Students must complete a "capstone" course before graduation. Reach out to your advisor if you'd like to discuss these options.
There are two primary flavors of capstone courses: PSY4950 and PSY4960. Students need one course (3 cr) to meet this requirement. There is one other option: HONR4900 (for honors students completing a capstone) also meets the department's capstone requirement.
Fall 2026 Capstones
In Person
- PSY4960-002: Forensic Psychology, taught by Melissa Tehee, will examine how psychological science is applied within legal and criminal justice systems, exploring topics such as criminal behavior, psychological assessment, expert testimony, other roles working with attorneys, and the roles of mental health professionals in forensic settings. Through discussion‑based and applied learning, students will develop transferable analytical and critical thinking skills relevant to careers in psychology, law, criminal justice, social services, or any field that involves understanding behavior within legal and policy contexts.
- PSY4960-001: Sensation & Perception will be a seminar offered by Dr. Cat Buhusi. This course will provide an introduction to sensation and perception from cognitive and neurocognitive perspectives. Sensory processes influence how one senses the world, and how the brain interprets these sensations. By the end of the semester, students will be able to apply this knowledge to a large range of applications including music, sports, learning, memory, attention, and clinical applications.
Broadcast
- PSY4960-MB1: Positive Psychology will be a seminar offered by Dr. Christopher Johnson. Historically, much of psychology has focused on treating pathology and understanding maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. In contrast, positive psychology uses scientific methods to assess, understand, and build human strengths and virtues. Positive psychology examines how and why people, groups, and institutions flourish, cultivate fulfilling lives, foster authentic happiness, and are able to live "The Good Life." This seminar places special emphasis on the application of positive psychology research to promote optimal health and well-being; thus, students explore the topic in depth and engage in opportunities to cultivate firsthand experience applying course material.
Online
- PSY4960-iO1: Introduction to Counseling will be offered by Dr. Heath Earl. This online seminar will provide an overview of concepts and skills used in counseling and focus on the application and practice of those skills. By the end of the semester, students be able to connect these skills directly to their professional goals.
Spring 2027 Capstones
Currently, four options are planned for PSY4960 for the spring 2027 term (these may change).
In Person
- PSY4960-003: Forensic Psychology, taught by Melissa Tehee, will examine how psychological science is applied within legal and criminal justice systems, exploring topics such as criminal behavior, psychological assessment, expert testimony, other roles working with attorneys, and the roles of mental health professionals in forensic settings. Through discussion‑based and applied learning, students will develop transferable analytical and critical thinking skills relevant to careers in psychology, law, criminal justice, social services, or any field that involves understanding behavior within legal and policy contexts.
- PSY4960-002: Cognitive Neuroscience will be a seminar offered by Dr. Christopher Warren. This seminar will give an overview of the sub-discipline of neuroscience that focuses on linking human behavior to neural activity via brain imaging. In addition to covering standard cognitive neuroscience topics such as attention and decision making, we will have six classes devoted to research techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography. The course also involves students giving two oral presentations on published cognitive neuroscience papers.
Broadcast
- PSY4960-MB1: Positive Psychology will be a seminar offered by Dr. Christopher Johnson. Historically, much of psychology has focused on treating pathology and understanding maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. In contrast, positive psychology uses scientific methods to assess, understand, and build human strengths and virtues. Positive psychology examines how and why people, groups, and institutions flourish, cultivate fulfilling lives, foster authentic happiness, and are able to live "The Good Life." This seminar places special emphasis on the application of positive psychology research to promote optimal health and well-being; thus, students explore the topic in depth and engage in opportunities to cultivate firsthand experience applying course material.
Online
- PSY4960-iO1: Introduction to Counseling will be offered by Dr. Heath Earl. This online seminar will provide an overview of concepts and skills used in counseling and focus on the application and practice of those skills. By the end of the semester, students be able to connect these skills directly to their professional goals.
PSY4950: Undergraduate Apprenticeship
- PSY4950 will also be offered in the spring as a capstone option. In PSY4950, students:
- Volunteer for 110 supervised hours
- Write weekly reflections and submit hours
- Produce a Thematic Term Paper (literature review) on a topic related to volunteer experiences: 20 pages, 20 references, across four phases (idea, sources, draft, final)
- Record a five-minute video, a final reflection, that ties together volunteer experiences and term paper