Introduction

The department participates in the University Honors Program offered through the College of Arts and Sciences (described under Arts and Sciences earlier) and sponsors a chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. Interested, qualified students are encouraged to participate. Students who complete the University Honors Program graduate with honors in psychology which is noted on their diploma.

The Honors Program provides a unique educational experience for students who are willing to accept the challenge to excel. In this program, students gain the advantage of small classes and close contact with outstanding faculty members. Honors sections of a number of regular courses are offered each semester (except summer). In addition, honors students can enroll in special interdisciplinary courses, help to design a colloquium on topics of their choice, and research and write an honors thesis.

Should I Be Involved in the Honors Program?

Requirements and Admission

Any interested student is welcome to discuss becoming part of GSU's Honors Program.  You may apply to the Honors Program if you are a:

• Freshman who has attained a 3.3 GPA in high school and who has scored at least 1180 on the SAT I
• Transfer student who has attained a 3.3 GPA on at least 15 hours of credit from another accredited university
• Current GSU student who has attained a 3.3 GPA on at least 15 hours of college course work.

In addition, an interview with a member of the Honors Program staff is required.  However, any student with a GPA of 3.0 may take one honors course without being admitted to the program

Honors Courses

Types of honors courses are:

• Any of the honors courses listed in the GSU catalog, including Honors Colloquium (Hon 3260), Honors Forum (Hon 3750), Honors Thesis: Research (Hon 4870) and Honors Thesis: Writing (Hon 4880).
• Any lower- and upper-division courses, including several offered by the Psychology Department, that are designated as honors sections.
• An honors dimension. When honors sections do not exist, or when they are not scheduled at times possible for the student, an honors dimension can be added to an existing course. In consultation with the professor, the student proposes additional work. If the proposal is approved by the Honors Council, then that course, including the additional work, counts as an honors course for the student.
• Graduate level courses also count as honors courses.

Honors Recognitions

Students may work towards any one, two, or all three formal recognitions, although typically students earn General Honors and then decide to pursue one of the other two distinctions. These recognitions are recognized on transcripts and on diplomas with seals. All require at least a 3.3 GPA and two Honors Colloquia, two Honors Forums, or one of each.

General Honors.  At least 12 hours of coursework in lower-division honors courses from at least three major areas of study with no more than two classes in any one area (ask the Honors Program Office for a listing of major areas).

Advanced Honors. At least 12 hours of coursework in upper-division honors courses. This may include no more than 3 hours in Honors Thesis (i.e., Hon 4870), no more than 9 hours of honors dimension courses, and no more than 9 hours of graduate courses. Courses applied to Advanced Honors may not be applied to Research Honors.

Research Honors. At least 12 hours of coursework in upper-division honors courses.  This must include 6 hours of Honors Thesis (i.e., Hon 4870 and Hon 4880).  This may include no more than 6 hours of honors dimensions courses and no more than 6 hours of graduate courses. Courses applied to Research Honors may not be applied to Advanced Honors.

Generally, a student who does not plan an honors thesis, or who completes only the first (Hon 4870) and not the second (Hon 4880) honors thesis course, would apply for Advanced Honors, whereas a student who completes both honors thesis courses would apply for Research Honors.

Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis in Psychology requires that students complete two courses:  Psychology 4870H (research) and Psychology 4880H (writing).

A student interested in completing an Honors Thesis needs to contact the Honors Program to verify their eligibility.  They must then contact the Chair of the Psychology Honors Committee, Dr. Lisa Armistead. The Psychology Department requires that students have completed Psychology 3010 and Psychology 3030 before enrolling in Psychology 4870H.

The first step is for the student to identify an individual faculty member in the Psychology Department who will agree to direct the student's Honors Thesis.  The student and the faculty member will discuss a plan for the student's research project and develop a short proposal.

Following the guidelines of the Honors Program, the student is then required to submit an approval form and a written proposal (about 500 words) to the Honors Council. These must be submitted by the withdrawal date of the semester PRIOR to the semester when the student is intending to enroll in Psychology 4870H (i.e., Spring semester if enrolling for Fall and Fall semester if enrolling for Spring).  The approval form must be signed by the Psychology Department Chair, the Chair of the Psychology Honors Committee, and the Faculty Director of the proposed thesis.

During the semester that the student is enrolled in Psychology 4870H, the student meets with their faculty director on a regular basis to organize the thesis plan, set deadlines for each step of work during the semester, and agree on the work that is to be evaluated by the faculty director.

Admission to Psychology 4880H (writing) requires the consent of the student's faculty director. Of primary concern is that the student will be able to complete the formal written thesis within the upcoming semester.  The emphasis is on producing a report that meets professional standards in Psychology.  This will typically take the form of an empirical research report in the APA format.  The Honors Thesis requires the approval of the student's thesis committee members and the Honors Program Director.

Should I Be Involved in the Honors Program?

Students who have a GPA of 3.3 or better are eligible for the Honors Program.  Here are four reasons you might want to consider applying to the program.

1. You can take honors courses, including Honors Colloquium, Honors Forum, and others.  Every year, usually spring semester, the psychology department offers an honors section of either. Theories of Personality or Abnormal Psychology.  These sections are smaller than standard courses, so you get more individual attention and more opportunity for discussion.

You don't need to be admitted to the Honors Program to take an honors courses.  Any student with a GPA or 3.0 may take one honors course without being admitted to the program.

2. You can add an "honors dimension" to any existing course you plan to take.  In consultation with the professor, you propose an addition project for the course.  Yes, you do more work, but you also get individual attention and a chance to pursue your interests.
3. You can take Honors Readings.  In consultation with a professor, you propose a reading list centered on a topic of mutual interest.  You then meet with the professor to discuss the readings and, usually, prepare an annotated bibliography.
4. You can do an honors thesis.  This consists of three steps.  First, in consultation with a professor, you prepare a 2-3 page proposal for an honors project.  This is reviewed by the Honors Council.  Then you take two courses under the supervision of the professor.  The first focuses on refining the proposal and doing the research.  The second focuses on writing the thesis.

Of These, Which Should I Do?

As always, it depends.  If you are in the Honors Program, or are a psychology major with a GPA of 3.0 or better, it makes sense to take the honors section of Theories of Personality or Abnormal Psychology if they fit your schedule.  Don't be scared off because you think they might be more work than other sections.  remember the old saying, "you get out of it what you put into it."

If you are in the Honors Program, it makes sense to add an Honors Dimension to a course you are taking anyway, and that particularly interests you.  This gives you a change to pursue your interests more, and it gives the professor a chance to get to know you.

Sometimes students say, if you plan to go to graduate school, doing an honors thesis will help get you admitted.  It depends.  For a Psy.D. or other clinically-oriented program, a service-oriented practicum might be as good.  But for a Ph.D. program, in clinical psychology or any other area, research experience definitely is helpful.  Two options are a research-oriented practicum or the honors thesis.

If you want to discuss any of these possibilities, email or call tomake an appointment.  For more specific information, contact the Honors Program office (405 General Classroom Bldg., 404-651-2924.