The goal of the Honors Program is to provide the best intellectual training the department can give to psychology majors, regardless of ultimate career paths. Honors students typically gain admittance to the best graduate and professional schools.
Acceptance into the Honors Program is based primarily on grades, a faculty recommendation, and research experience. In making its decision, the Committee selects the top applicants and also considers factors such as the strength of the applicants’ background in psychology. Honors students participate in the Undergraduate Research Conference and complete a Honors Thesis under the direction of a faculty sponsor, with the student taking substantial responsibility for conducting the research. The Honors Thesis, written in the style of an American Psychological Association (APA) journal-article, is expected to be at the level of a first-year graduate-student project. Awards are given to students who produce outstanding theses.