The Honors Program in Psychology provides academically outstanding psychology majors with the opportunity to conduct original empirical research under the mentorship of a faculty advisor.
The program spans the senior year and consists of two sequential courses: PSYC 391 and PSYC 392. Working closely with a faculty advisor, in PSYC 391, students conduct a literature review, develop their research question and methodology, prepare a research proposal, and present their proposed project to the department. In PSYC 392, students carry out the project and complete an honors thesis and final oral presentation.
Students who successfully complete the program graduate with Departmental Honors in Psychology.
Eligibility
Students are eligible to participate if they:
- Are psychology majors
- Have completed (or are enrolled in) PSYC 203
- Have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements for honors may wish to pursue PSYC 394 Senior Research Project.
Getting Started
Students who are interested in the Honors Program are encouraged to begin planning early by completing PSYC 203 in their junior year and gaining research experience in a faculty member's lab. These experiences help students identify research interests, develop methodological skills, and build relationships with potential faculty advisors.
Before registering for their senior year, eligible students should identify a faculty advisor whose research aligns with their interests and contact the Honors Program Coordinator, Prof. Amanda Brandone (acb210@lehigh.edu), to discuss the program and their plans.
Program Structure
PSYC 391: Thesis (4 credits)
- Conduct an in-depth review of the relevant literature
- Develop a research question and design an empirical study
- Write a research proposal, including a literature review, hypotheses, and methods
- Participate in regular meetings with the Honors Program cohort and Honors Program Coordinator
- Present your research proposal to the Psychology Department faculty and graduate students
PSYC 392: Honors Thesis (3 credits)
- Conduct the research study
- Analyze and interpret your findings
- Write an honors thesis, including the literature review, method, results, and discussion
- Present your completed research to the Psychology Department faculty and graduate students