| Coursework requirements for the Honors Psychology major include a minimum of 36 credits of the following: Core Courses, Distribution Requirements, Honors Research Practicum, Psychology Electives, and the Honors Project. |  |
Core Courses - The following three courses constitute the foundation of the Psychology major programs and are required of all honors psychology majors:
1. Psy 1001: Introduction to Psychology / Psy 1001H: Honors Introduction to Psychology (or equivalent) (4 cr)
A prerequisite for all other Psychology courses, this course introduces students to scientific thinking and provides an overview of the primary domains within the discipline of psychology.2. Psy 2801: Intro to Psychological Measurement & Data Analysis OR
Psy 2801H: Honors Intro to Psychological Measurement & Data Analysis (3 cr)
This course is to be completed by the end of your sophomore year. The main goal is for you to understand the concepts used in the measurement and analysis of psychological variables, including the appropriate selection and use of statistical tools to describe and evaluate results of psychological research.3. Psy 3001W: Introduction to Research Methods (prereq: Psy 2801) OR
Psy 3001V: Honors Intro to Research Methods (prereq: Psy 2801) (3 cr) This course is to be completed immediately following Psy 2801, as it draws from the statistical material learned. You will learn about the application of the scientific method and the fundamentals of psychological research design. You will become familiar with the written standards of the discipline through the completion of written reports on in-class experiments and a final research project proposal.
Distribution Requirements - Psychology courses are divided into the three broad categories listed below. You are required to take courses within each of these areas in order to ensure a breadth of understanding across the discipline. Honors students are highly encouraged to explore courses at the graduate (5XXX) level, fulfilling requirements with these options whenever possible.
A. A. Cognitive and Biological (CAB) Psychology
At least TWO of the following:
PSY 3011 - Introduction to Learning and Behavior (3 cr)
PSY 3031 - Introduction to Sensation and Perception (3 cr)
PSY 3051 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 3061 - Introduction to Biological Psychology (3 cr) OR PSY 5061
PSY 4011 - Applied Behavioral Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 4036 - Perceptual Issues in Visual Impairment (3 cr)
PSY 5012 - Learning and Cognition in Animals (4 cr)
PSY 5014 - Psychology of Human Learning and Memory (3 cr)
PSY 5015 - Cognition, Computation, and Brain (3 cr)
PSY 5031W - Perception (3 cr)
PSY 5036W - Computational Vision (3 cr)
PSY 5037 - Psychology of Hearing (3 cr)
PSY 5038W - Introduction to Neural Networks (3 cr)
PSY 5051W - Psychology of Human-Machine Interaction (3 cr)
PSY 5054 - Psychology of Language (3 cr)
PSY 5061 - Neurobiology of Behavior (3 cr) OR PSY 3061
PSY 5062 - Cognitive Neuropsychology (3 cr)
PSY 5064 - Brain and Emotion (3 cr)B. Clinical, Personality, and Social Psychology
At least TWO of the following:
PSY 3101 - Introduction to Personality (3 cr) OR PSY 5101
PSY 3201 - Introduction to Social Psychology (4 cr)
PSY 3301 - Introduction to Cultural Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 3604 - Introduction to Abnormal Psychology (3 cr) OR PSY 5604H
PSY 3617 - Introduction to Clinical Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 3666 - Human Sexuality (3 cr)
PSY 5101 - Personality Psychology (3 cr) OR PSY 3101
PSY 5202 - Attitudes and Social Behavior (3 cr)
PSY 5204 - Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships (3 cr)
PSY 5205 - Applied Social Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 5206 - Social Psychology and Health Behavior (3 cr)
PSY 5207 - Personality and Social Behavior (3 cr)
PSY 5604H - Abnormal Psychology (3 cr) OR PSY 3604
PSY 5606 - Clinical Psychophysiology (3 cr)
CPSY 3301 - Introductory Child Psychology for Social Sciences (4 cr)
CPSY 4303 - Adolescent Psychology (4 cr)C . Individual Differences, Quantitative and Applied Psychology
At least ONE of the following:
PSY 3135 - Introduction to Individual Differences (3 cr) OR PSY 5135
PSY 3511 - Introduction to Counseling Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 3711 - Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 4501 - Psychology of Women (3 cr)
PSY 4801 - Introduction to Statistics (4 cr)
PSY 5137 - Introduction to Behavioral Genetics (3 cr)
PSY 5138 - Psychology of Aging (3 cr)
PSY 5501 - Vocational and Occupational Health Psychology (3 cr)
PSY 5707 - Personnel Psychology (4 cr)
PSY 5708 - Organizational Psychology (4 cr)
PSY 5862 - Psychological Measurement: Theory and Methods (3 cr)
PSY 5865 - Advanced Psychological and Educational Measurement (4 cr)
PSY 5135 - Psychology of Individual Differences (3 cr) OR PSY 3135
Psy 4994V: Honors Research Practicum - This course is designed to help prepare you for beginning to work on your Honors Project/Thesis. Honors students should take it during their Junior year, prior to beginning work on their thesis. Each student in the course will be assigned a faculty advisor, with whom they will work on a research project outside of class. In addition, students attand the weekly seminar, which entails learning about the research process and sharing on their lab experiences. For some students, this experience directly leads to the development of their Honors Thesis/Project. For others, it introduces them to the research process and the Psychology Department faculty, which helps in their eventual selection of a thesis advisor and Honors Thesis/Project topic.
