Psychology Honours Thesis
Information Session
Written by: Prof. Geoff Navara
Presented by Prof. Fraser Bleasdale Feb. 7th, 2014
Contact Information
Honours thesis co-ordinator: Fraser Bleasdale
fbleasdale@trentu.ca
Psychology dept. coordinator: Trudy Kirschner
tkirschner@trentu.ca
Agenda
Introductions
What is an honours thesis?
Why do an honours thesis?
Admission requirements
Application process
Finding a potential supervisor
Timeline
What is an honours thesis?
Coursework vs. thesis option for the Honours degree
It is more than just a ‘big paper’
The workload is high! (PSYC 4020D = approximately 20 hours per
week for two semesters)
Thesis requires the students to:
Search and read relevant literature
Plan an empirical study
Write a substantial thesis proposal
Collect and analyze data
Report the results via written, oral and poster presentations
PSYC 4010Y vs. 4020D
PSYC 4010Y is only for those students doing a Joint
Honours Thesis with Psychology and another program
(one credit from Psychology, the other comes from the
other program)
If you are interested in PSYC 4010Y please see Trudy
Kirschner in the Psychology Office
Why do an honours thesis?
Good:
If you are planning to go on to a graduate program in
psychology (or many other social science based programs);
Competitive edge in job market (demonstrates marketable
skills);
Are unsure of future goals (issue of limiting options);
Networking with professors; better letters of reference
Believe it or not, research can be fun, educational and
stimulating; the best educational experience we offer
Please see my presentation on getting into grad school
(available on the Psychology Department’s website)
Admission Requirements
For getting into PSYC 4020D
Completed PSYC 3015 with 75% average required!
At least 0.5 credit from each of the A2, B2, A3, and B3
categories
75% average over all Psychology courses required
Permission of Psychology Department
Several faculty supervisors have specific requests as far
as content courses, etc. required to work with them (see
student handbook)
Application process
You must apply to be in the Psychology Honours
Thesis Program!
Forms are available from the Psychology Office and
online www.trentu.ca/psychology
Do not fill-in both sides of the application (one or the
other)
Space restrictions
Application deadline: March 14, 2014 by 12:00 noon
in the Psychology Office, DNA/LHS C 104.
Finding a potential faculty
supervisor
Your academic career begins in undergraduate studies,
it is important to act professional and respectful to
your colleagues and the professors (but you don’t need
to ‘kiss butt’)
Networking is an important skill (both in life and in
getting into graduate programs) – start now
Approach faculty whose research work interests you
(see student handbook or online for faculty research
interests)
Finding a potential faculty
supervisor
Identify which faculty members you are most interested
in working with
Look for a ‘good fit’ personally and professionally
Contact potential faculty to see if they are taking on
new students
the student handbook is a good resource for you.
Finding a potential faculty
supervisor
If you have a faculty member willing to work with you, please
complete, sign and have the faculty member sign the first page of
the application form.
If you do not have a faculty member lined up to supervise you,
please complete and sign the second page of the application form.
Please note: if you do not have a supervisor lined up to work with
you, you may still be accepted into the program, but we cannot
guarantee that you will work with any of your preferred choices.
You may be paired with a faculty member whose research interests
and thesis work do not match with your personal interests
Timeline
Application forms are available as of today (in this meeting
or later from the Psychology Office or online)
Application deadline: March 14, 2014 by 12:00 noon (in the
Psychology Office, LHS C 104)
If you meet course requirements, you will be notified late
May when your marks become available
If you are completing course requirements in the summer,
you may apply after the March 14th deadline and your
application will be considered when summer final grades are
available.