The departmental honors program is open to qualified students who wish to pursue advanced independent research in psychology. Students interested in going to graduate school in psychology are particularly encouraged to become honors candidates because research experience is given considerable weight by admissions committees. Students who complete the honors sequence of courses (PSYC 498 and PSYC 499) and have a GPA in psychology of 3.5 or above are eligible to receive the B.A. or B.S. degree with departmental honors.
Program Description:
Honors students design, conduct, analyze and report original research via completion of the two-semester sequence of PSYC 498 and PSYC 499 ( 4 credits each), in addition to successful completion of all the requirements for the B.S or B.A. degree.
Faculty in the Psychology Department are engaged in research on a wide variety of research projects, including addictive behaviors: child and family adjustments to chronic illness: development of aggression and peer rejection in childhood; and physical and emotional abuse in intimate adult relationships (see bulletin board opposite Math-Psych Room 321 for a complete listing).
Students interested in the Honors program should first gain experience in research by enrolling in PSYC 397 (Research Experience in Psychology). This course provides hands-on experience with the process of research in Psychology, under the supervision of a faculty member and his/her lab team. To enroll in PSYC 397, a student should contact a faculty member whose research interests them and ask how they can become involved.
Following successful completion of PSYC 397, interested students can then consult with the faculty member about sponsoring Honors research via registration in PSYC 498/499. Under exceptional circumstances, the required enrollment in PSYC 397 may be waived(e.g. for students who have developed a research project in another course).
Interested in learning more about the Honors program? See your advisor, or Dr. Laura Rose, Undergraduate Program Director (MP 320; laurose1@umbc.edu)