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Honors in the Major

Honors in Psychology (PSYC 495,496,497) A student may receive a B.A. or B.S. degree with Honors in Psychology by meeting the standards outlined in the Honors in Psychology Student Guidelines. Students must complete an Independent Study (empirical or literature review) prior to enrolling in Honors in the Major. Also, a student must have an overall GPA and a Psychology GPA of at least 3.4, at the time of graduation in order to receive the designation of "Honors" on the diploma. The work is carried out independently, with guidance from a faculty mentor. Students taking PSYC 496 will complete is the one-credit course. PSYC 495 and 497 are ½-credit courses; Honors in Psychology is a full credit course taken for a grade.

Honors in Psychology (and Independent Study) are strongly recommended for students who plan to attend graduate school in any of the research areas of psychology. Admission criteria for M.A. and Ph.D. programs often include research experience, and one's likelihood of acceptance into a competitive program is enhanced by having a record of research participation.   

To participate in Honors in Psychology, a student must have completed an Independent Study and gained approval by the Department (see Honors in Psychology Student Guidelines). Students must also complete an Application for Research in the Department, an Application for Honors in Psychology, and submit a written proposal by the first Wednesday of the semester. Note, that your mentor may require an earlier proposal deadline.