Stanford Psychology Department - Undergraduate Program

The Senior Honors Program in Psychology is designed for highly able and motivated Psychology majors who wish to pursue a year of intensive supervised independent research. Students interested in the program should involve themselves in research as early as possible and acquire a broad general background in psychology as well as a deep background in their chosen area. They should also take statistics and are advised to take at least one of the laboratory or methods courses offered by the department.

Admission

Application forms for each year are made available online the beginning of Spring Quarter. Students apply to the program at the end of their Junior year by submitting an application, two letters of recommendation, and a transcript to the Student Services Office. At least one letter must be from a Stanford Psychology faculty member expressing in writing his or her willingness to serve as the students honors advisor. The application deadline is June 29, 2007 . No late applications will be accepted. Admission to the honors program is based on academic performance (both in general courses and Psychology courses), previous research experience, and faculty or graduate student recommendations. Preference is given to students with a GPA of at least 3.0. Notification of acceptance will be made prior to the start of the Senior year.

Juniors may partici pat e in the Honors Program only if they have (a) completed 130 units, (b) achieved Senior status, and (c) will have completed the major requirements by the end of the third year. Please note, that it is expected that participants will have a modest course load (formal classes plus research totaling about 15 units per quarter) so as to allow sufficient time for the research required for the Honors Program.

In some cases students may be allowed to participate in the Honors and coterm programs simultaneously. These requests are granted on an individual basis. For simultaneous Honors and coterm programs, the coterm faculty advisor must certify that the total Stanford research experience is commensurate with obtaining the Master's degree.

Program Overview

Autumn Quarter is devoted to a weekly seminar and to developing a concrete research proposal. The seminar includes general discussions of research, oral presentations, and discussions of each student's project. During this time students also meet regularly with their research sponsors, read background material, and plan their research. At the end of Autumn Quarter, students submit written research proposals.

Winter Quarter is devoted to data collection and initiation of data analysis. There are no weekly meetings, but several meetings will be planned for students to update one another on their progress and to review statistics and data analysis. At the end of Winter Quarter students turn in progress reports, outlining what they have accomplished and what still needs to be done. By this time, a significant portion of data collection should be completed.

Spring Quarter is typically spent on data analysis, making sense of the findings, completing the paper, and preparing a brief talk. Completed theses are due mid-May. The program culminates in an Honors Convention, held on Dead Day in June. Students present their research to an audience of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and other interested people (including family). Upon successful completion of the program, students graduate with Departmental Honors.

Courses and Requirements

Honors students register for Psychology 197: Advanced Research, 1-4 units, in Autumn Quarter and for Psychology 198: Senior Honors Research, 1-4 units, in Winter and Spring Quarters. The maximum units allowed for honors research is 12. Psychology 197 has a S/NC option only. Upon completion of the program, one letter grade is given for both quarters of Psych 198.

All honors thesis research can only be counted under Psychology 197 and 198, not other research courses such as Psychology 194 and 195. Honors students may only count up to 15 units of independent research (including Psychology 194, 195, 197, and 198) toward the psychology major.

All Honors students must submit a written statement from a Psychology faculty member that he or she will serve as the student's research advisor, and accepts the responsibility to supervise the student's honors research project. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Office's grant requirements stipulate that at least one advisor for each Senior Honors research project must be a member of Stanford's Academic Council.

Department of Psychology