Student Handbook

MAPSS students are required to be on campus in quarters which they are registered for courses. Remote study is not permitted. 

A.       General Track
I.    MAPS 30000 Perspectives in Social Science Analysis
II.    One graduate methods course. 
a.    A minimum grade of B+ is required. 
b.    The course is to be selected from over 100 different courses across the university.
c.    Questions about whether a course satisfies the methods requirement should be addressed to a student’s MAPSS Instructional Professor. That conversation must happen at the time of registration, not once the student has begun or completed the course.
d.    A methods course should focus on the practical skills necessary to conceive and execute a graduate level research design. It should equip students to perform that work themselves, including walking students through each step of the research design, the terminology, the data collection, the data analysis/interpretation, the presentation of the argument, and the strengths and weaknesses of that methodological approach.
e.    Undergraduate courses in statistics, math, and computer science at the University of Chicago generally meet our graduate methods requirement.
f.    In rare cases, students who have completed a graduate-level methods course with a grade of B+ or better prior to beginning MAPSS may request to use that course to fulfill the MAPSS methods requirement. Students should contact the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator and include the syllabus from the previous course. They will forward the request to the MAPSS Director for approval. If the request is approved a student will register for eight electives.
III.     Seven graduate-level electives. 
a.    Students may count undergraduate courses in statistics, math, or computer science taken during their MAPSS year toward MAPSS degree requirements without special permission from MAPSS. Permission from the instructor or department offering the course may be required. 
b.    Students who wish to count any other undergraduate course taken during their MAPSS year toward MAPSS degree requirements must submit a petition—available on the MAPSS Student Resource Center page on Canvas—to the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator for approval by the MAPSS Director. No petition will be approved after the third week of the quarter in which the course is offered.[KP1.1][DHH1.2]
c.    Students may register for one research and writing course, MAPS 30600 MA Writing and Research, that serves to count the MA thesis or MA capstone as one of their seven elective courses (MAPSS-Psychology students should register for PSYC 30650 MA Psychological Research). The letter grade assigned by the primary reader of the thesis, or by the Instructional Professor of the capstone, will be the grade for MAPS 30600. This grade will not be recorded to the student transcript until a student completes the thesis/capstone.
IV.    The MA thesis or MA capstone (described in more detail below). 

B.    Psychology Track
I.    MAPS 30000 Perspectives in Social Science Analysis
II.    One graduate methods course. 
a.    A minimum grade of B+ is required. 
b.    The course is to be selected from over 100 different courses across the university. 
c.    Questions about whether a course satisfies the methods requirement should be addressed a student’s MAPSS Instructional Professor. That conversation must happen at the time of registration, not once the student has begun or completed the course.
d.    A methods course should focus on the practical skills necessary to conceive and execute a graduate level research design. It should equip students to perform that work themselves, including walking students through each step of the research design, the terminology, the data collection, the data analysis/interpretation, the presentation of the argument, and the strengths and weaknesses of that methodological approach.
e.    Undergraduate courses in statistics, math, and computer science at the University of Chicago generally meet our graduate methods requirement.
f.    In rare cases, students who have completed a graduate-level methods course with a grade of B+ or better prior to beginning MAPSS may request to use that course to fulfill the MAPSS methods requirement. Students should contact the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator and include the syllabus from the previous course. They will forward the request to the MAPSS Director for approval. If the request is approved a student will register for eight electives.
III.    Seven graduate-level social science electives. 
a.    Students may count undergraduate courses in statistics, math, or computer science taken during their MAPSS year toward MAPSS degree requirements without special permission from MAPSS. Permission from the instructor or department offering the course may be required. 
b.    Students who wish to count any other undergraduate course taken during their MAPSS year toward MAPSS degree requirements must submit a petition—available on the MAPSS Student Resource Center page on Canvas—to the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator for approval by the MAPSS Director. No petition will be approved after the third week of the quarter in which the course is offered.
c.    MAPSS-Psychology students may register for one research and writing course, PSYC 30650 MA Psychological Research, that serves to count the MA thesis or MA capstone as one of the seven elective courses. The letter grade assigned by the primary reader of the thesis, or by the Instructional Professor of the capstone, will be the grade for PSYC 30650. This grade will not be recorded to the student transcript until a student completes the thesis/capstone.
IV.    The MA thesis or MA capstone (described in more detail below). 
V.    Lab Placements
a.    MAPSS-Psychology students interested in completing a thesis may pursue a lab placement, but placements are not guaranteed. 
b.    Those who secure lab placements work with faculty in the Department of Psychology or related departments such as Comparative Human Development, and are expected to complete a thesis. 
c.    Only students with lab placements are eligible to work on a thesis supervised by a faculty member in the Department of Psychology. 
d.    Students without a lab placement can complete a thesis, but must secure a primary reader from outside the Department of Psychology. 
e.    Students without a lab placement or a primary thesis reader outside the Department of Psychology complete a capstone.

