Psychology Forms & Resources

Undergraduate Resources & Links

  • Peer Advisors

    Peer advisors typically work 8 to 10 hours per week in the Psychology Department office, but may choose to work more or fewer hours depending on their schedule and financial aid award. Responsibilities include advising fellow psychology majors about courses and requirements, helping students declare the major in psychology and assisting with routine clerical tasks in the office.

    To become a peer advisor, you must be eligible for Federal Work Study. To see if there are openings for peer advisors and if you are interested in applying, contact ugpsyc@binghamton.edu.

  • Psi Chi National Honor Society

    Psi Chi is the national honor society in psychology, founded in 1929 to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship, and advance the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate students who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the minimum qualifications. 

    Psi Chi Membership Criteria

    Psi Chi Application Form

    For more information visit the national Psi Chi website or email us at binghamtonpsichi@gmail.com.

    Applications for Spring 2020 induction are due no later than Tuesday, March 3. Email a pdf of the completed application form to binghamtonpsichi@gmail.com  In addition, email an unofficial copy of your transcript (in pdf format) to ugpsyc@binghamton.edu

  • Internships for Undergraduates in Psychology

    Please Note: Students who wish to participate in an internship and who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that they will be asked about their prior criminal history. This may impede your ability to participate in certain internships. Students who have concerns about such matters, or are looking for additional information, are advised to contact the dean's office of their intended academic program.

    Undergraduates in the Department of Psychology can take advantage of CDCI internship opportunities in the Binghamton region during the Fall or Spring terms or perhaps nearer to home over Winter or Summer breaks.

    Your CDCI internship must receive approval from the Psychology department in order for the internship to count for Elective credit. You must be registered for CDCI 385 or 395 before submitting your pre-approval. 

    Once pre-approved, your CDCI Internship credits can count for Psychology Elective credits (maximum of 4 credits) or can substitute for a 400-level seminar (requires 8 credits). 

    You may take a paid or unpaid internship. Regardless of whether and how you are compensated, internships are a great experience and we highly encourage you to take advantage of them during your time at Binghamton.

    If you take an CDCI internship for credit, be advised that Binghamton University only allows students to earn 8 credits maximum on internships throughout the course of their undergraduate careers.

    How To Get an Internship

    • First, take a moment to explore the Fleishman Center's Gaining Experience section online.

    • Attend an employer information session or internship fair. For more detailed information on up to date information session dates and times go to CDCI ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

    • hireBING - Log on to the hireBING site to see internship listings. Please attend to the deadlines to apply for CDCI sites.  Please follow application instructions on each posting. You may also search for non-CDCI internships through hireBING and request credit by emailing CDCI@binghamton.edu.

    • Create your own! Contact employers you'd be interested in working for to determine if they'd be willing to accept an intern. Stay in contact with CDCI@binghamton.edu in order to help with getting your newly found internship Binghamton approved for credits.
    • Attend walk-in hours at Fleishman Center (UU133) to see what other opportunities are available. Work on your resume and cover letter, or get help choosing an internship!
    • As soon as your internship is approved for CDCI Credit and you can confirm that you have registered for CDCI 395 or 385, use the Psychology Department online form to Petition for CDCI internship credit to be applied toward Psychology Requirements for one Psychology Seminar (a total of 8 CDCI credits are required to fulfill a 400-Level seminar) or for Psychology Elective credit (requires 4 Credits of CDCI).

    *A resume/CV, letters of reference, background checks, drug screening and immunization records may be required by your internship site.

    CDCI 385 (O) Professional Internships that will count for Psychology credit:

    • Credits: 4 credits (Psychology Elective)

    • Internship Length: duration of the semester

    • Hours at the Site: Complete 120 hours (about 10 hours per week) in one semester for 4 credits. Select on-campus internships are offered for 2 credits (60 hours over the course of the semester; 5 hours per week).

