Undergraduate Honors Program in Psychology

Honors Program Requirements The Psychology Department offers a structured, research-based honors program for advanced students. The program is research intensive sequence of courses culminating in a empirically-based senior thesis project that is conducted by the student under the supervision of a faculty member. The minimum requirements for admission include completion of APSY 101M, APSY 210, and APSY 211. If the student has not been able to complete APSY 211 by the first semester of the junior year, permission to take it concurrently with the Honors Seminar may be given. Follow the link to Advisement Forms for additional information, forms, and handouts that you will find helpful too. Included there and below is a link to the application for the honors program.
Overview of the Honors Program A psychology major, or double major with psychology listed first, may file an application for admission with the Honors Committee as early as the second semester of the sophomore year or as soon as the minimum requirements for admission to the program have been satisfied (see below). The duration of the program is three semesters and (starting in 1993) it commences only in the fall semester. The program commences with the Honors Seminar (Psy 399) in the fall semester of the junior year. Psy 211 must be taken at this time if it has not already been completed. The seminar introduces the students to (advanced) issues of scientific method and experimental design. As soon as a student has a general idea for the research project, he or she is encouraged to discuss the project with a potential research sponsor, especially as regards feasibility. By the end of the seminar course, each student should be conversant with a problem area, have arranged a research sponsor and be ready to submit a research proposal. Honors students will conduct the research in two project courses (Psy 499) during the second semester of the junior and the first semester of the senior year. The Honors Thesis written by the end of the second project course will consist of a review of the literature, a motivation for the hypothesis, a description of the experimental design (from the research proposal), a summary of the data with statistical analysis, and a discussion. Students in the Honors program are required to maintain an overall grade point average of 3.30 or better during the junior and senior years and an overall grade point average of 3.50 or better for all psychology courses applicable toward the major. The work of each candidate in the Honors program will be reviewed at the completion of the junior year by the Departmental Honors Committee. Students who remain below the stated standards throughout their senior year will not be eligible for a degree with Honors. After completion of the above requirements, the records of the candidate will be reviewed by the Departmental Honors Committee who shall recommend, to the department, candidates for the degree with honors in psychology.
Requirements for Honors Program A grade point average of 3.30 or better overall for all course work taken at the University for graduation credit. A 3.50 grade point average or better for psychology courses applicable toward the major Honors students must complete 48 hours in psychology, including APSY 101M, 210, 211, 310, 399, and 499Q/Z (6 credits). In addition, students must submit a senior honors thesis acceptable to the research sponsor and the Honors Committee. See Dr. Laurie Feldman in SS 237 for further information. Applications are available outside SS 370 or by clicking here.
Course Descriptions The general undergraduate bulletin includes full descriptions for all courses as the University at Albany, and all A PSY undergraduate courses in psychology.
Psi Chi's Guide to the Psychology Major A great resource for the undergraduate major in psychology, prepared by our local Albany Chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. This guide includes information on choosing courses, research opportunities, faculty research interests, and careers in psychology. A related guide for psychology majors is also available here.
The Advisement Center in Psychology Social Science 370 Phone: 442-4865; email: psyadvof@albany.edu Academic advisement for declared psychology majors is handled through the Psychology Undergraduate Advisement Office, located in Social Sciences 370. The Advisement Office is directed by Distinguished Teaching Professor Dr. Robert Rosellini and is staffed by doctoral students who have been trained as advisors. Students receive advice and information regarding the curriculum required for a bachelor's degree in psychology. Advisors meet with students and go over their audits and offer suggestions for courses to complete requirements in the major. Students can also find information on graduate programs in psychology and career possibilities. Before seeking out the advisement office, check the Frequently Asked Questions link. Spring 2007 Office Hours (SS370): Monday 8:30 am – 12:30 pm   1:00 pm - 5:00 pm     Tuesday 9 am – 5 pm     Wednesday 9 am – 5 pm     Thursday 9 am – 5 pm