C.    QMSA Track
I.    MACS 33000 Computational Math Camp 
A non-credit intensive camp beginning in late August that provides a review of linear algebra, differential/integral calculus, probability, and statistical theory that constitute the mathematical foundations of quantitative research methods. 
II.    Math/statistics placement exam at the conclusion of the math camp. The result of this exam and a student’s prior coursework will jointly determine the sequence of courses that the student will take to meet the curricular requirement in statistical theory. 
III.    QMSA 47900 Quantitative Methods Workshop QMSA students are required to complete this zero-credit, pass/fail workshop course taken each quarter. Successful completion requires participation in the Quantitative Methods Workshop series by attending both the main workshops and the corresponding pre-workshop discussion sessions.
IV.    MAPS 30000 Perspectives in Social Science Analysis
V.    QMSA 36007 Overview of Quantitative Methods in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
VI.    Statistical Theory core sequence (students must complete a. or b. in consultation with the Senior Instructional Professor of Quantitative Methods)
a.    Basic Sequence for students who have not taken probability and statistical theory in their prior coursework, or who need to develop a solid command of the mathematical foundations of statistical theory
i.    QMSA 36006 Probability and Statistical Theory
ii.    SOCI 30005 Regression and Generalized Linear Models
b.    Advanced Sequence for students who have previously completed coursework in probability theory or mathematical statistics may complete either the STAT or BUSN sequence below
i.    STAT sequence (complete either 1 or 2)
1.    STAT 24400 Statistical Theory and Methods and STAT 24500 Statistical Theory and Methods II
2.    STAT 30030 Statistical Theory and Methods Ia and STAT 30040 Statistical Theory and Methods IIa 
ii.    BUSN sequence
1.    BUSN 41901 Probability and Statistics 
2.    BUSN 41902 Statistical Inference 
VII.    Two Advanced Quantitative Methods courses from a list of courses updated quarterly on the QMSA website. Course selections must be approved by the Senior Instructional Professor of Quantitative Methods.
VIII.    Three graduate-level social science electives
IX.    The MA thesis. QMSA students are not eligible for the MA capstone option.

