Honors in the Psychology Major

Psi Chi

A local chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society in Psychology, was initiated at Dominican in 1979.  To join, undergraduates must rank in the upper 35 percent of their class.  The registration fee pays for lifetime membership.  Quarterly National Psi Chi newsletters are available in the Psychology Department.

The Psi Chi National Office address:

Psi Chi
The National Honor Society in Psychology
825 Vine Street
P.O. Box 709
Chattanooga, TN 37401-0709
(423) 756-2044
e-mail: psichi@psichi.org
 

Membership Requirements

 The Registrar's Office notifies the Department of Psychology as to student's eligibility based on:
 

1. Completion of 12 units of coursework in psychology or 9 completed units with 3 units in progress at Dominican, plus an official declaration of psychology as a major or minor.
2. A 3.3 GPA in all psychology courses and an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 for units which credit has been given as transfer units).  Grades for courses transferred to Dominican are counted in calculating the GPA for Psi Chi membership.  (Note: If you do not wish to have grades from other colleges counted you may chose to apply for academic forgiveness.  Please see the Academic Forgiveness Policy in the catalogue.)

 
You must complete this process during the semester prior to the semester you are eligible for Psi Chi.
 
The Psychology Department then invites students into Psi Chi by letter.  If you have any questions regarding your eligibility please speak with the Registrar's office regarding their calculation of your G.P.A.
 
There is a one-time lifetime membership fee of $60, of which $35 required by the national office of Psi Chi; $10 is retained by the local chapter; and $15 purchases a "gold medal" which is worn with the cap and gown at commencement to signify membership in Psi Chi.
 

The annual initiation banquet, held each spring, has had as guest speakers nationally and internationally known psychologists including:

2006  Frank Sulloway, author of In Darwin's Footsteps
2005   Robert Grant, author of The Way of the Wound
2004   Stephen Krause, author of Psychological Foundations of Success
2003    Christina Maslach, author of The Truth about Burnout
2002   Robert Emmons, author of The Psychology of Gratitude. 
2001   Robert Cialdini, author of: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
2000   Carole Wade, author of:  Psychology in Perspective
1999   Elliot Aaronson, author of : The Social Animal
1998   Patricia Garfield, author of : The Dream Messenger
1997   Jean Shinoda Bolen, author of: The Goddess in Everywoman
1996   Roger Walsh, author of: Paths Beyond Ego
1995   Lenore Terr, author of: Unchained Memory: True stories of traumatic memories lost and found
1994   Jeremiah Abrams, author of:  Meeting of the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature
1993   James Bugental, author of: Psychotherapy and Process: The Fundamentals of an Existential-Humanistic Approach and Intimate Journeys
1992   Marti Horowitz, author of:  Adaption to Stress
1991   Bob Shukraft, Chair, Dominican Psychology Department, 1971-1976.
1990   Ram Dass, author of: How Can I Help Stories and Reflections Service
1989   Cynthia Sheldon, author of: Divided Consciousness.
1988   Ernest R. Hilgard, author of: What We Have Learned about Hypnosis
1987   Rollo May, author of: The Wounded Healer
1986   Joan B. Kelley, author of: Surviving the Breakup
1985   Joseph Weiss, author of: Unconscious Testing
1984   Lillian B. Rubin, author of: Intimate Strangers: Men and Women Together
1983   James Bugental, author of: Psychotherapy and Process: The Fundamentals of an Existential-Humanistic Approach and Intimate Journeys
1982   Judith Wallerstein, author of: Surviving the Breakup: How children and parents cope with Divorce
1981   Joan Erikson, author of: Our Vital Reserves, The Senses
1980   Karl Pribrum, author of: Languages of the Brain: Experimental Paradoxes and  Principles in Neuropsychology
 

Psi Chi Book Award

At the annual initiation banquet, the Psi Chi Book Award is presented to the student who has contributed most in the way of service to the department or to the field of psychology.  The student is nominated by departmental faculty and staff.

Psi Chi Alumni are invited to the annual  banquet.  In order to continue receiving invitations to the banquet once you have graduated, please update your address with the Alumni Office and the Psychology Department.
 
The Psi Chi Board of Directors consists of at least one representative from current undergraduate and graduate students and an alumni.  Psi Chi members who are interested in serving on the Board should contact the Dominican University Psi Chi Faculty Advisor, Dr. Gail Matthews.
 

Honors in the Major

Dominican recognizes students who demonstrate superior performance in their major.  Students will be granted Departmental Honors when the following criteria are fulfilled.
 

1. Minimum overall GPA of 3.6 in all upper division courses in the major: includes all courses taken in the major at Dominican; includes upper division courses in the major transferred to Dominican from other colleges; does not include pare-requisite or co-requisite courses to prepare for the major;
2. Minimum of half of the units in the major must be taken at Dominican;
3. Minimum of 18 upper division units must be graded; and
4. Senior project must be designated as a superior quality by thesis advisor (operationally defined in the Psychology Department as at least an A- in both Psy 4970 and Psy 4980).

 
Departmental honors are designated on the student's Dominican transcripts and are announced at the Hood Ceremony at graduation each spring.  Departmental honors are a separate category from the Honors Program and Honors at commencement