Honors Program
Dig deeper. Go further. Make your mark.
The Psychology Honors Program is your chance to take your academic experience to the next level. You'll work closely with a faculty mentor to complete an independent research project, write an Honors Thesis, and defend it in an oral exam. Along the way, you’ll gain extensive research experience, sharpen your skills, and prepare for whatever comes after UB—grad school, data management and analysis, or a career that makes an impact.
This yearlong program gives you the opportunity to design and complete an independent research project under the guidance of a Psychology faculty advisor. You'll write a formal thesis and present your work in an oral defense to a faculty committee in the spring.
In the fall, you'll take Honors Seminar (PSY 497), a course focused on:
- Writing and structuring your thesis
- Developing professional skills
- Exploring career paths and preparing for grad school
- Graduate with Distinction: Earn Honors, High Honors or Highest Honors in Psychology—official recognition of your advanced research achievement
- Get individualized mentoring: Join a tight-knit group of 15–20 students and work closely with a faculty mentor who guides your project from start to finish
- Conduct in-depth research: Design a study, collect and analyze data, and make a contribution to your field—even before graduating
- Build in-demand skills: Hone your technical writing, data analysis, communication and presentation abilities—all valuable across industries
- Stand out on your resume: Whether you’re heading to grad school or the job market, a completed Honors Thesis shows initiative and experience that sets you apart
- Award eligibility: Each year, one student is recognized with the Feldman-Cohen Award for the most outstanding thesis and defense
- Explore your future: This experience helps you clarify your goals, connect with faculty, and gain confidence in your next steps
First Year to Junior Year:
- Develop a working relationship with faculty by serving as a research assistant (PSY 498)
- Secure a faculty Honors advisor
- Complete Honors application and interview (ideally by junior Spring)
Summer Before Senior Year:
- Read background research
- Begin planning with your advisor
Senior Year:
FALL SEMESTER
- Take Honors Seminar (PSY 497)
- Write research proposal (first part of Honors Thesis)
SPRING SEMESTER
- Continue working with your faculty advisor (PSY 497 research credits)
- Collect and analyze data (or work with an existing dataset)
- Write, revise, finalize, and orally defend your thesis
- Graduate with Honors, High Honors, or Highest Honors
To join, you must:
- Be a senior Psychology major
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher (overall and in Psychology)
- Have secured a Psychology faculty advisor
- Submit an application and complete an interview by the deadline
Note: This program is separate from the UB Honors College.
Required coursework:
- Advanced Research Methods (PSY 450) - prior or concurrent
Strongly recommended:
- Undergraduate Research (PSY 498)
- Communicating for Psychological Sciences (PSY 300)
- Data Analysis Techniques (PSY 405) - if offered
Get up to $1,000 in research support
Each Honors student is eligible for departmental funding to support their research.
These funds can be used for:
- Recruiting and paying study participants
- Materials, supplies, or equipment
- Software or specialized tools
- Specialized training or assistance
This is a great way to jump start or enhance your project—and it's built into the program.
To request funds, your faculty advisor should email Andrew Fogelsonger with the following information:
- Honors student's name
- Faculty advisor's name
- Name of the project
- Brief (1-2 sentences) summary of the project
- Justification (also brief – not more than 500 words) for how the money will be used and how it is necessary to serve the aims of the project.
Email Dr. Wendy Quinton to request an application.
Complete both the application and program interview prior to the enrollment deadline.
2026-2027 Deadline: August 10, 2026