D.    The MA Research Requirement
MAPSS is a one-year degree program. Students are expected to complete all program requirements, including the research requirement, in time to graduate in June or August following their September matriculation. Students complete the research requirement in one of two ways: the thesis or the capstone. 
I.    The MA Thesis
  The MA thesis is an article-length piece of research and writing, modeled on an academic journal article for the discipline in which the student chooses to specialize, with the aim of advancing a scholarly conversation in the student’s field. This option is designed for students who are interested in completing an entirely independent project, based on original research, under the supervision of a primary reader.
a.    The primary reader is a member of the Social Science Division faculty or any other person with a doctorate and an appointment at the University whom students can interest in their project. MAPSS Instructional Professors serve as second readers. Thesis students must have an approved proposal and a primary reader secured by January 31.
b.    Thesis students begin developing their project in the Autumn Quarter, complete their research in the Winter Quarter and write the paper in the Spring Quarter. Students submit the first version of their thesis to their primary reader and Instructional Professor and revise it based upon the feedback they receive. The first and final versions must be submitted by the dates specified in our graduation guidelines. 
c.    The primary reader of the student’s MA thesis determines how AI can and/or cannot be used in the research and writing of the thesis.
d.    To ensure successful completion of the thesis, we strongly recommend that thesis students enroll in a research and writing course in the Winter or Spring Quarter, whether that is MAPS 30600 MA Writing and Research, PSYC 30650 MA Psychological Research (MAPSS-Psychology students only), or, for BA/MA students, a BA thesis research and writing course. The letter grade assigned by the primary reader of the thesis will be the grade recorded for the research and writing course. This grade will not be recorded to the student transcript until the student completes the thesis.
e.    If a student does not register for a research and writing course the thesis grade is not posted to a student’s transcript. 
f.    The thesis evaluation is retained in a student’s confidential MAPSS file. 
g.    Students in the Quantitative Methods and Social Analysis concentration or in the Education and Society certificate program must complete a thesis. 
h.    BA/MA students may need to complete a thesis to meet their undergraduate requirements. 
i.    Thesis students who do not have a primary reader secured by Friday of week six in the Winter Quarter will instead complete a capstone.
j.    When a student secures a primary reader, it is their responsibility to maintain the ongoing support of that reader. Students should be aware that the primary reader’s approval of the paper is not guaranteed. It is their decision whether a paper meets the criteria for the MA thesis.
k.    In the event that a student’s primary reader is unable to continue advising the project for any reason, the student must consult with the MAPSS Director who will decide how to address the situation based on the circumstances and timing of the primary reader’s withdrawal.
l.    Students who have not graduated by Summer quarter following their matriculation may be reassigned a MAPSS Instructional Professor to serve as the single thesis reader.
m.    All thesis students who drop to less-than-full-time status will be reassigned to a MAPSS Instructional Professor to serve as the single thesis reader.

II.    The MA Capstone
The MA capstone is a paper or project completed in a social science course and expanded into a more rigorous and polished product the following quarter according to the requirements specified by the student’s MAPSS Instructional Professor. Students are expected to complete the capstone in one quarter.
The capstone option is designed for students who wish to further develop and refine research begun in one of their social science courses. It is an expansive option that allows for a wide variety of endeavors, from empirical research to statistical analyses to applied projects that can be shared with employers.
Students interested in completing an applied capstone might consider taking MAPS 30005 Graduate Practicum in the Social Sciences, offered in the Winter Quarter, as well as one or more courses offered by our MA Industry Fellows. Students interested in applied social science might also wish to complete the Applied Social Science in Industry Graduate Certificate during their time in MAPSS.
a.    The capstone is supervised by the MAPSS Instructional Professor and  students must obtain their Instructional Professor’s approval to revise a course paper or project into a capstone. When seeking their Instructional Professor’s approval, students need to submit: 
i.    the completed course paper or project with the grade and any feedback provided by the instructor;
ii.    the course syllabus; 
iii.    a proposal outlining how they will expand the paper or project into a capstone (one paragraph minimum).
iv.    a timeline for completion of the capstone
b.    MAPSS Instructional Professors look for course papers and projects that are substantively and analytically robust enough to serve as a strong foundation for a capstone. The course paper or project students propose should demonstrate their ability to engage deeply with a social science topic, conduct research and analysis, and present their findings in a coherent and professional manner.
c.    The final capstone must meet the criteria for revision established by the Instructional Professor. It must be submitted at the end of the quarter in which the student completes the capstone, by the deadline specified in our graduation guidelines.
d.    The student’s Instructional Professor determines how AI can and/or cannot be used in the research and writing of the capstone.
e.    Capstone students may enroll in a research and writing course—either MAPS 30600 MA Writing and Research or PSYC 30650 MA Psychological Research —during the quarter in which they complete the capstone. The letter grade assigned by the Instructional Professor advising the capstone will be the grade recorded for the research and writing course. This grade will not be recorded to the student transcript until the student completes the capstone.
f.    If a student does not register for a research and writing course the capstone grade is not posted to a student’s transcript.