    • Oral communication requirement for CDCI 385

    • Weekly 1 Hour Class with Assignments, which may involve journaling, papers, presentations, participation, peer feedback, mid-term and final evaluation by your site supervisor

    • Alternatively, you may take any section of CDCI courses if you would like general upper-level credit but not psychology seminar credit.

    • As soon as your internship is approved for CDCI Credit, use the Psychology Department online form to Petition for CDCI internship credit to be applied toward Psychology Requirements to replace one Psychology Seminar (a total of 8 credits are required).  
  • Undergraduate Research in Psychology

    There are many research opportunities available to undergraduate students in the Department of Psychology. Research can be conducted on a volunteer basis, or students can earn academic credit for their research by registering for a course that includes an independent research component.

    These courses provide students with valuable learning experiences that are quite different from those found in the typical classroom. In these courses, students typically read background literature in a specific area, learn methods and experimental techniques associated with that area and assist in the collection, summary and analysis of data. To receive academic credit for their research activities, students must be registered for PSYC 397, 493, 494 or 499. PSYC 397 is pass/fail only. Registration in these courses requires the permission of the faculty member with whom the student will be working.

    Students completing PSYC 397 may also be interested in continuing their studies in the form of an Honors thesis (PSYC 499). Students interested in doing an Honors thesis should speak to their faculty supervisor about this possibility. Students who are interested in completing an independent research project but who, for any reason, cannot or choose not to participate in the Honors Program, are encouraged to obtain the Certificate in Excellence in Research.

    Binghamton's Undergraduate Research Center

    The links on this page will help undergraduates learn more about the opportunities in their field for research, creative activity and scholarly investigation. Undergraduates can explore the opportunities offered here at Binghamton, read profiles of our student and faculty researchers, artists and scholars and learn how to become involved. Information about sources of funding for undergraduate research is available also.

    Limits on Independent Study

    Although students are strongly encouraged to enroll in one or more of these courses during their college career, formal coursework is also an important component of an undergraduate education in psychology. To assure that students have a well-rounded background in psychology upon graduation, the following guidelines have been set for the amount of independent research that can be applied to the psychology major requirements:

    No more than 12 credits of independent research (PSYC 395, 397, 490, 492, 493, 494 or 499) can count toward the major in psychology.

    Of these, eight credits may substitute for one of the required 400-level psychology courses, and an additional four credits may count toward the psychology electives section of the science and math electives.

    Additionally, Harpur College placed an overall limit on the number of independent research courses that may count toward the 126 total credits required for graduation. These limits also affect internships, teaching practica (PSYC 391) and PENR classes. Limits on Independent Research courses are explained below:

    • Independent Research (PSYC 395, 397, 490 and 492) - 16 credits

    • Internships - 8 credits

    • Teaching practica (PSYC 391) - 8 credits

    • PENR courses - 8 credits

    • OVERALL LIMIT (Independent Research + Internship + Teaching Practica + PENR) cannot exceed 20 credits

    Notes

    Students may not take more than 16 credits of Independent Research with the same faculty member. PSYC 493 and 494 (Assessment, Intervention and Evaluation II and III) and PSYC 499 (Honors Program credits) are not counted toward Harpur's limit on Independent Research.

  • Teaching Assistants

    Undergraduate students who assist professors and students in selected courses are chosen by the professor, usually at the end of the semester preceding the one in which the course is offered. Teaching assistants (TAs) usually register for four credits of PSYC 391, Practicum in College Teaching, which is graded pass/fail, and are supervised directly by the professor.

    The specific responsibilities vary from course to course but may include keeping office hours to assist students with homework and other course materials, assisting with the conduct of laboratory experiments and assisting at review sessions.

    Because TAs have learned the course material more recently than the professor and their understanding of the material is closer to that of the students, they can often provide an especially useful perspective to students having difficulty with the course material.

    Also, since TAs have recently been successful in the course, they may have suggestions and tips for students regarding study strategies or ways of thinking about the material that they have found helpful.

    Students interested in being a TA for a course should have done well in the course, be willing to review the course prior to the beginning of the semester and be willing to devote eight to 12 hours per week to their responsibilities.

