Honors Program Description
The Honors Program for the Psychology major is an opportunity for students to dive deeper into their passions by diving deep into a topic with a faculty mentor. The Honors Program offers motivated students the chance to deepen their training, develop as researchers, and prepare for graduate school. Here are details about what to expect:
- Two-semester sequence – Students will complete PSY 697 and PSY 698 under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Both courses count as Psychology Major Electives.
- Research that fits your passion – Students complete a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Projects may be experimental, clinical, applied, or creative, depending on student interests and faculty expertise.
- Recognized distinction – Completion of the course sequence will appear on the transcript as an Honors Project in Psychology, signaling excellence to graduate programs and employers.
How to Recruit a Faculty Mentor
All psychology major students are eligible to participate in the Honors Program, but students will need the approval of a faculty mentor to enroll in the courses. Students are encouraged to meet with a faculty member during office hours to discuss their interests prior to asking the faculty to be their mentor. Contact information and expertise of eligible faculty mentors are provided here.
The role of a faculty mentor is to support the student throughout the two-semester duration of the project. It is common for the faculty mentor to meet weekly with the student, assist in searching for relevant professional literature, consult on project design, assist in data analysis, and provide feedback on a final report of findings.
How to Prepare for the Honors Program
Here are several steps you can take to better prepare for pursuit of the Honors Program:
- Complete PSY 400 and PSY 371 with a grade of "B" or better. These courses will provide important tools and develop skills needed for a successful Honors Program project.
- Identify faculty who share your professional interests. Visit these faculty during their office hours to learn more about projects they are working on. Meetings with faculty can help students identify a project topic to pursue for the Honors Program.
- Participate as a research assistant within a faculty research lab. The skills obtained as a research assistant are likely to be useful when conducting a project for the Honors Program.
- Take a Psychology course that overlaps with your interests. Talk to the professor about project ideas.