General Description

The goal of the Honors Program is to acknowledge highly motivated students who excel both in the classroom and in research and to provide such students with special educational opportunities. This web page describes the Psychology Department Honors Program. Students interested in General Honors are referred to the university Honors Program.

Requirements

Maintain a high GPA. Guidelines adopted by the Honors Council are 3.3 for graduating “cum laude,” 3.5 for “magna cum laude,” and 3.8 for “summa cum laude.” These are guidelines and the Honors Council occasionally awards an honors designation inconsistent with these guidelines depending on the quality of the honors thesis. Students with a GPA of less than 3.3 who are interested should contact the Honors Director. Completing a research thesis is a rewarding experience whether or not one graduates with honors. Conducting research in collaboration with a professor is one of the most important educational opportunities uniquely available at a research institution like the University of Colorado.

Honors Thesis. Honors students must conduct an empirical research project under the supervision of a faculty member, write a thesis based on that research, and defend the thesis before a committee of three faculty members. The examining committee includes (a) the student's thesis advisor, (b) one of the departmental representatives to the Honors Council (Professor Whisman, Blair, or Spencer), and (c) a faculty member outside the Department of Psychology. It is up to the student to form the committee and to schedule the defense date.

Paperwork

Students intending to graduate with departmental Honors must complete an application packet, which can be obtained online or in person at the Honors Program office (Norlin Library M400L). The university deadline for completing this application is around the middle of the semester before you intend to graduate. Students intending to take Senior Thesis credits must complete a form available in the Advising Office (D243 Muenzinger). This form needs to be signed by your thesis advisor and by one of the departmental representatives to the Honors Council (Professor Whisman, Blair, or Spencer).

Important Dates

It is important that you inform us about your interest in graduating with Honors as soon as possible. The university deadline for completing the application packet for graduation with Honors is around the middle of the semester before you intend to graduate. The following general schedule applies:

Note: Exact dates are available from the Honors Office. The thesis defense may be completed anytime before the deadline.

Honors Courses in Psychology

The Department of Psychology currently offers two honors courses. These courses are highly recommended but not required for students wishing to graduate with honors.

PSYC 3001: Junior Honors Seminar
This seminar includes not only a thorough review of research methods appropriate for conducting an honors reserach project, but also application of those methods to the writing of a proposal for the Senior Honors Seminar. Efforts are also made to link students to research mentors so that they can plan and begin their honors research. Instructors: Check current schedule.
PSYC 4001: Senior Honors Seminar
This is a capstone course in psychology. The course surveys contemporary issues, explores current controversies and examines in detail selected topics in psychology. In addition to lectures and class discussion on those topics, help is also provided in completing the writing of the honors thesis. Fellow students also provide social support in the writing process. Students usually have an opportunity to practice their thesis oral presentations. Note: This course also counts for the critical thinking requirement (i.e., it substitutes for PSYC 4521). The Junior Honors Seminar (PSYC 3001) is not a prerequisite, but we encourage students to take both courses. Instructors: Check current schedule.