    However, a genuine desire to help others learn and the ability to treat all students with respect, regardless of their academic ability and motivation, are probably the most important requirements a TA can meet.

    For more information, contact the professor who will be teaching the course that interests you during the semester before the course is offered.

  • Honors in Psychology

    Outstanding students in psychology and other closely related disciplines are encouraged to participate in the Honors Program in Psychology. The program requires preparation of a thesis, which consists of a proposal, data collection, written analysis and an oral defense of the final thesis. Successful completion of the program results in graduation with "Distinguished Independent Work in Psychology."

    What are the advantages of completing an honors thesis?

    • It demonstrates to a graduate or professional program or future employer that you are capable of planning and following through and completing a project.

    • It provides tangible proof of your motivation and dedication to the field.

    • It shows that you understand all dimensions of the scientific endeavor.

    • It provides you with an opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor.

    Requirements for psychology majors to participate in the Honors Program

    1. Grade Point Average (GPA): At the completion of the seventh semester, a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 for all psychology courses attempted, 3.5 for all courses attempted that count toward satisfaction of major requirements and 3.0 for all courses attempted.

    2. Course requirements: Students must register for, and satisfactorily complete, no more than four credits of PSYC 499, either as 2 credits each semester of their senior year, or 4 credits in the semester the degree award is expected. If a student chooses not to complete their Honors thesis it is their responsibility to drop PSYC 499 and switch these research credits to PSYC 397 (see Academic Advisor for assistance).

    For additional information on the requirements of the Honors Program in Psychology, see the University Bulletin.

    Appeals of requirements

    Any student who fails to meet one or more of the requirements listed above may petition the Undergraduate Committee for a waiver of a particular requirement. Non-majors desiring to obtain honors in psychology must petition the Undergraduate Committee to obtain permission to participate in the department honors program. Appeals for waiver of requirements must be filed by the first Monday in November for students who plan to complete their thesis in the spring semester.

    Timetable and Procedures for Completing an Honors Thesis

    1. Formation of Honors Committee: Prior to the end of the seventh semester, the student must form an Honors Committee consisting of a faculty sponsor in the Psychology Department who will serve as chair of the committee and at least two other faculty members in the Psychology Department chosen in conjunction with the faculty sponsor.

    2. Written research proposal: During the semester prior to the semester in which the student plans to complete the Honors research, the student must submit a written research proposal to the members of the Honors Committee no later than one week prior to the last day of classes. Approval of the proposal by the Honors Committee is necessary for the student to be accepted into the Honors Program. A copy of the approved proposal must be submitted for departmental approval no later than the last day of classes during the semester prior to the semester in which the student wishes to receive honors.  (Please submit a copy of your approved thesis proposal for our departmental records using this online form. Your faculty supervisor will submit an email in lieu of the required signatures of approval and will authorize your registration for PSYC 499 for next semester.)

    3. Defense of the thesis: One week prior to the scheduled defense, the student must submit to the Honors Committee a written thesis based on the research accomplished. The student must defend the thesis orally before the committee and any other interested parties no later than the Friday prior to the last week of classes.

    4. Procedures for final certification: Determination of the student's receipt of the "Distinguished Independent Work in Psychology" designation will reside solely with a student's Honors Committee, assuming the student has met all the requirements listed above; such certification must be conveyed to the Academic Advisor by the student's faculty sponsor so that timely notification of the award can be transmitted to the dean's office and to the registrar. A copy of the final thesis, signed by all members of the Honors Committee, must be submitted to the Undergraduate Psychology Advising Office to certify completion of the Honors Program using this online form. 

    Appeals of requirements

    Non-majors desiring to obtain the certificate in psychology must petition the Psychology Undergraduate Committee to obtain permission to participate in the program. Petitions must be filed by the first Monday in November for students who plan to complete their thesis in the spring semester.

    If you would like to see a sample Honors Thesis visit Psychology/IN Academic Advising Office. Archived examples are available.

  • Annual Department Awards