HONORS
There are two honors programs at NIU. Psychology students may do either or both of the
programs. University Honors is one program, coordinated by the University Honors Office
(phone:753-0694; http://www.honors.niu.edu/). It will be described below, but please meet with
an advisor at the University Honors office to discuss the program requirements. The Psychology
Departmental Honors program is separate from University Honors. The program requires
extensive research with a faculty member in the department. A student should really begin their
research experience (PSYC 485) in the 2nd semester of their JUNIOR year. It is not required, but
it is strongly encouraged. The Departmental Honors Program will be described below, but there
is an additional handout available at the Psychology Office (PM400;
http://www.niu.edu/psyc/undergrad/honors.shtml).
Both programs require a faculty mentor that will supervise the project (Capstone or Honors
Thesis). It will take some time to find a faculty mentor, so plan this early!
Psychology Departmental Honors
Target: 3rd and 4th years at NIU who plan to continue onto graduate school to pursue a research-related
degree (PhD)
Requirements:
1. 6 hours upper division honors courses
2. Honors proposal (Dec) and final thesis (April), both presented to a committee of faculty
3. gpa in psychology = 3.5, gpa overall at NIU = 3.0
Steps:
1. 6 hours upper division honors courses during junior year (this is contracted with your
professor/instruction in a 300 or 400 level PSYC course to make a course an “honors” course).
2. Familiarize yourself with faculty who study topics similar to your research interest
3. Meet with the faculty member to conduct research with them in their laboratory either for Independent
Study (PSYC 485) or volunteer.
4. If the research is interesting, approach the faculty member to discuss potential thesis topics. Ask their
willingness to oversee an Honors Thesis (Spring of 3rd year).
5. If the faculty member agrees, acquire appropriate a Departmental Honors form at Psychology Office.
6. Make another appointment with the faculty member to complete the form and set time lines for
Honors Thesis (Spring of 3rd year). Enroll in PSYC499H for Fall of 4th year with permission from
your faculty mentor.
7. Prepare Honor’s proposal in the fall of the 4th year. The honor’s proposal should be similar to a
master’s proposal in layout, containing an introduction that leads to a hypothesis statement, methods
for the project (including statistical analysis) and a reference list.
8. The faculty supervising the honor’s proposal will need to read your proposal and provide feedback, so
set a few early writing goals in the fall semester to provide sufficient time for revisions.
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9. The Honor’s proposal should be submitted to the Honor’s Committee in 2 weeks before classes end
and then oral proposal will then be conducted around the last day of classes that semester (depending
upon schedules).
10. For the first semester, you will receive an “incomplete” in your PSYC499H course. Register for a 2nd
semester of PSYC499H and upon completion of the Departmental Honor’s requirements, both
semesters PSYC499H will be graded.
11. Conduct research and/or analyze data early in the spring semester of the 4th year. Write final Honor’s
thesis. Similar to the Honor’s proposal, the thesis will take some revisions with the faculty member
and should be carefully planned.
12. The Honor’s thesis is submitted to the Honor’s Committee 1 week before reading day. The oral
defense of the thesis will be conducted on reading day, if all schedules allow.
13. CONGRATULATIONS!!! You completed the Psychology Departmental Honors.
Prior Departmental Honors Thesis:
Examining the effects of goals and feedback from a computer-based tutor, May 2009
University Honors - Upper Division Honors
Target: 3rd and 4th years at NIU
Requirements:
1. 12 hours upper division honors courses
2. gpa = 3.2
3. Senior seminar (3 credit) class outside of the major (exception: study abroad in major)
4. Capstone project/Senior thesis
The capstone project is supervised by a Psychology faculty, approved by the Honors program in concert
with the Psychology faculty member, and can consist of a research project or literature review
Steps:
1. Familiarize yourself with faculty who study topics similar to your research interest
2. Approach faculty member to discuss potential research/literature review topics. Ask their willingness
to oversee a Capstone Project. This step should be completed the semester before the bulk of the
actual project work takes place.
3. If the faculty member agrees, acquire appropriate Capstone forms at University Honors Office
(Campus Life Building 110).
4. Make another appointment with the faculty member to complete the forms and set time lines for
project/review. Enroll in PSYC498H with permission from your faculty mentor.
5. The Honors Office has guidelines for the Capstone project. You will need to submit a proposal and a
final paper, frequently in 1 semester, preferably over two (see #2 above)
6. CONGRATULATIONS!!! You completed the Psychology University Upper Division Honors.
Recent Capstone Projects in Psychology:
The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on Adults and Partner Violence, May 2009
A Meta-Analytic Review of the Relationship Between Organizational Climates and Work Outcomes, May
2009
Effective Methods of Preventing and Reducing Bullying in Schools, May 2009
The Effects of Collective Efficacy on Children, May 2009
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Future Time Perspective: Where Will You Be? May 2009
Second Language Acquisition and the Effectiveness of Different Methods of Studying Languages, May
2009
Students' Comprehension of Reasoning in Scientific Argumentation Texts, May 2009
Footnote: You may use the same project for both the Departmental Honor’s thesis and the University
Honor’s Capstone.
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