Honors Program

The Psychology Honors Program offers a unique opportunity for outstanding majors to gain an intense research experience in the sub-area of psychology of their choosing.
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With High Distinction in Psychology

Our intent is to model the honors program very closely after the kinds of experiences usually reserved for graduate study. Students who have completed the program typically report that it was an invaluable preparation for their later graduate study; indeed many report that it was the highlight of their education at UCCS. Through the recommendation of the faculty of the Psychology Department, the successful honor student's degree diploma will bear the citation "With High Distinction in Psychology."

Program Information & Application Process

Research presentation

The Honors Program in the Psychology Department is a two-semester program. 

In semester 1 (Fall semester), students take PSY 3100: Statistical Models in Psychology and PSY 3000: Honors Seminar I. 

In semester 2 (Spring semester), students take PSY 4000: Honors Seminar II. Students also defend their thesis in an oral presentation at the end of this semester. 

Students must enroll in and successfully pass PSY 3100, 3000, and 4000 to complete the Honors program. 

How to Apply

In addition, the Psychology Department approved the following 5 changes to the program:

1. At the discretion of a faculty mentor, students are allowed to use archival data or join an ongoing project in their mentor’s lab. They do not need to create a new project from scratch. But they must analyze the data and write the paper themselves.

2. At the discretion of a faculty mentor, students are allowed to write major theoretical/conceptual paper for their honors thesis. It does not need to be empirical. However, it cannot be a “pure” review paper with no novel contributions. It must contain one or more of the following novel elements: the student proposes a new model, theory or argument; the student connects existing literatures in a novel manner; the student writes a grant for submission.

3. At the discretion of a faculty mentor, Honors students are allowed to work in pairs instead of alone. The pair can work on the same project with the same mentor, similar to the kind of team-research that often takes place in science. Each individual mentor must decide whether or not to allow this for their mentees. Each student, however, must produce an independent paper/analysis.

4. Students no longer need to present a formal “defense” with a panel of 3 faculty members. Instead, they must do an oral presentation in PSY 4000 at the end of the semester, graded by the instructor of PSY 4000.

5. Students who complete the honors program do not need to complete a senior seminar. The honors courses will count as the equivalent of a senior seminar.

To be Considered

UCCS Campus
To be considered for the program, you must have:
  • Junior status
  • Declared major in psychology
  • Completed PSY 2110
  • Sponsorship by a Psychology Department faculty member
  • Psychology GPA of 3.5 or above
  • Overall GPA 3.4 or above

You will also submit a personal statement; application form and writing sample (please see application form for specific details on required content).

Application Deadline: To be considered for admission to the Honors Program starting in Fall Semester 2025, please email this completed application form, along with your personal statement, to Dr. James (ljames@uccs.edu) by April 25, 2025. You will be notified of your admissions status by May 5, 2025.

Contact: Dr. Lori James, Department Chair 
Email: ljames@uccs.edu

You are encouraged to discuss a mentor-mentee agreement with a potential faculty mentor. 

2025 Honors Application