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Opportunities for Honors Students

Download complete version of Psychology Honors Students Brochure (pdf)

The Honors Program in Psychology offers a research oriented curriculum that trains students to think critically about the explanations that are offered for behavior, to evaluate critically the research results on which these explanations are based, and to acquire the abilities necessary to conduct psychological research.  The program capitalizes on distinguished research faculty who are excellent lecturers, on advanced graduate assistants who are selected for their instructional and research excellence, and on wide variety of research teams composed of faculty, graduate students and undergraduates who share an interest in the research process as well as the research content. 

Honors Advisors in Psychology:

David B. Miller, Honors Coordinator

Claudia Carello

James Dixon

Deborah Fein

David Kenny

John Dovidio

Honors Course Offerings in Psychology (listed in recommended sequence):

Freshman Year: Honors students would normally take General Psychology I (Psyc 132) in the Fall semester and General Psychology II­Enhanced (Psyc 135) in the Spring semester. These two courses serve to introduce students to the two major perspectives that compose contemporary psychology.

Psychology 132 Honors presents the natural science perspective, focusing on the basic processes that underlie behavior -- processes like perception, learning, and cognition -- and on the physiological concomitants of these processes. Psychology 132 emphasizes the scientific method, research and critical thinking, and the integration of psychology with its roots and current inter-connections to biology, physics and chemistry. Honors sections of Psychology 132 are offered in both the Fall and Spring semesters. The lecture components are provided by Professors John D. Salamone and David B. Miller, both of whom have been recognized for their teaching excellence with several teaching awards. The laboratory components of Psychology 132 offer extended laboratory sessions led by advanced graduate students who are highly trained in the several content areas of the natural science perspective and who have demonstrated their ability as laboratory instructors.

Psychology 135 Honors presents the social science perspective, focusing on the areas where psychological principles have been applied -- Developmental, Clinical and Social Psychology. Psychology 135 emphasizes the scientific method, research, and critical thinking, but focuses on the integration of psychology with its roots and current inter-connections to sociology, anthropology, political science and the philosophy of science. Honors sections of Psychology 135 are offered in the Spring semester. The lecture component is provided by Professor Charles Lowe, the Head of the Department who has received several awards recognizing his teaching excellence. The discussion section component of Psychology 135 offers extended discussion sessions led by advanced graduate students who are highly trained in the several content areas of the social science perspective and who have demonstrated their ability as discussion leaders.

Sophomore Year: Honors students who are considering a psychology major should take both 200-level courses required of all psychology majors, and could also explore their interests in the natural science and or social science perspectives by taking any of several 200-level courses that are open to sophomores.

Psychology 202WQ Honors -- Principles of Research in Psychology -- provides training in research methodology, psychological statistics, and research report writing -- essential skills for psychology majors. These skills are applied in group research projects which students present to graduate students, faculty and invited guests (including top University administrators) at An Evening of Psychological Science: The Next Generation. The Honors section of Psychology 202Q, offered during the Fall semester, provides an extended laboratory period to offer individualized instruction by an advanced graduate student who has demonstrated his/her ability to work with undergraduate student on research.

Psychology 2xx (Honors Conversions): Prospective majors are encouraged to gain exposure to the content areas comprising the natural science and social science perspectives by taking at least two of the nine 200-level psychology courses open to sophomores -- the Psychology of Learning (220), Cognitive Psychology (256), Physiological Psychology (257), and Drugs & Behavior (259) in the natural science perspective; and, Developmental Psychology (236), Social Psychology (240), Personality (243), Abnormal (245), and Industrial (268) representing the social science perspective. Honors students may convert any of these nine courses for honors credit.

Junior/Senior Years: As upper-division psychology majors, honors students would normally take additional 200-level content courses to fulfill the requirements of the major and to pursue their particular interests in psychology. Most of these 200-level courses can be converted for honors credit. Honors students may also acquire additional research skills by taking advanced laboratory courses. Finally, and most importantly, honors psychology majors are strongly encouraged to become actively involved by participating in individualized research projects. These individualized research opportunities include:

Psychology 297 -- Undergraduate Research -- Students work as members of a research team, functioning as research assistants to faculty and advanced graduate students. Specific duties vary with the content and type of research being conducted and with the research-related skills of the student. Typically, 2 to 3 hours of research participation each week is expected for each research course credit. Up to six credits per semester may be earned.

Psychology 299 -- Independent Study -- Students are expected to develop their own plan for a research project and at a minimum write-up a research proposal. Depending on the number of credits and the level of expertise, students may also conduct the research and write-up the results. Usually, at least one semester of Psychology 297 should be taken prior to enrolling in Psychology 299. Up to six credits per semester may be earned.

Psychology 296W -- Senior Thesis in Psychology -- With a faculty members serving as their thesis advisor, students plan and carry out their own research project and write-up the results in the form of an Honors thesis. Up to six credits per semester may be earned.

Over the past several years, 98% of the Departments faculty have been instructors of record for Psychology 297, Psychology 299, and/or Psychology 296W.

Please contact Dr. David B. Miller, the Honors Coordinator in the Department of Psychology, for further information.

Download complete version of Psychology Honors Students Brochure (pdf)

UConn Honors Program