Department Honors in Psychology

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN PSYCHOLOGY

The Department of Psychology encourages eligible students to engage first-hand in the research process by conducting an honors thesis in psychology. In the Departmental Honors Program, advanced students work closely with a faculty advisor to develop and conduct an original research project. In classes, you might hear about ongoing research at Miami University, or if you participate in a lab, you might help with various aspects of the research process. The honors thesis provides an opportunity for you to take your engagement in research to the next level. Now, you will be joining the research community by contributing your own ideas and findings about psychological processes and phenomena.

Conducting an honors thesis is excellent preparation for graduate study, even in areas outside of psychology. Postgraduate programs value independent scholarship, ability to solve problems, cooperative work with other people, experience in statistical analyses, and original writing—all of which are frequently core aspects of an honors thesis experience.

Eligibility for Departmental Honors

To be eligible for departmental honors in Psychology, you should apply in the spring semester of your junior year. The brief application for department honors will ask you about the following requirements:

· GPA of at least 3.25 in psychology and overall

· Endorsement of faculty advisor

· Brief description of thesis topic

honors Sequence In Psychology

The honors sequence in psychology consists of these components, to be completed during the senior year.

· PSY 400 seminar in Fall of senior year

· Close work with faculty advisor on designing project, collecting and analyzing data, and writing APA-style paper

· Thesis evaluated by faculty advisor and two other readers

· Presentation of project results in a public forum (e.g., Hinkle Poster Session, Undergraduate Research Forum)

Frequently Asked Questions