Doing an Honors Thesis in Psychology (rev. 2013)
Students intending to undertake an Honors Thesis in Psychology should plan on completing the Honors
Sequence in Psychology, which consists of a two-semester sequence of courses in the Spring and Fall.
Note-- this means that students intending to complete an Honors Thesis project in Psychology, who plan to
graduate in May 2015 (or Dec. 2014) should begin the sequence in Jan. 2014.
An Honors Thesis in Psychology is a project of original scholarship, including a central empirical component.
The Honors Thesis in Psychology is usually completed as an integral part of the Honors Sequence, over two
semesters (most good projects involve ongoing effort through the summer, as well). The sequence represents a
major commitment, with three courses in the Spring and two in the Fall (15 credit hours in all, 12 for Honors
credit).
The Honors Sequence has limited enrollment and is available only to students who are adequately prepared to
complete an Honors Thesis in Psychology. The sequence is intended for students in the Barrett Honors College
or who are eligible for the Honors College, especially those planning to complete a graduate or professional
degree in Psychology.
Preparation for the Honors Sequence
Students who are adequately prepared to complete an Honors Thesis in psychology have completed a significant
proportion of the major (including substantive upper division classes) and have an understanding and
appreciation of the nature of psychological research and its role in understanding psychological phenomena
(most typically associated with previous research experience). An application for admission to the Honors
Sequence is attached.
Minimum expectations for students applying to the Psychology Honors Sequence include all three of the
following:
1) Completed PSY 230 and PSY 290, with a minimum GPA of 3.4
2) Completed a minimum of six (6) credit hours of upper division Psychology content courses (more is
recommended), with a minimum GPA of 3.5
3) Completed some empirical research experience (beyond a PSY 290-type research experience)
Research in PSY290 or projects embedded in other psychology course work would not satisfy this
requirement. [We encourage students to be actively engaged in psychology research throughout their career.
The most typical pathway to involvement in research projects is by 399/499 study with Psychology faculty,
although other empirical research experiences are encouraged as well.]
Honors Sequence in Psychology: Spring Semester (Junior year)
In the Spring semester of their junior year, students enroll in (a total of 9 credit hours):
PSY 497 Psychology Honors Colloquium,
PSY 492 Directed Independent Honors Study
PSY 330 Advanced Statistics (a co-requisite in this sequence).
In the Spring Semester of PSY 497 Honors Colloquium, students select a faculty mentor (if they have not
already done so) from among those who present to the group. The student then schedules regular meetings with
the thesis advisor under the rubric of PSY492. Under the direction of that advisor, students develop a research
question and write a Thesis Proposal that describes that question in the context of the current research literature
and proposes a study to help answer the question. Students hand in that Proposal and defend it in the last weeks
of the Spring semester. Both PSY 497 and PSY 492 carry Honors credit.
Honors Sequence in Psychology: Fall Semester (Senior year)
In the Fall Semester of their senior year, students enroll in a second semester of PSY497 Honors Colloquium
and PSY493 Honor Thesis (typically 3 hours). Both PSY 497 and PSY 493 carry Honors credit.
The Honors Thesis study is completed in the Fall semester, during which time the students meet regularly with
and receive supervision from their advisor (now under the rubric of PSY493, Honors Thesis), analyze the data,
and undertake the final write up of their Honors Thesis. Finally, students undergo a formal Defense of the
Honors Thesis in the final weeks of the Fall semester, during the class meetings of PSY 497. The Thesis
advisor is First Reader, the class instructor of PSY497 serves as Second Reader. The Thesis advisor and student
will identify the Third Reader.
The Psychology Honors Colloquium (PSY497, both semesters)
The Honors Colloquium provides several things for students. It is a forum for learning about current faculty
research interests among the faculty who are available to mentor a thesis in that year’s cycle. It is also a regular
seminar course in which students read and discuss material relating to psychology and psychological research,
specific issues in research methodology, and important tool skills (such as writing techniques and statistical
analysis). The seminar also allows students to share experiences and have a support group through the process
of developing and executing the thesis research projects.
