Under the direction of Faculty Director Dr. Cheryl Kaiser, the Psychology Honors Program offers highly motivated students a challenging and enriching academic experience focused on research and independent study.
The program requires a two-year commitment, beginning autumn quarter of junior year. Its core emphasis is on intensive, sustained research and writing conducted under the guidance of a faculty research lab and culminating in a senior thesis.
Students who complete the program graduate with either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Psychology.
Admission Requirements for Psychology Honors
To be eligible for admission to the Psychology Honors Program, students must meet all three of the following criteria:
- GPA Requirement: Have an overall UW GPA of 3.50 or higher at the end of the spring quarter when they apply for the honors program.
- Psychology Major Status: Be a declared Psychology major at UW–Seattle before registering for PSYCH 350.
- Note: Some exceptions may be made for new transfer students who take PSYCH 350 during their first quarter.
- Note: Some exceptions may be made for new transfer students who take PSYCH 350 during their first quarter.
- Faculty Mentor Match: Successfully match with an honors research mentor by the end of autumn quarter in year 1.
Timeline & Requirments
End of Sophomore Year
- Submit Honors application, typically due early June.
- Decision letters sent out, typically mid-June.
Year 1: Building the Foundation – Junior Year
- In autumn quarter, students enroll in PSYCH 350 -a mandatory class, taught by Dr. Cheryl Kaiser.
- By the end of the quarter, students must match with a research lab and faculty advisor to continue in the program.
- Students then register for PSYCH 450A – a mandatory class, taught by Dr. Cheryl Kaiser during winter quarter.
- The first year concludes with students writing an honors APA-style research proposal for a project to be conducted during their second year.
Year 2: Independent Research & Thesis – Senior Year
- Students carry out their proposed research under the guidance of their advisor.
- They will collect data, analyze results, and write an APA-style Senior Honors Paper based on their findings.
- Students then register for PSYCH 450B – a mandatory class, taught by Dr. Cheryl Kaiser during winter quarter.
- In spring quarter, graduating seniors present their research at the Psychology Honors Poster Session, typically held in late May.
Additional Requirements
- Maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA.
- Complete at least 10 credits of PSYCH 498 and/or 499
- BS students: Lab requirement may be waived. Please contact Psychology Advising
Your Honors Experience: What to Expect
Is the Honors Program Right for You?
Some students are drawn to the honors program because of its perceived prestige or because they’ve been on an “honors track” through high school (e.g., AP, IB, dual enrollment). It’s worth taking a step back to reflect on your goals.
The honors program is a two-year, intensive commitment that comes with trade-offs. It can consume times that you could otherwise devote toward:
- Studying abroad during the academic year
- Time-intensive internships or jobs
- Double majors or other academic interests
- Extracurricular involvement
These are all valuable experiences that can be just as beneficial—if not more so—depending on your goals.
If you’re passionate about research and plan to pursue a research-focused career or graduate program, the Psychology Honors Program is likely a great fit. However, if research isn’t a central part of your future goals, UW offers many other excellent opportunities to gain meaningful, career-relevant experience.
One such option is the UW Honors Program, which focuses on rigorous general education requirements and interdisciplinary learning. This program may be a better fit if you're looking to challenge yourself academically outside of a research setting.
To learn more, visit the UW Honors Program website or contact their advising team directly.
Matching with a Lab
Not all students initially invited into PSYCH 350 will be able to matched with a lab. Additionally, after learning more about the various research projects and other academic tradeoffs involved in pursuing honors, some students decide to pursue alternative research experiences outside of the honors program. That’s okay—if you don’t match or decide not to continue in the honors program, you will still earn credit for PSYCH 350.
Reaching out to research mentors and setting up initial interviews is a common part of the process to determine a good mutual match. You will likely interview with several different labs. It is important to be flexible about the research the mentor is conducting as your work will align closely with those topics and many labs receive more student interest than they are able to accommodate.
For those interested in Clinical Psychology
If you’re hoping to join a clinical psychology lab, it’s important to know that demand exceeds availability. Many applicants express interest in clinical labs, but our faculty cannot accommodate everyone.
Some students will successfully match with a clinical lab, but many will need to remain open to shifting their focus to other areas of psychology. If working in a clinical lab is your top priority, you might consider pursuing a long-term PSYCH 499 experience instead, which can offer deep and valuable exposure to clinical research outside of the departmental honors program.
The main goal of the departmental honors program is to help you build core research skills. The specific area of psychology is less important than the opportunity to learn the processes, methods, writing, and thinking that are foundational to research careers.
What “Independent Research” Really Means
A common misconception is that honors students will develop entirely independent research projects from scratch. While independence is expected, our honors research is typically deeply collaborative and connected to ongoing work in your mentor’s lab.
Think of the program as joining an existing research path where you’ll contribute, learn, and grow—rather than inventing a new one. You’ll develop the critical research skills that prepare you to carve out your own path later in graduate school or the workforce.
How to Request Admission
Students who are interested in the honors program and wish to submit an application should contact Vicky Hansen in the Psychology Advising Office, at hansenv@uw.edu. Vicky will send applications to interested students during spring quarter.
Application Deadline
The deadline to submit a completed Departmental Honors Program application for the autumn 2026 incoming cohort is Friday, June 5, 2026.