The Honors Undergraduate Thesis (HUT) Program, is designed to encourage the best juniors and seniors to undertake original and independent work in their major field. The HUT program is the most prestigious undergraduate research program at UCF and is the only undergraduate research program on campus in which students are required to undertake original and innovative research. In this program, students research, write, defend, and publish an original Honors thesis that serves as the capstone product of their undergraduate career. This thesis is published through the university library and is available to researchers worldwide through electronic databases.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
- Sixty (60) completed hours of college credit
- Twelve (12) completed upper division hours of college credit
- At least a 3.4 UCF or Overall GPA
- At least a 3.5 Psychology GPA
- At least two semesters remaining prior to graduation
- It is recommended that psychology students have taken PSY 3213C (Research Methods in Psychology) with a final grade of B or higher before beginning their HUT.
To confirm eligibility, please visit the Office of Honors Research and complete the eligibility application. Feel free to check out additional program information.
All student applicants must also identify one faculty thesis chair from their declared major prior to submitting applications.
HUT/Thesis Forms:
The psychology department requires that HUT students utilize DropBox Sign for ALL HUT/Thesis forms. The use of DropBox Sign aids organization and timeliness of the form submission. Psychology students must also submit a copy of their HUT proposal and/or final thesis to the Department Liaison when requesting signatures. DO NOT wait until the day a form is due to attempt and obtain signatures. Doing so may prevent you from submitting the form to the Office of Honors Research on time.
For information regarding the HUT program for psychology majors, please contact the HUT Faculty Liaison for the psychology department:
Dr. Chrysalis L. Wright
Phone: 407-823-2027
Email: Chrysalis.Wright@ucf.edu
Office: PSY 328
Office Hours: By appointment only
*Note that the HUT Faculty Liaison will not sign forms that have not been signed by the students HUT Thesis Chair and/or committee. The HUT Faculty Liaison also requires a copy of the proposal and/or final thesis to review prior to signing required forms. Ensure that signatures requested are done so in the correct order.*
Testimonials
The Honors in the Major program was the most rewarding endeavor of my undergraduate career because it enabled me to explore and expand my own research interests. My independent research led to involvement in presentations at numerous professional conferences, innumerable networking opportunities, and a unique firsthand understanding of the research process. Perhaps most importantly, my participation in the program carried great weight when applying to graduate programs; ultimately, it aided in my admittance into a competitive PhD program in Clinical Psychology.
~Emily Edwards
~Major: Psychology
~Thesis Title and Chair: Preserving the Right to a Fair Trial: An Examination of the Prejudicial Value of Visual and Auditory Evidence in the Context of a Criminal Case, Directed by Karen Mottarella
As a student with many different interests, undergraduate research served to tie everything together. I was able join psychology, health, and writing with a focus on an area that I’m very passionate about. The Burnett Honors College is incredibly supportive and independent research is a great opportunity for students to showcase their work. The program helps develop critical skills to graduate/professional schools and the workplace: independence, intellectual curiosity, and communication. Students from all majors would benefit from undergraduate research and I highly recommend it.
~William Butler
~Major: Psychology (Pre-Medicine)
~Thesis Title and Chair: Physical Health Outcomes of the Stigmatizer, Directed by Mustapha Mouloua