Psychology

What is the Honors Program?  

The Honors Program is a nine-credit, multi-semester sequence beginning in the Spring semester, designed to give qualified students the opportunity to design and conduct independent psychological research under faculty supervision. Most students complete the program over three semesters—starting in the Spring of their junior year and finishing during their senior year. The Honors Seminar (PSY 489) is only offered each Spring, and applications for the Honors Program are due during Fall registration. 

Eligibility before you can be admitted into program:  

• Junior standing (60 credits or above) 
• Completion of PSY 100, 331, STAT 145 before beginning PSY 489: Honors Seminar 
• PSY 420 before PSY 489 or concurrently with PSY 489 
• a 3.25 grade point average in the psychology major 
• a cumulative overall grade point average of 3.00 
• acceptance into the program 
• May be accepted into one of two tracks (Honors or McNair Scholars**) 

How do I apply? Submit an online application. The deadline is the first Monday in November by 11:59pm and includes: 

• An unofficial transcript  
• A 400-word research proposal for the project you wish to develop in the Honors program. 
• Recommendations from two UWL faculty members, one of whom must be your PSY 331 instructor and the other from a potential research mentor from the Psychology department (see below). After securing each instructor's consent to provide a recommendation, copy and paste this link into an email to that instructor's email address. 

How do I choose a research mentor? View this spreadsheet to see which faculty are currently open to accepting Honors students. 

1. Email your potential mentor to set up a meeting 
2. Communicate with your mentor about your proposed study 
3. Develop a 400-word proposal with your mentor’s approval 

Successful completion of the 3-semester program includes:  

• Completion of psychology major 3.50* cumulative grade point average in psychology courses 
• A cumulative overall grade point average of 3.25* 
• Completion of Honors Seminar (PSY 489, three credits total) AND completion and presentation of Honors Project (PSY 482, three credits, of which at least one must be completed in the candidate's last semester) 
• OR successful completion of a McNair** project associated with at least 1 credit of PSY 481 or 482 associated with a project with a psychologically-related topic. 

Commencement Information Regarding Psych Honors 

1. There are no cords associated with Psychology Honors - but you are listed both as a regular graduate and in a separate part of the printed program under departmental honors.
2. There are "honor" cords provided by the university on commencement day for students by GPA. You must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 to wear the honor cord (silver) or at least 3.75 to wear the highest honor cord (gold) and your name is starred in the program.
3. Those of you who are Psi Chi members can order a cord/medallion/sash (one/two or all three) through the local chapter.

*GPA calculations are based on the last term prior to the term of graduation. 

**McNair Scholar psychology students must be accepted into the McNair Program prior to applying to Psychology Honors, preferably during the same semester they are applying to honors. It is recommended that students who are eligible for McNair apply to McNair after completing PSY 331 or concurrently with enrollment in PSY 331.