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Honors Policy

Honors Program in Psychology – Fall 2024

The Honors Program in Psychology is a chance for seniors to undertake substantial independent work culminating in a project of exceptionally high quality. As in years past, the Honors project is a full-year undertaking and represents a significant scholarly accomplishment – and will require a significant amount of work – above and beyond typical capstone expectations. The number of students admitted into the Honors program is always constrained by faculty availability.

Timeline

During the summer:

Students develop the preliminary ideas for their Honors proposal. They are encouraged to confer with a department faculty member about their plans early on in their thinking about the project. All students must submit a draft of their proposal to a department faculty member at least two weeks before the proposal deadline. Ideally, the consulted faculty member will have expertise relevant to the project. However, please note that faculty availability during the summer is not guaranteed, so students may seek assistance from any willing faculty member.

By Mid September:

Students submit their Honors proposal to the department chair, Cari Gillen-O’Neel ([email protected]). Please note that this is a FIRM DEADLINE. Proposals will typically run ~2 pages, double-spaced (not including references) and will include:

  • A clear statement of the research question or topic, supported by relevant psychological scholarship.
  • An explanation of how the project will contribute to the literature in novel ways (e.g., testing competing theories; applying past research in new domains).
  • A justification for the scholarly and/or practical importance of the project.
  • A tentative plan for the project (e.g., general design for an experiment; a literature review culminating in an intervention program).
  • The name of the faculty member with whom the student consulted about the proposal.

Criteria

The department faculty will evaluate the extent to which the proposal:

  • Synthesizes and analyzes relevant research and theoretical frameworks.
    • It is relatively comprehensive, capturing key sources relevant to the project, including contemporary and foundational scholarship.
    • It puts a range of theories, ideas, findings and sources – including conflicting evidence and perspectives, when relevant – into conversation with each other.
  • Has clear aims or hypotheses and successfully supports those aims or hypotheses with reference to the relevant literature.
  • Seeks to contribute to the literature in novel ways.
  • Justifies the scholarly and/or practical importance of the proposed project.
  • Is feasible given the student’s background and department resources.

In addition, faculty will consider:

  • The student’s track record of success in domains relevant to the proposed project. Although grades will be considered, greater emphasis will be placed on students’ motivation, responsiveness to feedback, initiative, ability to work independently, and overall accomplishments.
  • The availability of faculty with relevant expertise to supervise the project.

The chair will notify all applicants of the department’s decision about their Honors proposals. If admitted to the Honors program, students will be assigned to a faculty supervisor (often but not always the person who oversaw the original project) and will be cleared to register for the Spring semester Honors seminar.

Mid-December

All students accepted for the Honors program will engage in a preliminary defense of their projects to the Psychology faculty. The defense will consist of a 15 minute presentation of the student’s work to date, followed by 5-10 minutes of Q & A. This will take place during the first study day. After their defense, each student will receive feedback about their progress to date and steps they will need to take to ensure successful completion of the project.

Mid-April

Students will meet with a committee of three faculty (their faculty supervisor plus two other faculty, one of whom may be from the Psychology Department and the other of whom is typically from another department) to present and defend their Honors project. A complete, polished draft of the Honors project is due to the committee at least one week – preferably two weeks – before the defense date. The defense usually begins with a 15 minute presentation – open to guests – and then moves to a closed session with just the committee and the student for about 45 minutes. At the end of the defense, the faculty supervisor will meet with the student to let them know whether they will graduate with Honors and, if so, what revisions they need to make before submitting the final version of their Honors thesis to the Academic Programs office

FAQs:

  1. Is there a minimum GPA for participation in the Honors program in Psychology?

No, there is no minimum GPA. We urge potential applicants to talk with their faculty advisors about whether undertaking an Honors project is a good fit for their interests and background. 

  1. What is the relationship between capstone/Directed Research and Honors?

For most students, Honors will consist of completing a strong capstone/Directed Research project in the Fall and then expanding that project in the Spring. In rare cases, a student who has already undertaken a substantial independent project under close faculty supervision can use that project, rather than their capstone, as the foundation for Honors. Students who wish to use an independent study as the foundation for their Honors project should discuss this possibility with the faculty member who supervised that project. 

  1. What happens if I apply for Honors and then decide I don’t want to complete my project?

This is not an uncommon occurrence; as students evaluate their workload and priorities, they sometimes decide that the Honors program is not for them. 

  1. What if I miss the September deadline to propose an Honors project?

Unfortunately, this deadline is firm. The faculty have limited time to review the proposals before students commit to their projects. We urge you to start your proposals early so that you can turn them in by the deadline. 

  1. I plan to graduate in December. Can I participate in the Honors program?

Unfortunately, students who plan to graduate in December will not be eligible for the Honors program; there is insufficient time to complete all of the required steps. If you plan to graduate in December 2025, however, please consult with your faculty advisor ASAP about whether applying for Honors this year is a good choice for you.

  1. Can my Honors project in Psychology be combined with an Honors project in my other major?

Our policy has been that a project can only result in Honors in one department. In the past, a few hardy souls have conducted two Honors projects – one in each major. Please confer with your faculty advisor to determine what makes the most sense given your majors and your plans for the future.

Previous Honors Projects

You can read most of these honors projects on Digital Commons.