MAPSS supports both thesis and capstone students in their applications to PhD programs after graduation. Students who plan to apply should speak with their Instructional Professor about how to make the choice between a thesis and a capstone.
 

Students must meet with their assigned MAPSS Instructional Professor before registering for classes. While the Student Affairs Administrator will always oversee registration, MAPSS Instructional Professors will help guide each curricular experience and ensure students are taking courses that maximize their curricular experience and prepare them for their post-graduate plans.

A.    Registration basics
a.    The University Registrar publishes course registration dates and the schedule of classes. 
b.    Students are expected to register for three 100-unit graduate courses each quarter. 
c.    Undergraduate courses in statistics, math, or computer science will be counted towards the student’s 9-course requirement without special permission. 
d.    Students wishing to take any other undergraduate course to satisfy their MAPSS curricular requirements must submit a petition—available on the MAPSS Student Resource Center page on Canvas—to the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator for approval by the MAPSS Director. No petition will be approved after the third week of the quarter in which the course is offered.
e.    Students may only register for three 100-unit courses at a time. Students are welcome to “course shop” by sitting in on other classes in the first few weeks of the quarter, but they can only be registered for three at a time. 
f.    No student may register for an “R” in a for-credit course (grades of “R” indicate “Registered” or “Audit” status.)
g.    Students may also register for workshops required for their program or certificate curriculum. Students may register for workshops for an “R” or a “P” if required by the workshop. 
h.    Students can make changes to their own schedule through week one of the quarter. After week one, students must request course changes through the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator. Course changes are permitted until the end of week three of the quarter. 
i.    Students interested in taking language courses during their time in MAPSS should consult with their Instructional Professor about how to meet their language goals.
j.    MAPSS-Psychology students receive priority consideration for psychology courses taught by MAPSS Instructional Professors.
k.    All questions regarding registration should be directed to the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator.
 

A.    No final course, thesis, or capstone grade will be changed once it has been submitted to the Registrar by the instructor. There is no appeal process for grades. If a student feels that the grade was a result of bias or discrimination, they should discuss it with UChicago CARES. 
I.    If the instructor submitted an incorrect grade, the instructor may initiate a change with the Registrar, which must be approved by the Dean of Students. 
II.    If the course instructor, primary thesis reader, or Instructional Professor advising a capstone submitted a provisional grade in the quarter of a student’s graduation, they may later revise the provisional grade to a final grade. 
III.    Grades cannot be retroactively changed from a letter grade to a P, and courses taken for a P cannot be retaken for a letter grade. 
B.    Students may take up to two electives for a Pass as part of their MA curriculum.
I.    MAPS 30000, MAPS 30600, PSYC 30650, and the course satisfying the methods requirement may not be taken pass/fail. 
II.    Students must obtain permission from the course instructor and assigned Instructional Professor before the end of week seven to take a course pass/fail. If an instructor has an earlier pass/fail deadline, then the instructor deadline applies.
III.    Courses in which a student receives a P are omitted from GPA calculation.
IV.    It is up to the individual instructors to decide if the pass is possible, and, if so, what work must be completed to earn it. 
C.    Students who choose to drop a course after week three of the quarter will receive a grade of W (withdrawn). A student must submit their request to the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator.
I.    The request must be made by 5pm on Friday of the 9th week of the quarter or the day before the final project/exam is due, whichever is earlier.
II.    If a student withdraws from a course after the third week of the quarter, the course will appear on the transcript with a grade of W. 
III.    No tuition refund is available for a course with a grade of W.
 

A.    Students complete three 100-unit courses each quarter. Workshops and non-credit enrollments do not count toward the three 100-unit course requirement.

