Honors Thesis

Congratulations! You’re thinking about a thesis in Psychology. For everything you ever needed to know about the process, we encourage you to examine our...
 

UNDERGRADUATE THESIS MANUAL [PDF]

 Last Updated January 2023
 

We strongly recommend opening the manual in a new tab and using CTRL+F to find information about specific topics. You can also quickly view the PDF below!

 

Have questions about the thesis? Ask Garth!

 
Garth Coombs, Ph.D., Preceptor in Psychology
Honors Thesis Program & Undergraduate Research Experience Advisor
 
Garth teaches the thesis tutorial courses for Psychology concentrators, PSY 985 and PSY 991. Enrolled Harvard undergraduates at any stage can meet with Garth if they are considering writing a thesis and would like more information about the thesis process, if a thesis fits with their goals, which faculty are eligible to supervise a thesis, or when and how to get started. It's never too early to start the conversation!
 
Email Garth at garthcoombs@fas.harvard.edu with any questions or to schedule an appointment!
 

IMAGE: Portrait of Class of 2023 Thesis Writers holding their Theses

Our Class of 2023 Thesis Writers

Past & Current Theses

Current Approved Thesis Proposals

2023-24 Approved Thesis Proposals

2024-25 Approved Thesis Proposals

Lists of Past Theses


Class of 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013 / 2012
2011 / 2010 / 2009/ 2008 / 2007 / 2006 / 2005 / 2004 / 2003 / 2002
2001 (PDF)/ 2000 (PDF) / 1999 (PDF)

List of Prize-Winning Theses, 2001 - Present


Reading Sample Theses


As you prepare for your thesis, you might want to get a sense of what you can accomplish in your finished product. Reading past theses can show you the scope and nature of well-done undergraduate projects. Because theses in different areas of psychology often look quite different, it will help you to examine several in the same general area you plan to conduct your research in.

The Psychology Undergraduate Office has hard copies of several prize-winning theses from the past five years that you may sign out to see what the best undergraduate work looks like. Above, you can browse the titles of past undergraduate theses to give you an idea of the topics of theses students typically write.

Only hard copies of recent prize-winning theses are currently available.

Please note: Recent theses stored in the Social Relations Library (which recently closed) are unavailable. Inquirers needing a thesis that is not listed in HOLLIS should contact the authors of theses directly to attempt to obtain a copy.
 

Thesis Deadlines by Graduation Year

2024 March Thesis Deadlines

Note: These are the official deadlines for students completing their thesis in Fall 2023. Whenever possible, we recommend that these students try to follow along with the May 2023 class by enrolling in junior thesis tutorial (PSY 985) in Spring 2022, and sitting in on the first semester of senior tutorial (PSY 991) in Fall 2022.

 

Aug. 25, 2022 PSY985 Enrollment Form Due to UGO by 4 PM. The form must be signed by an eligible faculty supervisor (electronic signatures are acceptable).
Oct. 21, 2022 Primary consideration deadline for thesis application due to UGO by 4 PM.*
Dec. 1, 2022 PSY 985 Grade Recommendation Forms & Junior Progress Report due to the UGO by 4 PM.
Feb. 3, 2023 Thesis prospectus due to UGO and committee by 4 PM.
Feb. 17, 2023 Thesis prospectus meeting must be completed; Prospectus Evaluation Form due to UGO by 4 PM.
Apr. 26, 2023 PSY 991A Grade Recommendation Forms & Senior Progress Reports due to UGO by 4 PM.
Oct. 19, 2023 Final Thesis due to the UGO by 4 PM.
Nov. 20 - Nov. 29, 2023 Thesis Defense / Poster Presentation Period.
Nov. 29, 2023 Thesis Defense Grade Sheet due to UGO by 4 PM.

*Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

2024 May Thesis Deadlines

Jan. 18, 2023 PSY985 Enrollment Form due to UGO by 4 PM. The form must be signed by an eligible faculty supervisor (electronic signatures are acceptable).
Mar. 10, 2023

Primary consideration deadline for thesis application due to UGO by 4 PM.*

Apr. 26, 2023 PSY 985 Grade Recommendation Forms & Junior Progress Report due to the UGO by 4 PM.
Sep. 22, 2023 Thesis prospectus due to UGO and committee by 4 PM.
Oct. 6, 2023

Thesis prospectus meeting must be completed; Prospectus Evaluation Form due to UGO by 4 PM.

Dec. 5, 2023

PSY 991A Grade Recommendation Forms & Senior Progress Reports due to UGO by 4 PM.

Mar. 7, 2024

Final Thesis due to the UGO by 4 PM.

Apr. 8 - 12, 2024 Thesis Defense / Poster Presentation Period.
Apr. 9, 2024

Thesis Poster Session / Honors Thesis Reception.

Apr. 12, 2024 Thesis Defense Grade Sheet due to UGO by 4 PM.

*Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

2025 March Thesis Deadlines

Note: These are the official deadlines for students completing their thesis in Fall 2024. Whenever possible, we recommend that these students try to follow along with the May 2024 class by enrolling in junior thesis tutorial (PSY 985) in Spring 2023, and sitting in on the first semester of senior tutorial (PSY 991) in Fall 2023.

 

Aug. 30, 2023 PSY985 Enrollment Form Due to UGO by 4 PM. The form must be signed by an eligible faculty supervisor (electronic signatures are acceptable).
Oct. 27, 2023 Primary consideration deadline for thesis application due to UGO by 4 PM.*
Dec. 5, 2023 PSY 985 Grade Recommendation Forms & Junior Progress Report due to the UGO by 4 PM.
Feb. 2, 2024 Thesis prospectus due to UGO and committee by 4 PM.
Feb. 16, 2024 Thesis prospectus meeting must be completed; Prospectus Evaluation Form due to UGO by 4 PM.
Apr. 24, 2024 PSY 991A Grade Recommendation Forms & Senior Progress Reports due to UGO by 4 PM.
Oct. 24, 2024 Final Thesis due to the UGO by 4 PM.
Nov. 25 - Dec. 4, 2024 Thesis Defense / Poster Presentation Period.
Dec. 4, 2024 Thesis Defense Grade Sheet due to UGO by 4 PM.

*Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

2025 May Thesis Deadlines

Nov. 14, 2023 Priority PSY985 Enrollment Form due to UGO by 4 PM. The form must be signed by an eligible faculty supervisor (electronic signatures are acceptable).
Jan. 29, 2024 Late PSY985 Enrollment deadline. The form must be signed by an eligible faculty supervisor (electronic signatures are acceptable).
Mar. 8, 2024

Primary consideration deadline for thesis application due to UGO by 4 PM.*

Apr. 24, 2024 PSY 985 Grade Recommendation Forms & Junior Progress Report due.
Sep. 20, 2024 Thesis prospectus due to UGO and committee by 4 PM.

Oct. 4, 2024

Thesis prospectus meeting must be completed; Prospectus Evaluation Form due to UGO by 4 PM.

Dec. 4, 2024

PSY 991A Grade Recommendation Forms & Senior Progress Reports due to UGO by 4 PM.

Mar. 13, 2025

Final Thesis due to the UGO by 4 PM.

Apr. 14 - 18, 2025 Thesis Defense Period.
Apr. 15, 2025 Thesis Showcase and Honors Thesis Reception
Apr. 18, 2025

Thesis Defense Grade Sheet due to UGO by 4 PM.

*Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis.