1. Undergraduate
  2. Experiential and Enhanced Learning
  3. Honors in Psychology

Honors in Psychology

The honors designation in psychology offers a challenging and interesting research experience through which students work with a faculty member, write a thesis, and earn the recognition that comes with superior performance. Completion of the honors designation can offer valuable skills that will be helpful in applications to graduate school and for potential employers. Students typically pursue this experience in their final two terms of their undergraduate career.

Honors in Psychology is a 2-term commitment:

  1. Students will enroll in 3 credits of PSY 1973 Honors Directed Research. This is the first term of research in preparation for the honors major in psychology and includes development of the research problem and approval of the thesis prospectus. A weekly, one-hour seminar is required. 
  2. Students will next enroll in 3 credits of PSY 1975 Honors Thesis. Undergraduate honors majors in psychology will register for this course for their second term when their thesis proposal has been approved and they are ready to conduct and write up the research. A weekly, one-hour seminar is required. 

These courses are designed to give students academic credits for working on their research project, writing a thesis based on this research in an APA-style manuscript, and presenting and defending this thesis before a faculty committee.

Steps to completing an honors thesis in psychology:

  • Participate in directed research for at least 1-credit with a psychology faculty member;
  • Discuss this opportunity with the psychology faculty member you wish to chair your project no later than the second term of your junior year;
  • Submit your completed application by the due date;
    • The application can be found below.
    • Applications are due: August 1 for fall term, December 1 for spring term, April 1 for summer term
  • A faculty committee will review applications and send permission numbers to those with accepted applications before the end of the add/drop period;
  • Students will use that permission number to immediately self-enroll in PSY 1973 Honors Directed Research;
  • Toward the end of the first term, students will formally propose their project to their committee;
  • Once the proposal is accepted students will be given a permission number by the seminar instructor to enroll in PSY 1975 Honors Thesis for their final term;
  • Students will self-enroll for PSY 1975 Honors Thesis before the end of the add/drop period;
  • Students will defend their thesis before their committee by the end of the term. 
  • Submit full committee signed thesis approval form to the seminar instructor. 

Documents and additional details:

  1. Submit the completed online application in its entirety. Students will not have an opportunity to revise their application once reviewed.
    1. Find the application form here.
    2. Submit the application form here.
  2. Sample timeline and personal worksheet for honors project.  
  3. Find thesis proposal form here.
  4. Find thesis defense form here.
  5. Students must also fill all of the remaining requirements for the psychology major as well as their Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences degree requirements;
  6. Students must have a 3.25 overall GPA and a 3.5 psychology GPA at the time of graduation to receive the honors designation in psychology.

Some students also pursue the BPhil degree through Pitt's David C. Frederick Honors College. There are a number of funding opportunities available to students pursuing research.

Bachelor of Philosophy Degree (BPhil)

Frequently, students ask us if they can complete a BPhil Degree in conjunction with an Honors Thesis. The BPhil requires an application and is the highest undergraduate distinction at the University of Pittsburgh. It is jointly awarded by the Frederick Honors College and your undergraduate school/college and, once completed, replaces the standard B.S./B.A. degree. It will also replace the BS with Honors in Psychology.

Concurrent completion of an Honors Thesis with a BPhil depends on a multitude of factors, those of which are briefly outlined below. Students should be aware that the Honors Thesis can fulfill only one component of the BPhil degree and therefore is not sufficient to complete the requirements of a BPhil degree. Additional requirements must be met to obtain a BPhil.

The BPhil degree expects from students a combination the following (3) components –

  • Completed General Degree requirements
  • An approved Program of Study by the Frederick Honors College*
  • Special Degree Requirements**

*An approved Program of Study will demonstrate that a student has exceeded the requirements for a standard undergraduate departmental degree. In general, it is expected that a student’s curriculum will reflect breadth and/or depth. Existing curricular options may fulfill the Program of Study requirements, such as multiple majors or double-degree programs, or approved Program of Study may be highly individualized, especially for students in highly structured programs. Review samples of previously approved Programs of Study. 

** The Special Degree Requirement is met through the preparation and defense of a thesis. This is where the Honors Thesis in psychology can come in.  To determine whether your Honors Thesis can be rolled into the BPhil Thesis, please review the guidelines for choosing a thesis advisor and the thesis requirements for each BPhil candidate.  You should also discuss with your PSY Honors faculty advisor and refer to David Hornyak in the Frederick Honors College for additional questions.

To learn more about the BPhil, admission requirements, and how to apply, please visit the BPhil webpage on the Frederick Honors College website.