Contact Person:
Arlene M. Stillwell, Chair
156 Flagg, (315) 267-4808, stillwam@potsdam.edu
40-43 credit hours required.
The Psychology Honors Program is intended to foster graduate level experiences while at an undergraduate level, so that students completing this program will have the skills and training necessary for successful graduate study. In the Psychology Honors Program, students gain experience in research, improve their written and oral communication skills, and gain a greater understanding of the field of psychology.
Students who have and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA (overall and in psychology) are eligible for the Psychology Honors Program.* Honors students start by taking Honors Seminar (PSYC 494), typically in the spring semester of their junior year. Students select a topic for their research and develop a research proposal during Honors Seminar. Honors students select a major adviser and two other psychology faculty as committee members. In the senior year, students finalize their project, collect and analyze data, and present their results to the committee, the department, and to others who are interested. Completion of the written thesis is the final step in the Honors degree process. Students who successfully complete this program graduate with an Honors distinction on their diploma.
In addition to the psychology major requirements, Honors students are required to complete Honors Seminar and Honors Thesis Research I. Also, most students will take Honors Thesis Research II (though this is not a formal requirement).
*Students may petition the committee if their GPA falls below the stated requirements.
All courses are 3 credits unless noted. Credits are divided as follows:
Required Courses (Credits 40)
Completion of the Psychology major (34 credits)
PSYC 494 Honors Seminar
PSYC 496 Honors Thesis Research I
Note: one elective course must relate to the honors project
Optional Course (Credits 3)
PSYC 499 Honors Thesis Research II
Recommended Coursework
It is recommended that students also take advanced statistics courses (STAT 200; STAT 300) in preparation for graduate school.