Honors Program

Laying the groundwork for thesis eligbility:

Are you considering writing an honor's thesis or a senior thesis?  It's a great experience.  You'll work with a mentor to carry out an individual research project (e.g., experiment, survey, secondary data analysis) and write a thesis that could be publication-worthy.

In most cases, faculty are reluctant to take on thesis supervision unless someone has been working in their lab for at least a semester or two.  Thus you should ideally be in a lab, learning the skills, and laying the groundwork for your project by your junior year.  Finding a research position can be challenging, so it's a good idea to apply to work (typically in an independent study) in several different labs.  If you still aren't able to find a position now, you might talk to the labs you are interested in to see if you can attend their lab meetings, or if there are skills you can work on to make you a good candidate when a position does open up.  The STAR Scholars YouTube presentation on finding a research position - and what to do if you can't this year - may also be helpful. 

• Apply for research opportunities in the Psych Dept.
• What to do if your primary research mentor is outside of the Psych Dept. (see Research & Involvement section)
• Explore the STAR Scholars Program

Good luck with your search!

-Dr. Julie Boland, Thesis Program Director

The Honors Program allows advanced students to collaborate directly with a faculty mentor to complete an original research project. Results from honors projects have been reported in scientific journals and presented at professional conferences. The honors research program includes two terms of independent study courses with the mentor, culminating in a written thesis report and a poster presentation. Successful program participants are awarded an honors designation at graduation (B.A. or B.S. degree “with honors”). 

For students with strong academic records and an interest in research, the honors program can serve as a capstone for their undergraduate studies, and as important preparation for graduate studies.

Visit the Prospective Honors Students page for information about the program, expectations, application, and more.