by Colleen Glenn

If you’re an incoming psychology major, UK has just developed a way to give you the best of both worlds. Large research universities like the University of Kentucky offer state-of-the-art research opportunities and prestigious faculty, but sometimes students in a popular major like psychology can be intimidated by the large class sizes.

After considering this issue, Bob Lorch (chair of the Department of Psychology) and other faculty members in the department put their heads together and created the Psychology Honors Program. The program, which launched this fall, offers incoming freshmen smaller class sizes, more research opportunities, and a built-in support network.

Students in the honors program take their core psychology courses as a cohort during their first two years at UK. The smaller, more intensive sections of the standard required classes allow for increased interaction with faculty and peers.

The honors program also encourages students to get involved in research projects with faculty members earlier in their academic careers. While all psychology students have the opportunity to participate in a research project, the honors program will encourage students to take on research responsibilities earlier. Honors Program students will also complete a final research project in their senior year.

“The primary goals of the program are recruiting great students and retaining them,” said Susan Barron, the director of the program.

So far, the recruiting objective appears to be successful.

One of 24 freshmen recruited to the pilot class, Holly Poore credits the PSY Honors Program as the deciding factor in her decision to come to UK.

“I was deciding between the University of Michigan, Indiana University, and UK. I knew that all three schools had good psychology programs and that I'd get a good education no matter which I chose. What UK had that the other schools didn't is this program.”

In her first semester of college, she has already joined a research lab. She assists Nathan DeWall in researching social psychology. “We're exploring aggression between romantic partners. What increases aggression and what priming we could use to decrease aggression,” says Poore.

Poore, who has already set her sights on a career in clinical psychology, feels confident that the honors program will prepare her to be a competitive candidate when she applies to graduate programs.

The PSY Honors Program also hosts various workshops for its students to help pave their way for successful academic progress. For instance, last month they offered a workshop on combating test anxiety and one on memory enhancement.

While Barron is excited about the advantages Psychology Honors offers, she is quick to point out that the program is a win-win situation for everyone, even psychology majors who are not in it. “All of our majors have great opportunities. This is just an additional tool that will help our department build on our strengths and attract the brightest students.”

For more information about the Honors Program in Psychology including the criterion for entry and the online application, go to http://psychology.as.uky.edu/undergraduate-honors-incoming-freshman