DESCRIPTION OF THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT’S HONORS  PROGRAM

Application Deadline - November 15th

(or closest Monday if it falls on a weekend)

Description of the Honors program  

The Honors Program is designed to give qualified students the opportunity to develop their understanding of and skills in psychological research.  The Honors Project is an extensive piece of research designed and conducted by the student under the supervision of a faculty advisor.  It is a six credit program consisting of three credits in the honors seminar and three credits of independent work.

If you are accepted into the program, you will enroll for 489 and Psy420 in the Spring semester.  It is a seminar course that covers theory development, research design and proposal writing. At the end of the seminar, you will have completed a proposal for your project (Introduction and Methods sections) and have chosen an advisor for your project.  Currently, the Psychology Department strongly recommends that students work in pairs on their honors projects. The proposal is necessary for registration for the final credits of the program.  In the following fall and spring semesters you will enroll in another 3 credits of individual apprenticeship working with your advisor.  Most students will complete their projects in the Spring; although, it is possible to finish by fall.  All honors students are required to present their work in a formal forum of some sort (local or regional undergraduate research conferences are the most common) and all will be encouraged to submit proposals for funding

Current requirements for admission to the program  

1)     Junior standing (during Honors Seminar-PSY 489)

2)     Completion of PSY 100, 231, 232, MTH 145 or 250 before beginning Honors Seminar. PSY 420 before PSY 489 or concurrently with PSY 489

3)     3.25 cumulative grade point average in psychology courses

4)     A cumulative overall grade point average of 3.00

5)     Recommendation from two psychology department faculty

6)     Completion of an application to the program

7)     Selection into the honors program by the departmental honors program selection committee

Requirements for earning a degree with Honors in Psychology 

1)     Completion of psychology major

2)     3.50 cumulative grade point average in psychology courses*

3)     A cumulative overall grade point average of 3.25*

4)     Completion of Honors Seminar (PSY 489, three credits total)

5)     Completion and presentation of Honors Project (PSY 482, three credits, of which at least one must be completed in the candidate’s last semester)

6)     Exhibit continuous appropriate professional behavior as defined by departmental standards

*GPA computed the semester before a student graduates.