For more information about the Honors Thesis Sequence in Psychology, students should consult with the
Honors Advisor in the Department of Psychology:
•
Dr. Clark Presson (965-1617) [presson@asu.edu] (Coordinator, Honors Program)
Applications for the Honors Sequence in the 2014 calendar year should be completed and submitted to Clark
Presson (Coordinator of the Psychology Department Honors Program) no later than Nov. 15th, 2013. We
encourage early application and planning for preparedness for the Honors Sequence. We will make initial
review of applications in November. The Honors Sequence has limited enrollment, and final decisions about
participation in the seminar will often not be made until after the Fall semester grades are recorded.
If you are planning to be off campus during the Fall 2013 semester, then you should plan accordingly to
complete the application by the due date.
Note about registering for Spring 2013 classes:
You should go ahead and pre-register in a section of PSY330 for Spring 2013. The departmental permission
to register for the other class hours (PSY 497 and PSY 492) will be released after we review the applications
(which will occur at the end of the Fall semester).
Application for the 2013 Honors Sequence in Psychology (rev. 2/13)
Name: ______________________________
ASU ID#: ________________________
E-mail address: ______________________________________
Date ____________
Phone #: _________________________
Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Overall GPA: ______ Status in Barrett Honors College: Good Standing ________ Other (describe)___________
Are you a declared Psychology Major? _____
Which ASU degree program?
Tempe (CLAS): BA- Psychology ____ BS –Psychology ____ BS-Concentration in Psychol. Science____
Other ASU campus Psychology degree program_________
Additional (non-Psychology) major(s): ___________________
Hours completed @ ASU: _____
ASU GPA: ________ Transfer Hours: _____
From: ___________________
The Psychology Honors Thesis Seminar begins in January. For Spring 2013, application is due by Nov. 15th, 2013
When do you plan to graduate?
__Fall 2014
___ Spring 2015
___Fall 2015
Minimum Expectations for preparation for the Honors Thesis Sequence (A, B, and C):
A) Completed fundamental courses [minimum GPA of 3.4 in PSY 230/231 (prefer 231) and PSY 290]
For each of the Fundamental courses listed below indicate when you completed (or plan to complete) the course, the name
of the instructor, and the grade you received. Indicate which of these was completed as an Honors Course.
Course
Honors
On Line
Instructor (and where taken if not ASU)
Grade
PGS/PSY 101: Intro. To Psychology
PSY 230/231: Statistical Methods
PSY 290: Research Methods
PSY 330: Advanced Statistics
(Recommended-co-requisite of PSY497)
B) Completed at least six (6) credit hours of upper division Psychology Content courses, with a minimum GPA of 3.5
expected. Please list all Psychology courses at or above 300 level: (do not include PSY399/499, or other non-content
courses, such as 394/498)
Course
Instructor
(and where if not ASU)
Semester
Completed
On
Line?
Grade
C) Completed some empirical research experience beyond a PSY 290-type research experience,
usually a 399/499 study with Psychology Faculty. (Note: research in PSY 290 or embedded class
projects do not satisfy this expectation) Provide the name(s) of the faculty or other supervising researcher, with
whom have you worked on research (beyond PSY 290 level).
Researcher(s): _____________________________________________________________________________________
Description of Research Experience: Describe your experience(s) conducting psychological research (other than
PSY 290 project)? Please describe the research project (e.g., What was the research question?) that you worked on with the
instructor or research supervisor you named above and what your role in the project was. Also briefly describe any other
research projects on which you have worked.
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What are your career goals and plans for after graduation?
________________________________________________________________________________________
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Please return this application to Clark Presson, Coordinator of Undergraduate Honors Program, Department of Psychology.
If you have questions or would like further information, please contact Dr. Clark Presson in Room 216B Psychology, 480965-1617 [presson@asu.edu]. [note: Applications for the 2010 sequence are due by Nov. 15th, 2013]