Psychology Department

Programs

Honors Program

The Honors Program is an Emory College program intended to give a highly qualified group of students more extensive experience in conducting behavioral research.  Students with an overall average of at least 3.5 in the first three years and with at least a 3.5 in the major subject will automatically be notified in the Spring of their junior year that they are eligible to participate, and will be invited to a meeting which will fully explain the program.

During the senior year, each Honors student in Psychology conducts an independent research project.  In concert with a faculty advisor from the Psychology Department, the student collects and analyzes data, prepares an Honors thesis based on the data, and defends the thesis in front of a committee of three faculty members.  This committee recommends Honors, High Honors, or Highest Honors to be granted to the student’s degree.  During Commencement weekend, Honors students will participate in a college-wide Honors ceremony.

Students must arrange to work with a faculty advisor before the beginning of their senior year.  Normally, an arrangement should be reached before the end of the student's junior year.  Faculty members almost always give

preference to students whom they know - either from volunteer work in their laboratory or from a small class.  Students who think they may be eligible and interested in the Honors Program are therefore encouraged to get to know a faculty member during their sophomore and junior years.  Volunteering in a professor's laboratory also assists students in making more informed decisions about whether or not to participate in Honors.

Honors students must have completed the Statistics and Laboratory Methods classes by the end of their junior year.  In the fall of their senior year, Honors students enroll in Psychology 495A, and receive 4 hours of credit for participating in this weekly class.  In the spring, they may receive variable credit under Psyc 495BWR for continuing work on their Honors project.  Honors students are also required to take a graduate level course in Psychology during their senior year.

Study Abroad

Emory students may choose to take a semester abroad through programs approved by CIPA (Center for International Programs Abroad).  Students considering studying abroad should contact the CIPA office (7-2240) for a list of Emory and non-Emory programs.  In some cases, it may be possible for psychology courses taken through one of these programs to be included in the ten courses required for the major.  Students should understand that it may not be possible to take courses toward the major while abroad depending on the courses that are offered by the host institution.  Acceptance by CIPA into a study abroad program does not guarantee that appropriate courses will be available in the major. Courses taken abroad through Emory and non-Emory programs will not automatically count toward the major.  Courses must be approved in writing before the student goes abroad and returning students must  bring back a syllabus for the course as well as additional supporting evidence, including textbooks or readings used, papers written or copies of exams. 

Advising

A/P Credit:  Students who received a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Examination in Psychology will be granted an exemption from PSYC 111.  The student will still be required to complete 10 additional courses in the major, including the first half of the Introductory Requirement, PSYC 110.

Transfer Credit:  Students who took a one-semester Intro course at another college will probably receive credit for PSYC 111.  The student will be required to take 9 additional courses in the major, including the first half of the Introductory Requirement, PSYC 110. Students may transfer no more than four (4) psychology courses to the Emory undergraduate major.

 Course Time Table:

Both PSYC 110 and 111 must be completed by the end of the junior year.

Psyc 230 must be completed by the end of the junior year.

Psyc 200 must be completed by the end of the first semester of the senior year; this course may not be taken in the semester the student plans to graduate.

Internship

The Psychology Department does not offer internships, nor does it give academic credit for internships completed elsewhere.

Awards and Honors

Membership in Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, is open to students studying psychology who meet the minimum qualifications.  Emory’s chapter of Psi Chi is operated by student officers and a faculty advisor.  Eligible students are invited to membership during the fall and spring semesters.  Throughout the year, Psi Chi offers programs, speakers and workshops on topics of interest to Psychology majors which are open to all interested students.

Independent Research and Study

Although we encourage majors to enroll in Directed Research (Psyc 499R) and Directed Reading (Psyc 498R), these courses cannot be counted towards the ten courses required for the major.  Directed research (working in a psychology laboratory under the supervision of a faculty member) and reading (writing a literature review of a special topic) courses must be directed by approved Psychology department  faculty.  A list of regular faculty members of the Psychology Department who are eligible to supervise Psyc 498 and Psyc 499 may be found on the back of the 498/499 form.  Only faculty members whose names are on this list may supervise 498/499 work.  Permission is required for enrollment in 498R or 499R.  Contracts are available in Suite 270, and must be completed prior to enrollment.   Enrollment must be completed before the end of the drop/add/swap period. Students must register for these courses prior to the close of the schedule change period each term.