Honors Program
The Honors Research Experience in Psychology
Honors research permits students to actively pursue questions and interests in a supportive and collaborative environment. Students develop lifelong skills in critical thinking, written communication, and intellectual independence. The end result, an honors thesis, is a substantial achievement and is highly regarded by graduate schools and prospective employers.
What Students are Saying about their Honors Research Experience
The opportunity to design and implement your own research project provides an invaluable opportunity to learn the research process, including the complications, frustrations, and rewards of conducting a project from beginning to end. Without completing a thesis, I know that I would not have gotten accepted into a research-focused doctoral program in clinical psychology. The honor’s research program is essential for any student who aspires to enter a graduate program. -Whitney Fosco ‘11
The honors research process has really helped me understand not only the mechanisms of carrying out psychology research, but also the true value of psychology research in general. I have learned, with the help of the Bradley psychology faculty, how much impact that we can have on the science through our research contributions. The honors program is a truly unique and esteemed program, and has provided me the tools to pursue a research-oriented career in psychology, and has also provided me with a passion to continuously contribute to psychology with my future research projects. -Stephanie Andel ‘12
Daniel J. Elias Endowment Fund
The Daniel J. Elias Endowment Fund has been established within the Department of Psychology to encourage meritorious student research and support a venue where student research accomplishments are prominently featured. The fund provides support for (a) research expenses such as equipment, subject recruitment and compensation, testing materials and other related costs and (b) an annual Honors Colloquium in which students’ findings are presented in a public forum. Each year the Colloquium features an exciting, internationally known speaker who delivers a keynote address demonstrating the societal and intrinsic value of psychological research.
Eligibility
First-semester juniors who have completed coursework in Experimental Psychology (PSY 206) are eligible. Application materials are available in the Department of Psychology main office (Bradley Hall, Room 80). Factors such as ACT (or SAT) scores, GPA at Bradley, and/or a professor’s recommendation are important in the application process. Completing a Departmental honors thesis satisfies requirements for completing the Bradley University Honors Program (see below).
The Bradley University Honors Program
Students in the University Honors Program have the opportunity to enroll in honors sections of General Education classes and Honors Seminars beginning their freshmen year. Past seminar topics related to psychology include “The Psychology of Dreaming,” “The Nature of Violence,” and “Mind Altering Music.” The University Honors Program also sponsors many enriching social and cultural events throughout the year. For more information, including eligibility requirements, refer to the University Honors Program.
Timetable for Psychology Honors Thesis
Students enroll in PSY 400 (Honors Research) and complete an honors thesis proposal during their junior year. The proposal constitutes a significant portion of the honors thesis. During the fall of the student’s senior year the student enrolls in PSY 481 or PSY 491 to complete the thesis by collecting data for the proposed experiment. Each student has a designated faculty mentor to supervise data collection and analysis. During the spring of the student’s senior year, the project will be presented at the Honors Colloquium. During their senior year students may also elect to present their findings at regional and national conferences. Departmental funds are available to support research-related student travel.
Research topics
Faculty members in the Department of Psychology serve as mentors for honors research projects. Our professors have research expertise across a broad range of topics in psychology; consequently, student honors theses can be developed from a very wide range of possibilities.
Outcomes
Two honors research projects recently won prestigious Regional Research Awards from the Midwestern Psychological Association. Less than 7 percent of the hundreds of eligible student projects across the Midwest earn this award. Another project recently won the $1,000 President’s Award at the Bradley Student Research Expo.
Recent Bradley University psychology honors students have been accepted into top graduate programs, including, this year, the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, North Carolina State, SUNY-Buffalo, and the University of Minnesota. Honors graduates are earning Ph.D.s and master’s degrees in clinical psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology and other allied fields.
