Capstone course options: The Honours Project and The Honours Thesis

Most students complete the Honours Project. This small full-year seminar allows students to explore a research topic that they have chosen in-depth with the support of their professor, TAs, and their peers. Within an active learning environment, they deliver oral presentations, produce written reports, and develop a set of skills that are highly transferable to the workplace. The Honours Project is the best choice for the majority of students.

Some students complete the Honours Thesis. With the mentorship of a faculty supervisor, students conduct a project of research. They review the appropriate literature, contribute to the design of a study or experiment, conduct data analyses, and produce an APA-style written report. The thesis is intended for students who wish to apply to graduate programs in Psychology. Enrollment into the thesis is competitive and limited.

Access to the Honours Project (PSYC 4909/4910) is not competitive. If you meet its prerequisites, there will always be space available for you. The prerequisites are:

• PSYC 3000.
• 4th-year standing (14.0 credits complete).
• A minimum Psychology CGPA of 6.0.

Access to the Honours Thesis (PSYC 4907/4908) is competitive, and space is limited. Hence, even if you meet all the prerequisites and complete the application form on time, you still might not gain access.

Otherwise, PSYC 4907 and 4908 are equivalent to one another in all points except that one is for B.Sc. students and one is for B.A. students. Here are the prerequisites for each:

PSYC 4907: Thesis for B.Sc. Honours  –  Application

• All prerequisites MUST be met before registration will be permitted.
• Earned a major CGPA of 9.0 (B+) in Psychology if admitted before Fall 2019.
• Earned a major CGPA 0f 10.0 (A-) in Psychology if admitted after Fall 2019.
• Completed PSYC 3000.
• Completed an Honours Seminar.
• Fourth-Year Standing (14.0 credits complete).

PSYC 4908: Thesis for B.A. Honours –   Application

• Earned a major CGPA of 10.0 (A-) in Psychology.
• Completed PSYC 3000.
• Completed an Honours Seminar.
• Fourth-Year Standing (14.0 credits complete).

Important note. In fairness to all our students, the prerequisites are enforced strictly and systematically. The Department makes no exceptions.

Both are excellent choices, so it depends on your goals and your interests.

You should choose the Honours Project if:

• You plan to join the workforce immediately after earning your degree.
• You plan to apply for a program that does not require a thesis.
• You do not want to work in a laboratory, or you do not want to conduct a study or an experiment yourself.
• You wish to choose a topic of research without any constraints.
• You prefer learning in a classroom environment.
• You do not meet the thesis prerequisites for any reason.

You should choose the Honours Thesis if:

• You plan to apply to a graduate program in Clinical or Experimental Psychology.
• You plan to apply for any program that specifically requires an empirical thesis.
• You want to conduct a study or experiment in a laboratory.
• You want to contribute to a professor’s program of research.
• You wish to experience a mentorship relationship like those of graduate students.

Keep in mind that all graduate programs, including those in Psychology, are highly competitive. Precise numbers vary depending on the year and the program, but approximately only 15% of all applicants are admitted to graduate programs in Clinical and Experimental Psychology. Hence, completing a thesis may be a mandatory step, but it certainly does not guarantee successful entry into any program.

If you plan to apply for any Clinical or Experimental graduate program in Psychology, then you should assume that you need an Honours degree in Psychology with a thesis. Otherwise, it is a difficult question to answer. Carleton Psychology students apply to a large number of different graduate and professional programs each year. Hence, start exploring programs that you may interested in as soon as possible. Search for their admission criteria. If they are unclear or if you are unsure, then contact those programs directly and ask for the information. Finally, start this process as early as possible. It is much easier to prepare a successful application to a given program when you understand its’ admission criteria.

The short answer is that it does not matter. Both degrees in Psychology will allow you to apply to graduate programs in Psychology. A longer answer might be that it depends. For instance, if a student were applying to a graduate program in Neurocognitive Psychology, then some relevant natural sciences courses or even a B.Sc. might be advisable. In contrast, if a student were interested in applied graduate research in Forensic Psychology, then some related courses in the humanities or a B.A. might be the best choice. Typically, however, potential supervisors will focus on the quality of students’ background preparation and not on the exact name of the Psychology degree on the diploma.