B.    Students must earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to receive the MA degree.

C.    Students should complete all courses for a passing letter grade before the start of the subsequent academic quarter. 

D.    Students with a non-passing grade (Blank, I, NGR, W, or F) at the end of a quarter must communicate with the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator to discuss their circumstances.

E.    If an instructor has granted more time to complete the course, or the course is a two-quarter course, or the student has submitted the work and is awaiting a grade, the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator may temporarily excuse the missing grade, but will provide a date by which the student must follow up with them to provide an update on the grade. 

F.    Students with an unexcused non-passing grade may be placed on Academic Probation. (See the section on Academic Probation below.)

G.    Students should be aware that instructors are not obligated to evaluate coursework submitted after the quarter has ended.

H.    Students who receive a grade of F or W for one of their nine courses, or who complete nine courses without a 3.0 GPA, must meet with the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator to discuss the timeline for completing a replacement course in a future quarter. 
I.    Students may replace no more than three courses in which they received an F or W. 
II.    Students may replace no more than three courses to raise their GPA above 3.0 
III.    Taking one replacement course eliminates the single lowest elective grade from GPA calculations; taking a second replacement course eliminates the second lowest elective grade from GPA calculations; etc. The prior grade will remain on the student’s transcript but not be factored into GPA calculations.
IV.    No tuition scholarship is available for replacement courses.
 

A.    As noted above in the section on Maintaining Good Academic Standing, students may be placed on Academic Probation when they have grades of Blank, I, W, or NGR that are not resolved by the start of the next academic quarter, and/or when their cumulative GPA drops below 3.0.

B.    Students may also be placed on Academic Probation if other milestones related to curriculum or the MA research requirement are not met.

C.    Students subject to academic probation must contact the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator, who will arrange a meeting with the student and the MAPSS Director.

D.    Following the meeting, the MAPSS Director will send the student a notice of academic probation that clearly states the deficiencies that need to be corrected, how they must be corrected, the timeline by which they must be corrected, and the consequences of failing to correct them; those consequences may include being removed from the program. The student will be asked to confirm, in writing, receipt of the probationary document, and to certify that they have read and understood its terms. 

E.    Academic Probation is not noted on a student’s transcript. 

F.    Academic probation is not intended as a punishment. It is intended to assist a student in understanding what they need to do to get back on track and succeed in MAPSS.
 

A.    Per the Student Manual, students are eligible for several types of Voluntary Leaves of Absence (LOA), including Personal LOA and Medical LOA.
I.    A student must complete one full quarter in the MA program before requesting the LOA.
II.    Students interested in taking an LOA should discuss their situation with the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator. The LOA must be approved by MAPSS and the SSD Dean of Students. Any conditions for return will be noted.  
III.    Students should be mindful of UChicago Bursar Policies regarding the availability of tuition refunds and course withdrawal policies if the LOA is requested after a quarter begins.

B.    If an MA student has not registered for any classes by the end of the third week of an academic quarter, whether as a result of a hold on their registration, or through a failure to register as they should have, the Dean of Students may place the student on an Involuntary Leave of Absence (LOA).
I.    An involuntary LOA will be communicated to the student in writing, with an explanation of what the student must do to be permitted to resume study at the University. The LOA will take effect even if the student does not respond to the communication.
II.    Resumed study at the University is not guaranteed. The conditions for a resumption, when possible, will be decided by MAPSS in consultation with the Dean of Students.

C.    A student’s MAPSS Instructional Professor will serve as the primary thesis reader for students who take a leave of absence. 
 

BA/MA students are fourth years in UChicago’s undergraduate college who have successfully applied to complete both the BA and the MA in four years of study.

A.    BA/MA students must meet all elements of the MA curriculum in which they’re enrolled, including completing nine graduate-level (or other MAPSS-approved) courses in their BA/MA year, a faculty-approved MA thesis or a MAPSS Instructional Professor-approved MA capstone (if a capstone is permitted by their undergraduate major), and any required workshops.

