Program Overview

If you are serious about doing research in psychology, consider the Psychology Honors program!

What do you do as an honors student?

• Conduct research in an apprenticeship-style research program

  The two-year apprenticeship-style research program introduces you to the process of conducting research in an area of psychology. In collaboration with the professor you select as a research supervisor, you work on one or more projects and learn the methods of research in the area.

• Design a research project and report your research in a thesis that you write

  Under the guidance of your research supervisor, you develop and execute a research project. A thesis is a written report of this research project. It is an opportunity for an original piece of work and a chance to leave your mark on the field. Indeed, some honors theses are published in scholarly journals.

• Chart your career path

  Your research experience, coursework as well as workshops and activities completed in the honors seminar will help you get a running start in advanced academic or professional programs or the professional job marker. An honors degree (or equivalent; see our Research Certificate Program ) is a prerequisite to many graduate programs and prepares you for professional schools and career paths that may involve a research focus. In the honors program, you will develop professional skills and acquire knowledge that will help ease the transition from undergraduate studies to graduate or, professional studies, or the professional workforce. Part of this includes getting involved in research and departmental activities and learning important professional skills, such as how to bring a project to fruition.

• Learn and engage with a cohort of students who share your passion for psychology and scientific discovery

  In addition to your semi-independent research project, you enroll in seminar courses in the first and second year in the honors program for professional skill development, including workshops, assignments and in-class discussions about research and professional skills. Workshops and assignments in the seminars are practical exercises, such as giving talks about your research and developing a resume.

  You also complete several courses designed to hone your research skills, including research methods and statistics. You will use these skills in your own research projects, as well as your reading and critique of other people's research. Practical mathematical, methods, and analytical skills are valuable for many research-related domains and careers that are not research-focused.

• What is the goal of the honors program?

  The Honors Program aims to help students develop into independent, critical researchers who can carry out high-quality research, think and communicate thoughtfully about limitations and biases in research, and evaluate how their research fits into work that has been done in the broader research community. An important element of the honors program is to clearly communicate what you know to various audiences, including researchers in your own field, as well as in different fields , professions, and to the broader community.

If the honors program is not for you but you have a strong interest in conducting research, consider our Research Certificate program.

Are you a self-starter? Do you have a keen curiosity about the mind and behavior? Are you willing to put in some serious work and mental effort to find out something new? Our Psychology Honors program might be for you!

Full program requirements can be found in the academic calendar.

• Requirements for Honors in Psychology [Science]
• Requirements for Honors Psychology [Arts]