Honors Program

Qualified students majoring in Neuroscience have the opportunity to participate in an Honors Program that provides individualized advanced instruction and research experience in neuroscience.

Individuals may apply for honors work as early as the spring term of their junior year, but not later than the end of the second week of fall term of their senior year. Eligibility for honors is a 3.30 average in the major and a 3.0 average overall. Students interested in doing honors work should consult the Department web page for additional information.

To begin thesis work and to enroll in PSYC 91:

1. Students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.30 in the major and 3.00 overall and have successfully completed PSYC 6 and PSYC 10 or BIOL 29.
2. Students must identify a two-person thesis committee (one of which is the research advisor) that will evaluate the thesis.  The thesis committee must include a regular faculty member of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS).  The other individual must have an active academic appointment at Dartmouth.  The thesis committee must be approved by the Chair of the Neuroscience Steering Committee.
3. Intent to pursue honors research must be declared by the end of the second week of the fall term of their senior year.  A completed Permission Checklist for Enrolling in Neuroscience Thesis Research (PSYC 91) should be submitted to the PBS Department office (see Department website for form).  The Neuroscience Steering Committee will evaluate and approve the application.  Instructor Permission to enroll in PSYC 91 will then be granted.

1. Satisfactorily fulfill all course requirements of the major. Complete two terms of PSYC 91 (PSYC 91.01 and 91.02).
2. By the last day of the fifth week of the Winter term preceding the completion of the thesis, the student must submit a prospectus of the thesis work to the Chair of the Neuroscience Steering Committee.  The prospectus should include a brief description of the rationale for the research, methods being used, analyses to be employed, and implications of the expected results.
3. An acceptable thesis must be written based upon at least two terms of laboratory or field research that is carried out under the auspices of PSYC 91 and is under the supervision of a PBS department faculty member.  The thesis will entail an independent and individual project.  Furthermore, the thesis must be read by, orally defended to, and approved by the thesis committee.  The defense must be attended by at least one member of the Neuroscience Steering Committee.  The thesis committee will make a recommendation to the Neuroscience Steering Committee regarding the potential awarding of honors.
4. Students will present their research to department faculty and interested others during the latter part of the Spring term of their senior year.