B.    BA/MA students may request that MAPSS count a UChicago graduate-level methods course taken prior to their BA/MA year to fulfill the Methods requirement. Approval of the request permits the student to take eight graduate-level electives instead of seven electives and a Methods course. Students should submit their request to the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator, who will forward it to the MAPSS Director for approval.

C.    BA/MA students may register for one of: MAPS 30600 MA Writing and Research, PSYC 30650 MA Psychological Research, or an undergraduate writing/research course that serves to count the MA thesis or capstone as one of their seven elective courses. The letter grade assigned by the primary reader of the thesis, or by the Instructional Professor advising the capstone, will be the grade for the course. This grade will not be recorded to the student transcript until a student completes the thesis/capstone.

D.    Like other MAPSS students, BA/MA students may petition to count undergraduate coursework taken during their MAPSS year toward MAPSS degree requirements. Students must submit a course petition—available on the MAPSS Student Resource Center page on Canvas—to the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator for approval by the MAPSS Director. No petition will be approved after the third week of the quarter in which the course is offered.

E.    BA/MA students are permitted to take up to 4 courses in a particular quarter (three at the graduate level, one at the undergraduate level). The decision to take more than 3 classes should be made carefully, in consultation with the student’s assigned MAPSS Instructional Professor.

F.    BA/MA students whose GPA falls below 3.0 while taking 4 courses, or who do not complete all 4 courses in a prior quarter, cannot take more than 3 courses in a subsequent quarter without the approval of the MAPSS Director and the director of undergraduate studies for their BA Program.

G.    BA/MA students may, under special circumstances, take 5 classes in a particular quarter (three at the graduate level, two at the undergraduate level).
I.    Students should consider this option only when strictly necessary for the completion of their BA requirements.
II.    The fourth and fifth courses must be required for their BA degree, as verified by their major’s Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Director of Undergraduate Studies should send that verification to the student’s assigned MAPSS Instructional Professor, who will forward the verification to the MAPSS Director.
III.    The College must approve the petition to take a fifth course. 
IV.    The student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the courses counting toward their MA degree in the quarter in which they take a fifth course. Failure to do so will result in the student dropping the MA degree and continuing only as a BA student.

H.    BA/MA students may count up to nine courses taken to complete MA degree requirements toward BA degree requirements with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies. 

I.    BA/MA students should consult their director of undergraduate studies if they wish to satisfy their BA thesis requirement with their MA thesis or capstone.

J.    BA/MA students must complete the MA degree no later than Summer quarter following their matriculation into MAPSS or the MA degree will not be conferred. The BA degree must be conferred at the same time or before the MA degree.

K.    BA/MA students who graduate from their BA program before Spring quarter may continue as just MA students. 
 

A.    The Registrar’s Office sets policies regarding the process and deadlines for applying to graduate in a given quarter. 

B.    MAPSS internal graduation deadlines are available here. 

C.    Students who intend to graduate in the June or August following their September matriculation may apply to graduate while completing their MAPSS requirements.

D.    Students who intend to graduate in any subsequent quarter may apply to graduate if they have submitted all required coursework and have only the thesis or capstone remaining. (BA/MA students who do not graduate by Summer at the end of their BA/MA year cannot earn the MA degree.)

E.    Students who apply to graduate in a quarter but do not meet curricular and research requirements and deadlines - including deadlines for current and prior quarter grades - will be removed from the graduation list for that quarter.

F.    After students complete required coursework, they will be discontinued as students and will complete the degree as Discontinued students.

G.    Discontinued students must contact the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator to apply to graduate. 
 

A.    International students on F-1 or J-1 student visas who complete the MAPSS-Psychology or MAPSS-QMSA pathways may be eligible for employment benefits associated with their respective visa type. The MAPSS–Psychology and MAPSS-QMSA pathways are listed as a STEM designated degree by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the purposes of the STEM OPT extension. However, approval for STEM OPT is at the discretion of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. Students should review the OPT STEM extension page on the OIA website.  

