THE PSYCHOLOGY
HONOURS PROGRAM
COULD IT BE FOR YOU?
Marion Ehrenberg, Ph.D.
Honours Advisor 2014-2016
WHAT IS THE PSYCHOLOGY
HONOURS PROGRAM?
• Senior undergraduate capstone
experience, taken in 4th or final
year of study, always September to
April.
• You complete an original research
project under the supervision of
faculty member, spanning from
development of research question
to write-up of a thesis in accepted
APA format & a poster presentation
Session (incl. Camosun & VIU)
WHAT ELSE HAPPENS DURING THE HONOURS
YEAR (SEPTEMBER TO APRIL)?
• While you complete your research,
you also attend the Honours
Psyc 499 seminar.
Purpose of Seminar:
- to support completion
of each step of your
Honours thesis
- to develop key
academic-professional
skills & portfolio
- to expose you to state-ofart issues in psychology
research & practice
HOW IS HONOURS DIFFERENT FROM A
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR?
• Honours students must complete
all the same requirements as
Psychology Majors
PLUS:
Psyc 400A: Advanced Statistical Methods*
Psyc 401: Measurement of Psychological Processes*
One additional Psyc 400-level course
(i.e., 2 rather than 1 required of Psyc Majors)
Psyc 499: Honours Seminar & Project
*A joint BioPsychology Honours is also available, but does not require
Psyc 400A or Psyc 401; instead Biology equivalents for Psyc 400A &
401 listed on our departmental website.
WHAT WILL A PSYCHOLOGY
HONOURS DEGREE DO FOR ME?
• A “gold star” beside your degree, showing
you met selective criteria & completed
advanced training.
• A major plus if you plan to apply for
graduate school in clinical, counseling,
social, developmental, cognitive sciences
or other subfields of psychology or higher
education in related fields (e.g., medicine).
• Enhances professional skills & impression
you make on prospective employers.
• Individualized real-life experience with
faculty mentor & research team.
HOW DO I APPLY & WHEN?
For details please visit our departmental website:
http://www.uvic.ca/socialsciences/psychology/undergraduat
e/index.php
* Click on “Honours Program”
* See the “Power Point Presentation,” which includes the
application criteria and steps (will be updated to today’s
presentation)
* Check our “Psyc 499” & exact requirements checklists.
TYPICAL TRAJECTORY FROM UG
YEAR 1 TO SENIOR HONOURS YEAR
YEAR 4:
YEAR 3:
YEAR 2:
YEAR 1:
- You realize
you
love Psych
100A & B &
want more
psychology
courses
- Declare Major in
Psychology
- Take Psyc courses
(enjoy!
Work hard, and eye
on GPA!
- Consider potential
faculty advisors &
gain experience
- PSYC 300A & PSYC 300B >B+ or
equivalent
- PSYC GPA 6.5+
- NON PSYC GPA 5.0+
- Consider potential faculty
Supervisors (classes, directed
studies, volunteer lab)
- Spring:
- Mid-February apply Honours online
- Approx. March 1 apply to advisors
via website
- Suggested: 1 week after application
Follow up with potential faculty
supervisors
Via email, including resume & cover
letter
- Psyc 499
(Seminar &
Research Thesis
– Sept to April
- Psyc 400A & 401
(one term each)
- Apply for
graduate school?
Workplace? Gap
year?
- With thesis,
poster & portfolio
HONOURS ADMISSION STANDARDS:
GRADES & COURSE REQUIREMENTS
- Average GPA > 6.5 in all psychology courses over past 5
years taken at U Vic & other post-secondary institutions
- Average GPA > 5.0 in all non-psychology courses over
past 5 years taken at U Vic & other post-secondary
institutions
- Statistics: Psyc 300A & 300B > B+ in each
- Other course requirements same as for Psychology
Majors or Biology Majors (see link on departmental
website)
HONOURS ADMISSION REQUIREMENT:
SECURING FACULTY SUPERVISOR
• Admission subject to availability of faculty supervisor
• How can I find a faculty supervisor that’s right for me?
• Express interest to your professors
in your favourite UG Psyc courses
• Review faculty interests and labs on
departmental website
• Volunteer for studies, talk to research
team members, express interest verbally
and in writing
• Volunteer as a research assistant in a
research lab
• Complete an Independent Studies course
with a potential faculty supervisor
• Express interest via email with letter and resumé
(PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD)
• Talk to previous Honours students
MY FINAL NOTE
• The Psychology Honours Program is an exciting capstone
opportunity for senior UG students.
• If you are interested, start planning early.
• The Psychology Honours Program is certainly not the only
route to gaining research experience in psychology or to
facilitating entry to graduate school. It is one route to
consider.
• July 1st 2016: New Honours
Advisor Dr. Mauricio Garcia-Barrera
CURRENT HONOURS STUDENTS:
THE REAL SCOOP!
• Introducing
• Karolina Karas supervised by Dr. Mauricio Garcia-Barrera
• Mary Makowski supervised by Dr. Ulrich Mueller