In order to be a candidate for departmental honors, a student must have a cumulative grade-point average greater than 3.0 overall and 3.4 in psychology courses. After finding a faculty sponsor, the student must seek approval of the vice chair for undergraduate studies (Tillett Hall, Room 101) by filing the appropriate form. The sponsor must be a member of the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. These arrangements should be completed before preregistration in the spring of the junior year. If the proposal is approved, the student enrolls in 01: 830:497 for the fall, followed by 01:830:498 in the spring. (Midyear graduates are eligible for honors. Such students should enroll in 01:830: 497 in either the spring or summer term, followed by 01:830:498 in the fall term.) A grade is given each term based upon performance. (The sponsor may elect to assign an H grade at the end of the first term.) In the spring, a thesis must be submitted to the departmental honors committee (usually around the middle of April). That committee assigns the level of honors (honors, high honors, highest honors) based on the quality of the thesis as judged by the sponsor and a reader assigned by the committee. The student defends the thesis at a public poster session.
The department also has an active chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. In addition, membership in the Psychology Club is open to all majors. Information and applications may be obtained online at www.psychology.rutgers.edu.