Psychology Electives -Psychology electives are defined as any 3xxx, 4xxx, and 5xxx-level course with a "Psy" indicator. For a master list of Psy courses, view the Psychology Course Offerings. Choosing electives is an opportunity for you to explore your individual interests. The number of psychology elective courses required depends upon the number of credits you have remaining in order to satisfy the minimum number of credits required for the major (36 credits).
Please Note: A maximum of six credits may be applied toward the psychology major from the following courses:
PSY 3960 - Undergraduate Seminar (1-5 cr)
PSY 3993 - Directed Study (1-6 cr)
PSY 3996 - Undergraduate Fieldwork and Internship in Psychology (1-6 cr)
PSY 4993 - Directed Research (1-6 cr)
PSY 4960 - Seminar in Psychology (1-4 cr)
Psy 4996H - Honors Internship/Externship (1-6 cr)
PSY 5960 - Topics in Psychology (1-4 cr)
PSY 5993 - Research Laboratory in Psychology (3 cr)
Psy 4902V: Honors Project - The Honors Project satisfies the Major Project requirement for honors psychology majors. Your project may consist of either a comprehensive critical literature review or an original research project and report. The nature and scope of the project are determined in consultation with a faculty advisor. It typically takes students at least two semesters to complete the Honors Thesis/Project. We recommend that you begin the project Fall term of your senior year. You will work on the project independently in consultation with your faculty advisor. Prerequisites for the Honors Project include: Psy 1001/1001H, 2801/2801H, 3001W/3001V, 4994V, and junior or senior status. In addition, it is strongly recommended that you complete the majority of your upper division Psychology courses prior to beginning on your thesis.
- How do I find an advisor? The psychology undergraduate advisors may be able to suggest possible matches of interest and experience between you and faculty members. However, identifying and approaching a prospective faculty advisor is your responsibility.
- How do I register and how many credits should I take? A contract form and information sheet are available from the advisors in S105 Elliott Hall. You must submit the signed contract form to an advisor in S105 Elliott in order to obtain a course permission number for registration. You will consult with your faculty advisor to determine the appropriate number of credits for your work. A general rule of thumb is three hours of work per week for each credit you earn in a semester (e.g. three credits is about 9-10 hours of work per week). You may earn a maximum of six Psy 4902V credits, taken across one or more semesters.
Total credits required: 36
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Additional Requirements:
- Transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 upper level credits in the major as University of Minnesota - Twin Cities credits.
- Students completing a double major in another CLA department must choose for which department they will complete Honors.
- University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Uniform Policies:
- All major coursework must be must be completed A-F.
- Students must receive a grade of C- or better for each course in the major.
- Students must acheive a cumulative and major GPA of 2.0 or better in order to graduate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why complete an Honors Psychology major?
The Honors Program in the Department of Psychology is intended for exceptional students who are interested in a more rigorous undergraduate experience than is provided by the general sequence for the major. Students thinking of graduate work in psychology and related fields might consider the Program. While the Honors Program offers no guarantee of being admitted to a graduate program, it does have certain features that might be helpful for a potential graduate school applicant.
How do I declare an Honors Psychology major?
You must first get admitted by your college into Honors at the Junior/Senir level. The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) makes decisions regarding admission to the Honors Program using the following criteria:
- A minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA (including transfer credits).
- Completition of at least 60 semester credits, to include at least 40 graded credits (A-F grades).
- Selection of a CLA major.
- At least three semesters remaining before graduation (ordinarily before 75 credits are completed).
Application materials are available in the CLA Honors Office, 20 Nicholson Hall. Check out the CLA Honors web pages for more information.
After meeting with Dr. Randy Fletcher, the faculty honors representative in the Department of Psychology, and submitting your Honors application to CLA Honors, you will need to complete one final step in order to declare an Honors Psychology major. Students will need to set up a meeting with a psychology academic advisor in order to change to the Honors Psychology major.
Updated 2/08