B.    Students should review the United States Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Program list to ensure that CIP code 45.0102 is still on the list. 

C.    Students should review the definition of CIP code 45.0102 Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods and ensure that they are registering for courses whose course descriptions align with the definition of the CIP code to support their OPT STEM extension application. 

A.    All students must earn the MA degree no more than 10 years following their initial matriculation into the MAPSS program.  
   
B.    Students who have not graduated by Summer quarter following their matriculation may be reassigned a MAPSS Instructional Professor to serve as the single thesis reader. 

C.    If the student has not graduated two years past their initial matriculation, they must submit a formal petition for a resumption of studies through the MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator.

D.    All coursework must be completed, and all grades posted on the student’s transcript, before a resumption of studies will be considered. The only exception will be the MA research and writing course. The grades for that course will be posted once the primary reader has evaluated the final version of the MA thesis or the Instructional Professor has evaluated the final version of the capstone.

E.    All resumptions are considered on a case-by-case basis and resumed study at the University is not guaranteed. The petition must be formally approved by the MAPSS Director and the Dean of Students.

F.    Once the resumption is approved, the student must graduate within 12 months. If they do not do so, it will no longer be possible to earn the MA degree.

G.    Students are urged to submit the resumption no later than 9 years past their initial matriculation, giving them a maximum of one year to complete the MA thesis or capstone.

MAPSS students are required to follow our program-specific policy on student use of AI in MA theses and capstones. They are also required to follow the Social Science Division’s AI Policy for MA Programs. Violations of these policies can lead to disciplinary sanctions, which may include a warning, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension or expulsion, or revocation of the degree if the infraction is found retroactively.

A.    Policy on Using AI in the MAPSS Thesis
I.    The primary reader of the student’s MA thesis has the authority to determine how AI can and/or cannot be used in the research and writing of the thesis. When a primary reader agrees to supervise a student’s thesis, the proposal form circulated by the program asks the primary reader to specify what AI use is permitted. A copy of that completed form will be sent to the student by the program, and students are responsible for understanding and abiding by those permissions. The secondary reader, if involved, will follow the permissions set by the primary reader. 
II.    If the primary reader approves changes to those AI permissions, the student must submit a new proposal form for approval.
III.    Students should not assume that a particular use of AI is permitted unless it has been specifically authorized by the primary reader. Students are responsible for consulting with their readers if they are unsure about permissible uses or required disclosures. Students should also consult their primary reader to understand what permissions govern the uploading of documents or data, including those obtained from human subjects, to commercial LLMs. Questions about this should be directed to Chad Cyrenne (cmcyrenn@uchicago.edu), Executive Director of SSD MA Programs and Assistant Dean.
IV.    Based on the University policy on Academic Honesty and Plagiarism, students are responsible for the content, quality, and veracity of their work, whether or not a particular use of AI was authorized.
V.    Primary readers have the authority to refuse passing grades and/or to withdraw as primary reader for theses, including in cases where there is evidence of inappropriate AI use. Inappropriate use of AI is grounds for disciplinary proceedings overseen by the SSD Dean of Students.

B.    Policy on Using AI in the MAPSS Capstone
I.    The MAPSS Instructional Professor supervising the student’s MA capstone has the authority to determine how AI can and/or cannot be used in the research and writing of the capstone. When the MAPSS Instructional Professor approves the student’s capstone proposal, they complete a form specifying what AI use is permitted. A copy of that completed form will be sent to the student by the program, and students are responsible for understanding and abiding by those permissions.
II.    If the IP approves changes to those AI permissions, the student must submit a new proposal form for approval.
III.    Students should not assume that a particular use of AI is permitted unless it has been specifically authorized by their MAPSS IP. Students are responsible for consulting with their IP if they are unsure about permissible uses or required disclosures. Students should also consult their IP to understand what permissions govern the uploading of documents or data, including those obtained from human subjects, to commercial LLMs. Questions about this should be directed to Chad Cyrenne (cmcyrenn@uchicago.edu), Executive Director of SSD MA Programs and Assistant Dean.
IV.    Based on the University policy on Academic Honesty and Plagiarism, students are responsible for the content, quality, and veracity of their work, whether or not a particular use of AI was authorized.
V.    MAPSS Instructional Professors have the authority to refuse passing grades for capstones, including in cases where there is evidence of inappropriate AI use. Inappropriate use of AI is grounds for disciplinary proceedings overseen by the SSD Dean of Students.
 

