Highly qualified students may apply to graduate with honors in the psychology major. To be eligible for admission, psychology majors must have completed at least 50 credits and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.40 in psychology courses.
If accepted, students must take a sequence of three courses (PSYC 490, 491, and 492), which culminates in the successful completion and presentation of an independent honors thesis. To graduate with honors, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 in each of the three honors courses and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.40 in psychology courses.
Fall Semester I: Applications accepted every year in late October.
Spring Semester I: Students accepted take PSYC 490 (3 credits, counts as upper-level psychology elective):
PSYC 490: Designed to provide an overview of opportunities within psychology. The format includes presentations by faculty on their research, laboratory visits, and interactive discussions. Students select lines of research and faculty mentors of interest.
Fall Semester II: Students continue with PSYC 491 (3 credits, counts as upper-level psychology elective):
PSYC 491: Emphasizes advanced research methods and development of critical thinking skills. Students refine research projects and thesis.
Spring Semester II: Students conclude with PSYC 492 (3 credits, counts as upper-level psychology elective):
PSYC 492: Students finalize research projects and thesis under the guidance of their faculty committee.
"The honors program has changed my life. Without it, I would still be continuing down a passionless path, making only mediocre decisions. I learned more about the graduate school application process than I ever would have known, and was given the opportunity to discover research I am insanely passionate about. If you are accepted into the program, it will undoubtedly change your life as well, in the best way imaginable."
-Brianna Artz, Class of 2017
"From day one of the Honors Program, I have been able to grow immensely as an individual and as a professional student. My writing and public speaking abilities, as well as the knowledge I have gained from my mentors while working on my thesis and in the lab have most definitely furthered my intellect and passion for psychology!"
-Kathrynn Barlow, Class of 2015
"For me, completing honors helped to confirm my decision to apply to a research intensive graduate program. Your honors thesis, and research in general, is about so much more than getting the results you anticipated. The critical reasoning skills, methodological training, and continually being challenged to think is what really helped to set me aside from other applicants when it became time to apply for graduate school. Well that, and LOTS of writing! "
-Rochelle Sceats, Class of 2013