Description of Each Requirement
Coursework
Students in the coursework + research tracks must take the following courses amounting to 30 credits.
Core Methodology courses (9 credits). The purpose of these courses is to strengthen rigorous scientific research skills.
– Statistics for psychology I (3 credits)
– Statistics for psychology II (3 credits)
– Psychological research (3 credits)
Core Psychology courses (9 credits) To ensure that the students have foundational knowledge in different areas of psychology, students have to take three courses (one of which must be the core course in the student’s area of specialization) from the following list:
– Social psychology and personality (3 credits)
– Foundations of cognition (3 credits)
– Applied psychology (3 credits)
– Biological bases of behavior (3 credits)
– Developmental psychology (3 credits)
Area electives (9 credits). Students have to take nine credits of area elective courses to deepen their knowledge in their area of specialization, (Please click for the list of elective courses offered by each area of specialization)
– Social psychology electives
– Cognitive psychology electives
– Business psychology electives
Free electives (3 credits). Students can enroll in any course they believe to be facilitative to their learning objective and career path. They can take an advanced research methodology or statistics course, a course from other areas in psychology, or a course offered by another faculty.
Portfolio
Our portfolio system is an individualized roadmap consisting of goal setting and a development plan for the rest of their time in the program. By the end of the first year, students must propose a set of portfolio items they plan to achieve over the course of their study (at least 4 for master’s students and at least 6 for doctoral students). These items should, when completed, demonstrate the knowledge and skills relevant to the goal they set for themselves.
Students and their academic supervisors will nominate portfolio committee members consisting of the supervisor and a professor from the area or an expert in the industry. The portfolio committee will meet with students to provide feedback and suggestions on the students’ choices of portfolio items. The portfolio meeting occurs annually until graduation to track the student’s progress.
The portfolio has no fixed format, as it should reflect each student’s career goal. These are some examples of what students can showcase in their portfolios.
Advanced methodology skills, e.g., enrollment in advanced statistics or research methods courses in addition to core courses
Advanced area knowledge or skills, e.g., attending area seminars or special talks each semester and writing reflections.
Applied knowledge or skills, e.g., enrollment in courses provided by other faculties that the faculty approve
Professional presentation skills, e.g., experiences in an oral presentation, poster presentation, or symposium in an international conference
Professional training This entails internship or practicum for students who aim to be in the industry, a government agency, or a private sector; undergraduate teaching experiences for students who aspire to be a professor; grant proposal submission for students who aim to be a researcher.
Publishable empirical or review article of high-quality ready for submission to international journals or proceedings listed on Scopus or ISI (other than the ones for program requirements)
Master’s Thesis
Master’s students must successfully defend their research proposal within four semesters. Upon approval, students must submit their research proposal to Chulalongkorn’s research ethics committee for ethical review before beginning their data collection. The thesis defense can take place 60 days after the proposal defense and when a student has submitted proof of their research being accepted for publication or proof of submission for publication in a national or international journal.
Qualifying examination
All doctoral students must pass the qualifying examination within three semesters after joining the program. Students must register for the qualifying examination at the beginning of the semester they plan to take the exam. They then consult with their supervisor to select qualifying examination committee members.
Later in the semester, students have to submit a concept paper to the qualifying examination committee to demonstrate their in-depth knowledge of the research topic they plan to develop into a dissertation. Specifically, the concept paper should include a critical literature review and initial research design ideas. The qualifying exam committee will evaluate the concept paper and determine how to verify further that the student is intellectually ready and qualified to be a Ph.D. candidate. The committee may give a written exam, oral exam, or a mix of both.
Dissertation
After passing the qualifying examination, doctoral students, now Ph.D. candidates, must present and defend their research proposal. Upon the proposal approval, the students must submit an application to the research ethics committee before beginning their data collection. The dissertation defense can take place at least 60 days after the proposal defense and when a student has submitted proof of their research being accepted for publication or proof of submission for publication in an international journal.
Publication
Students must publish parts of their master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation in an academic journal or a conference proceeding. The criteria for students in each track are as follows:
Doctoral students in the Research Tracks (1.1 and 1.2) must have two papers published or accepted for publication. At least one publication has to be in an international journal.
Doctoral students in the Coursework+Research Tracks (2.1 and 2.2.) must have one paper published or accepted for publication in an international journal.
Master’s students in the Research Track (A1) must have one paper published or accepted for publication in a national or international journal.
Master’s students in the Coursework+Research Track (A2) must have one paper published or accepted for publication in a national or international journal or conference proceeding.
