sciences form of the exam. One may also take a language proficiency examination locally through the Department of Modern Languages in Ellis Hall. This exam tests your ability to translate psychological materials published in the language you have chosen.
4. Completing a sequence of two or more graduate level courses totaling six or more credit hours offered by departments other than Psychology. The courses should be in addition to those required by one’s doctoral program. A minimum grade of “B: is necessary.

Courses used to satisfy other requirements for the experimental program may not be used to satisfy the scholarly tool; however, courses used to complete the quantitative specialization can be used to satisfy the scholarly tool.