This one is easy. If you meet all the prerequisites, you will be able to register for it like any other class.

If you wish to be considered for thesis supervision, you need to fill out the Thesis Application form. You will be required to provide the following information:

• Your student name, student email, student number, your current degree (B.A., B.Sc., or Combined), and your concentration (if one has been selected).
• You will be asked to identify up to three areas of interest among cognitive, developmental, forensic, health, organizational, and social and personality. You will also be asked to list up to 6 key words or expressions that describe your research interests (e.g., memory, psychopathy, romantic relationships, etc.).
• You will be asked to identify up to 5 professors you would like to work with. All faculty are listed here: https://carleton.ca/psychology/faculty-staff/faculty-listing/. Optionally, you can also identify up to three adjunct professors you would like to work with. They are retired professors or researchers external to the University who demonstrate significant involvement in the intellectual life of the academic unit and who can supervise Honours theses. They are listed here: https://carleton.ca/psychology/faculty-staff/adjunct-research-professors/ and here https://carleton.ca/psychology/faculty-staff/adjunct-professors/.
• Cross-appointed faculty are also eligible to supervise Thesis students. They are listed here: Cross-Appointed Faculty – Psychology (carleton.ca).
• Finally, you will be asked to submit a brief statement describing your research interests and identify one to three faculty you would like to work with. It will be similar to the letters students write when they apply to graduate programs. Its main goal will be to introduce yourself to potential supervisors. You will want to explain how your studies up to this point have prepared you well for thesis research, and you will want to explain why you believe that you would be a good match for the one to three Professors that you have selected. Note that this document will be short, with a maximum character count of 1250 (i.e., approximately 250 words).

Students who do not submit the form on time for any reason will not be considered for thesis supervision for the next academic year.

From January to March 2024, faculty will receive a list of students who have identified them as potential supervisors and set up interviews with them. Professors will inform the students that they have selected. Please do not contact faculty directly to inquire about thesis supervision. In fairness to all students, faculty will only select students via this online application system. In April, the department will identify professors who are still looking for Honours thesis students and students who are still seeking supervisors. It will assist everyone in finding matches. Finally, on April 29, 2024, a final list of students who have been selected to complete a thesis will be established. Approved students will be asked to fill out the Departmental form with the supervisor’s signature and submit it to the department. They will then be able to formally register for the Honours Thesis on Carleton Central. Other students will be informed that they have not been selected and will be encouraged to register for the Project as their capstone course.

Unfortunately, the Department cannot guarantee that students who meet all the prerequisites will necessarily be able to complete a thesis. Capacity is limited and related to the number of faculty available in any given year. The process is also competitive. Students’ experience is similar across Canadian universities.

You will need to fill out the thesis registration form to be signed by your thesis supervisor. Once it has been submitted to the department, you will be able to register for the Honours Thesis on Carleton Central.

On April 29, 2024, students will be formally informed by email that they have not been selected for a thesis. If this happens to you, you will be invited to register for the project.

No, it won’t. The project is always available both during the academic year and during the summer term. If you wish to complete your Honours degree expediently, that option will never be closed.

All students must apply for the Honours Thesis using the online form to be submitted sometime in early December. Nonetheless, students can use the summer term to meet any thesis prerequisite. The Department will systematically verify that they have been met.

The short answer is no. You should expect to complete your thesis during the fall and winter terms. Exceptionally, a professor might seek a thesis student for research that must be conducted during the summer. If that happens, faculty will seek out students interested in doing so using the Department’s normal application system.

Students who do not meet the thesis prerequisites before the start of the academic year will be deregistered and encouraged to register for the project.

If your questions are about graduate studies in psychology or allied disciplines, then talk about it with one of your professors. Office hours are an especially good time to do so. If your questions are more general, you should get in touch with Carleton’s Career Services. They offer vocational advising.

You should contact the Undergraduate Office at the following:

• B550 Loeb
• psychology@carleton.ca
• 613-520-2644