Ph.D. Advising
Advising staff
Kathy Montano, the Graduate Student Coordinator, and Katie Ritchey, the Graduate Student Advisor, are available to assist current and prospective Psychology Ph.D. students with a wide variety of questions. They can also help direct Psychology graduate students to resources on campus. You can reach both of them by emailing psyga@ucsc.edu.
Kathy Montano: Kathy is the Graduate Program Coordinator for the Psychology Department. She advises, supports, and provides resources to our graduate students and faculty for the Psychology Ph.D. Program. She is also responsible for the long-term planning and funding decisions.
Katie Ritchey: Katie is the Graduate Advisor for the Psychology Ph.D. Program. She supports graduate students with questions on program requirements, locating resources on campus, and processing graduate student employment. She also aids prospective students in learning more about our program.
Program requirements
Ph.D. program student handbook
Detailed information about our Ph.D. program, policies, and resources may be viewed in our Psychology Graduate Student Handbook.
Faculty advising and evaluation
Upon entrance to the graduate program, students consult with their faculty sponsors to outline a plan of academic study corresponding to their interests and goals, including formal coursework, seminars, independent studies, and research. All students are expected to conduct both collaborative and independent research throughout their graduate careers, leading up to the completion of their Ph.D. dissertations.
By the last day of instruction, all students must provide their faculty advisor with a 1 or 2-page annual progress report, evaluating their achievements each year, including publications and conference presentations, courses completed, and TA assignments. They are also asked to describe their progress on research, completion of program requirements (i.e., coursework, qualifying exam, etc.), and their research goals for next year.
At the end of each academic year, the faculty in each of our three research areas will meet to evaluate the progress of the students in their respective areas. A written report of this meeting will be presented to each student, specifically noting their performance in research, coursework, and teaching. Specific recommendations may also be stated for students to address academic progress concerns and support them in growth areas.
Designated emphasis and secondary specialization
Psychology graduate students at UCSC may obtain a designated emphasis on their Ph.D. degree, denoting acquired expertise in a complementary field of study outside of the student’s home department. See the Academic Senate website for information on what programs of study are available for a designated emphasis. Students are encouraged to apply in the first or second year of study.
In addition, graduate students in psychology may pursue a secondary specialization in quantitative social science. This program is offered through the Center for Statistical Analysis in the Social Sciences, and more information on the requirements can be found on their website. Unlike a Designated Emphasis, secondary specializations are not listed on degrees after graduation, but they may be listed on CVs.
Graduate division forms
The Graduate Division administers graduate student degree programs, from recruitment and admission to degree completion and graduation. They also administer the employment of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The Graduate Division ensures compliance with campus policies and regulations that govern graduate student progress and employment.
The Graduate Division hosts a number of forms that students may need to use during their time in our program. Completed forms are turned in to the Psychology Graduate Advising team for processing. Current students are encouraged to review the Graduate Student Handbook and speak to Kathy and Katie about the appropriate use of these forms.