Psychology ,  Honors Thesis Research
P499 ,  3708 ,  D. Sengelaub

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P499 is a two semester sequence course designed to assist those
students engaged in Honors Thesis Research.  The student and their
research sponsor will bear the main responsibility for the research,
but this class will provide both an administrative structure as well as
an opportunity to present, discuss, and refine each student's research
project.  The research sponsor will help the student select a project
that has scientific merit and can be completed given the available time
and resources. However, students must take the major initiative in
developing the background for the project, designing it, collecting,
analyzing, and interpreting the data, and preparing the research
presentations and the written honors thesis.

Class will meet only on prearranged days at the scheduled time.  At
those meetings, students will make oral presentations of their research
projects, or submit sponsor-approved drafts of sections of the
prospective thesis on scheduled dates.  A poster presentation of the
completed research project will also be required.  When the thesis
reaches its final form, the student will defend it orally before a
committee including the research sponsor, and two other faculty
members.  Once successfully defended, bound copies of the thesis are
required for the Psychology Department and the Honors Division.

Grading:  Most students take P499 the two semesters of P499 for 3 to 6
credits per semester, for a maximum of 12 total credit hours.  A grade
of "R" (grade deferred) will be assigned for each semester until the
thesis is completed and defended.  When the student's committee accepts
the thesis, the "R" will be converted to a letter grade, which will
depend on the completion of class requirements, sponsor's evaluation,
and research presentation.  The department will then certify the
student to Graduate with Honors in Psychology.