Senior Project in Psychology
The Senior Project consists of a one or two semester-long course focusing on intensive independent research that culminates in a written thesis and oral presentation. Most Psychology concentrators elect to complete a two-semester empirical project in which they design a study, collect and analyze the data, and interpret the results. Some students (e.g., double majors) choose instead to complete a one-semester project, which normally includes synthesis of research in the relevant literature of an area (or areas) and a proposal for an empirical study or intervention. The project provides the opportunity for students to synthesize what they have learned in coursework in the concentration by requiring them to take an in-depth look at a particular question in psychology and to produce an original piece of scholarship. In order to have sufficient background in a topic area to pursue a senior project during the senior year, students should elect appropriate advanced courses during their junior year.
During the Spring Semester of the junior year, students complete an online form in which they rank order their preferences for a faculty supervisor and state whether they are interested in conducting a one- or two-semester senior project. Every effort is made to accommodate students’ preferences, but assignments must take into account the balance of load across faculty supervisors as well as other factors, including laboratory resources. Students are encouraged to reach out to faculty members prior to completing their preference survey to discuss possible projects.
Although the Department encourages students to complete a full-year senior project, the first semester course, Psych 500, is only offered in the fall semester, whereas the second semester course, Psych 501, is only offered in the spring semester. Therefore, students who will finish their degree requirements in December who want to complete a full-year project will need to start in the fall of their junior year (three semesters prior to completion). That means they will need to alert the chair of the Psychology Department in the spring semester prior to when they plan to take Psych 500 (four semesters prior to completion) in order to be included in the advisor assignment process. Students who are unable to follow such a timeline will be required to complete a one-semester senior project in their last semester.
The thesis is due the last day of classes of the semester in which the work was completed. All students submit one copy of the thesis to the faculty supervisor. Each student will make an oral presentation of the senior project work at a meeting held during one of the last weeks of classes of the semester when the project is completed. The thesis is to be prepared in the style of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual. An example of a title page for the thesis is presented below.
In addition to the senior project requirements described above, students will have meetings with their faculty supervisors to discuss progress on their research, issues of relevance to all students working in a given specialty area, and other work assigned by the faculty supervisor. The final grade for the senior project will be determined by the faculty supervisor on the basis of the written thesis, the oral presentation, and the progress in theoretical, laboratory, or field work throughout the term.
| Sample Title Page | Past Thesis Titles | Theses of Distinction |