Graduating With Departmental Honors in Psychology

Getting Started

Students interested in being considered for graduating with departmental honors in psychology are encouraged to begin planning an appropriate course of study late in their sophomore year or early in their junior year.

Students are encouraged to become familiar (even earlier on) with department faculty research, to contact faculty to explore research training opportunities and potential honors thesis topics and advisers, and to talk with faculty about the process. Early research experience can help a student gauge their level of interest in pursuing a potential thesis and develop a path to this goal.

Eligibility Requirements

• Declared major in psychology
• GPA of at least 3.70 in all advanced psychology courses (numbered 3000 and above, including transfer courses)
• Completion of at least two PSYC 500X/501X series courses, or an equivalent thesis course outside the Psychology Department (e.g., SPCM 3185), but under the supervision of a Psychology Department faculty member, resulting in a written two-semester honors thesis.
• The thesis must meet the minimum requirements described in the “Honors Thesis Guidelines” page (such as thesis format, APA style, use of Title Page template )
• A letter of recommendation from the faculty member who served as adviser in the PSYC 500X/ 501X series course(s).
• A submitted “Graduating with Departmental Honors in Psychology Application” (see below)

Note: Students can apply for an exemption from the standard requirements (e.g., # of 500X/501X semesters completed; GPA in advanced psychology coursework) with a letter from their thesis adviser, in consultation with the honors and awards committee.

how to Apply

The online “Graduating with Departmental Honors in Psychology Application” must be submitted through Blackboard. Students should follow these self-enrollment steps to join the “Honors in Psychology” organization in Blackboard.

Self-enrollment steps

1. Go to your blackboard.
2. Scroll down and find the “Organization Search” tool.
3. Search for “Honors in Psychology.”
4. Hover over the Organization ID link, a little circle in an arrow should appear.
5. Click the circle and complete enrollment.

The “Honors in Psychology” Blackboard organization has helpful information about completing an honors thesis, as well as detailed instructions and deadlines for submitting applications each semester.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by the psychology department’s honors and awards committee, which makes recommendations to the department chairperson regarding award of a degree with the departmental honors notation (“Departmental Honors in Psychology”).

The committee makes every attempt to provide feedback to applicants (cc’d to thesis advisers) in a timely manner, provided the application is submitted on time. For example, if a student submits their draft written report and the committee determines it does not meet standards for departmental honors, the committee typically advises the student of necessary changes that should be incorporated. As a general rule, the more lead time students give the committee to review their materials, the easier it is for the committee to give feedback to students (and their thesis advisors) about the status of their application and improving their materials as needed.

Notification Process

All students are notified of the final outcome after completing their final semester of courses at Brooklyn College (to calculate final GPA in all Advanced Psychology coursework) and degree conferral . Per college policy, students deemed eligible receive the graduating with departmental honors notation (“Departmental Honors in Psychology”) in the notes section of their transcript, not on the diploma.

Contact Us

Have questions? E-mail Professor Walder or Natalie Kacinik.