Honors Program in Psychology FAQs

The honors program in psychology was started in the mid-1970's (and thus, it predates the establishment of an honors college at Arizona State University). The program has always supported and encouraged our best undergraduates to become engaged in creating new psychological knowledge by working closely with our department faculty in developing and implementing empirical research projects as honors theses.

The psychology honors program now coordinates with Barrett, the Honors College, to support psychology majors who wish to complete honors theses in psychology.

Doing an honors theses in psychologyis an intense and rewarding experience. The main focus of the departmental honors program is the honors thesis sequence which supports the thesis endeavor in several ways.

At the center of the thesis sequence is the year-long, seminar course for the group of students doing honors theses in a calendar year. This course has proven to be very valuable as a support structure on several levels as the students engage in their thesis work (which is completed by the students working with individual faculty members).

In the context of that course, students are able to find a faculty mentor (if they do not already have one identified), develop a thesis research question, sharpen their research and professional tool skills, present their ongoing projects and share their experiences with others, and have further faculty support and assistance as needed.

What is an honors thesis in psychology?

Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies behavior and mental activity. In this it is a very broad field, which overlaps with many other disciplines in the university. However, there are several points that are stand out in defining the honors thesis experience in the psychology department.

Psychology is an empirical science, and our faculty feel that the honors thesis should have an empirical component (rather than being a solely theoretical review paper). We encourage all our majors to get actively involved in research at all levels, and feel that such research should part of the thesis experience, as well.

The honors thesis in psychology is a project of original scholarship, which includes an empirical component and which the student undertakes under the guidance of a faculty member. The specific research question that the thesis engages (and the details of the project) are determined by the student and faculty member.

We encourage students to work with faculty in developing research questions for their theses, and in designing and executing studies to inform us about those research questions. Thesis projects may involve the collection of new data, or may use existing data sets to answer to new research questions. Because of the complexity of projects in psychology, and the need in many cases to collect data from people or animals as subjects of study, there is a great deal of planning involved, and projects are scheduled to fill up two semesters of academic work.

The thesis serves as a capstone experience for our majors. The experience is aimed at students who are our best students in terms of their capability and in terms of their engagement with the major. Before beginning a thesis, we expect students will have substantial progress in the major and already had some experience in research endeavors (usually as a supervised research experience - PGS 399 course).

When does the psychology honors sequence occur?

The year-long sequence is spring and fall semesters. Thus, it is held in a calendar year, rather than an academic year. Thus, students begin the sequence in spring semester of their junior year, and complete the sequence and defend their honors thesis in the fall of their senior year.

What does the psychology honors thesis sequence involve?

There are a total of five courses (15 hours of credit) involved in the sequence, of which 12 are honors credit.

In the spring semester, students enroll for PSY 497 Honors Thesis Seminar, PSY 492 Honors Directed Study and PSY 330 Advanced Statistics. In the fall semester, students enroll in a second semester of PSY 497 and PSY 493 Honors Thesis.

During the spring semester, students develop the ideas, background and methods for their study. At the end of the spring semester, they write a paper and make a formal presentation of their proposed project to the seminar and their faculty mentor.

During the summer (when warranted) and fall semesters, students complete the data collection, do analyses of their data, and write up the study as a formal thesis. The honors thesis is then defended to a committee and the seminar class.

What does a student do to prepare for the honors thesis sequence?

Students anticipating participating in the psychology honors thesis should do what all successful majors should do. Get an early start on substantive course work in psychology, do well in their coursework and get involved in research activities with faculty labs.

We have expectations/requirements for students to be ready to benefit from the honors thesis sequence. The following are the minimum psychology preparation students should have completed, and have strong academic record (at least 3.3) in, at least:

• All basic courses (101, 230, 290),
• At least two (6 hours) upper division content courses (300 level or higher),
• Have a research experience beyond PSY 290 (usually a PGS 399 experience with a faculty member in the department),
• Students without this level of preparation are at disadvantage in terms of having the ideal honors thesis experience. Because the seminar has limited capacity, we reserve the class for those who are engaged and prepared for the experience.

How do I apply?

There is an application process to participate in the honors sequence. Applications are due in early November to the honors program coordinator. These applications are available online  at http://psychology.clas.asu.edu/undergrad/honors .

By November 21, 2008, students should complete the application to the honors thesis sequence for admission in Spring, 2009.

We review all applications after the fall semester is complete and release the class line numbers (SLN) for the seminar (PSY497) and honors directed study (PSY 492). NOTE: All students applying for the sequence should preregister for PSY 330 for the spring semester that they begin the thesis sequence.

Can I begin the sequence in the fall?

Currently there is only one psychology honors thesis sequence, and it runs begins in the spring and runs for two semesters. There is not an option to join that class in the middle.

Begining the sequence in the spring semester has a number of advantages, and remains the best timing option. Having the sequence run each calendar year also provides the greatest flexibility, both by having the summer available to work on the project and also by providing for a cushion in the event that the project is not completed by the end of fall semester. It also is best for the student who is aiming to go forward to graduate or professional school, in that thesis projects are largely completed by the fall period of applying to graduate school, and student personal statements and the faculty letters of recommendation are more mature and very well-informed.

What if I want to spent junior year abroad?

Study abroad can also be a very important, positive experience for students (as is completing a thesis). If psychology majors who want to do an honors thesis in the sequence also want to study abroad, it requires more planning and probably some flexibility. It is true that there are more good opportunities than time to do them all, and sometimes students need to prioritize their choices.

Many students use the fall of their junior year (or the summer either before or after junior year) as a time to participate in such programs. It is not unusual for us to get an application from Spain or Australia (in November) to begin the sequence in January. If you elect this option, do not forget to submit an application by the November deadline. Remember that you still need to complete the expectations for preparation for the sequence.

What if I am a transfer student, or am shifting majors to psychology as an upper-classman?

The psychology honors thesis sequence is a substantial endeavor, and to get the most of that experience, we have established minimum expectations for preparation. The value of this preparation is clear to us, but it can be a challenge for students who wait to declare psychology as a major or who transfer from another college.

Although it is possible to finish enough upper division work into the fall semester to qualify, it is not always clear that is the most sensible plan. We recommend that transfer students review very carefully their programs of study and their longer term goals to evaluate the importance of the honors sequence for them.

It is clear that the best theses and experiences come from a longer-term commitment to the research process. For some, taking an additional semester or year makes the most sense. Others want to invest heavily in psychology. However, given the high number of other requirements, it is imperative that such students plan carefully with their advisors.