Psychology

Kanbar Hall Directory

Honors in Psychology

The honors program in psychology gives qualified senior psychology majors the opportunity to conduct a yearlong, original empirical research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Research topics generally involve a shared interest between the student and the faculty advisor. Honors research allows students to engage deeply with a topic in psychology, develop advanced research skills, and complete an independent scholarly project from conception through final presentation.

Working on an honors project is a privilege typically reserved for students with strong academic performance in the major, relevant preparation in psychology, and prior experience that suggests readiness for independent research.

Honors Project Timeline

Honors projects in psychology span the full academic year, with two fixed milestones and some flexibility in between:

  • Fall semester (Psychology 4050): Students read the literature in their chosen area, refine their research questions, and develop their study design and methods.
  • End of fall semester: All students prepare a paper and presentation on their theoretical motivation and methods to the department faculty for review and feedback.
  • For students ready to move faster: Some students complete their design work early and are ready to submit to the institutional review board (IRB) and begin data collection before December. In these cases, the student meets with a committee of three faculty members (including their advisor) to get feedback on their methods before IRB submission and/or data collection begins. This earlier check-in exists specifically for students on an accelerated timeline (typically due to the nature of the research).
  • Spring semester (Psychology 4051): Students carry out their research project.
  • End of spring semester: Students submit an American Psychological Association (APA) style research paper and present their findings and conclusions to the department faculty.

Preparing for Honors

Students considering honors should begin planning early. Because honors requires substantial background knowledge and research readiness, students are encouraged to:

  • Think carefully about topics, questions, theories, or areas of psychology that interest them.
  • Take relevant courses.
  • Seek out research experiences before applying, such as:
  • An independent study
  • A summer research experience at Bowdoin or elsewhere
  • A clinically relevant internship
  • Other hands-on research opportunities

Considering Faculty Expertise 

Honors projects begin with conversations between qualified students and faculty members whose expertise aligns with the student’s interests. Students interested in pursuing honors are encouraged to meet with potential faculty mentors before submitting an application, ideally during the junior year, to discuss possible areas of research and whether a faculty member may be able to supervise the project.

While a proposed honors topic does not need to be part of a faculty member’s existing research program, it must fall within an area where a faculty member can provide effective mentorship. This may include

  • Methodological expertise,
  • Familiarity with the relevant literature, or
  • Domain-specific training in the topic area.

Because faculty mentoring capacity varies from year to year, students should understand that not every strong application can be accommodated.

How Honors Applications Are Evaluated

Applications for honors are reviewed by the psychology faculty in the Spring of each academic year. Evaluation is based on the following criteria:

  • Coursework: completion of relevant courses and overall strong academic performance
  • Prior research experience: evidence of hands-on preparation for independent research
  • Mentorship fit: availability of a faculty member with the expertise to supervise the proposed work
  • Clarity and depth of proposed topic: a well-developed statement of the area of research the student hopes to pursue

Department faculty evaluate honors applications and determine whether a student may proceed in the honors program. The faculty advisor assigns the grades for Psychology 4050 and 4051, while the full department faculty participates in the evaluation of the honors project for departmental honors.

Application Process

Students interested in applying for an Honors Project must complete the department’s online honors application form.

The application will ask students to provide:

  • A brief statement describing their interest in honors, their motivation for applying, skills they hope to gain, and any relevant career goals
  • A rank ordering of areas of interest in psychology
  • A brief description of the area of research they hope to explore for an honors thesis
  • Information about coursework, prior research experience, and other relevant preparation
  • An unofficial transcript

Students may also indicate whether they would be interested in completing an independent study if they are not selected for honors.

After the application deadline, psychology faculty review applications based on student interests, preparation, and department mentoring capacity. Students who are offered the opportunity to pursue honors will be contacted by the Department Chair with information about possible faculty mentorship and next steps.

Please note:

  • Applying does not guarantee placement in honors.
  • Students may not be able to pursue the exact topic proposed in their application.
  • Limited faculty capacity means that even strong applicants may not be offered a placement.

Application Deadline

Honors application deadline: Late April of a student’s Junior year.

Students interested in honors should be sure to confirm the exact deadline with the department chair.

Registration Note

All students should register for four courses during regular registration, whether or not they apply for honors. If a student is matched for an Honors Project, they will be able to adjust their schedule and enroll in honors during the beginning of the fall semester.

Recent Honors Theses

To see titles of recent honors theses, please visit Bowdoin Digital Collections.

Link to Applications

Students can complete the application online.