First Year Research
The program is designed to introduce new students to psychological research from the outset of their involvement in the program. Students work closely with their advisers to develop a first-year research project during their first quarter of graduate school. They are expected to take an active role in planning and executing this project, and they typically present their findings in an informal "brownbag" presentation at the end of the first year.
Students are also required to write a Master's Thesis detailing original research that they have conducted at Northwestern. This research may develop the themes presented in the first-year project, or it may concern an entirely different topic. The Master's thesis committee consists of at least two Northwestern faculty members, one of whom is the student's main faculty adviser. Thesis research is typically conducted during the second year of graduate study.