A.    All forms and additional information, including annual deadlines and requisite forms, are available on the MAPSS Student Resource Center page on Canvas.

B.    University of Chicago Student Manual
The Student Manual is the official statement of University policies, regulations, and expected standards of student conduct that are applicable to all students. While students should be familiar with the manual as a whole, the following are commonly referenced by graduate students:  Student Life & Conduct; Leaves of Absence; University Grievance Policy for Graduate Students; Policy on Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct; Policy on Title IX Sexual Harassment; Policy on Religious Accommodation for Missed Classes, Assignments, and Exams; Policy on Academic Honesty & Plagiarism; Graduate Student Parent Policy; and Registration for Students in PhD Programs.

C.    Divisional Manual
Additional Divisional Policies are available online that pertain to disciplinary policies and grievances. 

D.    Collective Bargaining Agreement

MAPSS has no teaching or research assistantship requirement. However, students may choose to work as teaching or research assistants at their own discretion. 

The terms and conditions of employment for certain graduate students at the University of Chicago who are employed to perform instructional or research services will be determined by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the University and Graduate Students United (“GSU-UE”) for the duration of the assignment to perform such services. Students can access the CBA and review frequently asked questions about graduate student unionization on the Provost’s office website.

E.    Department and Divisional Communications
I.    Students will be added to Social Sciences Divisional MA e-mail lists and should not unsubscribe from those lists. 
II.    Official University, Divisional, and program communications will be sent only to student’s @uchicago.edu e-mail address. Students are responsible for regularly checking that e-mail account. 

F.    The Social Sciences Graduate Student Activities Committee (SSGSAC) is a committee of representatives from each degree program in the Division of the Social Sciences that organizes social activities for students within the program and is funded by the University’s Office of Campus and Student Life. At least two MAPSS students serve on the Committee each year to organize, plan, and publicize social events for students within the program. Students may e-mail ssd-dos@uchicago.edu if they wish to become involved. 

G.    Dean of Students Office
The Dean of Students Office oversees divisional policies related to students, liaises with offices around the University that provide student services, manages the student grievance and disciplinary process within the Division of the Social Sciences, ensures that disability accommodations are provided to students in the Division, coordinates student financial aid, and advises students on a range of issues. Contacts: Dean of Students Kelly Therese Pollock, kpollock@uchicago.edu, and Associate Dean of Students Brett Baker, bbaker@uchicago.edu. 

Students with questions may contact Dom Williams (williamsd@uchicago.edu), MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator; Brett Baker (bbaker@uchicago.edu), Associate Dean of Students, Division of the Social Sciences; Amanda Young (amanday@uchicago.edu), Director, Graduate Student Affairs in UChicagoGRAD.

MAPSS Director – Darcy Hughes Heuring (darcy@uchicago.edu)

MAPSS Student Affairs Administrator – Dom Williams (williamsd@uchicago.edu)

Faculty Director of MA Programs – Jon Rogowski (jrogowski@uchicago.edu)

Executive Director of MA Programs in Social Sciences – Chad Cyrenne (cmcyrenn@uchicago.edu)

Senior Instructional Professor of Quantitative Methods – Yanyan Sheng (y.sheng@uchicago.edu)

MAPSS Assistant Director – Tori Gross (torigross@uchicago.edu)

Dean of Students, Division of the Social Sciences – Kelly Pollock (kpollock@uchicago.edu

Associate Dean of Students, Division of the Social Sciences – Brett Baker (bbaker@uchicago.edu)