The Honors Program in Psychology consists of a Psychology Honors Seminar, psychology courses, and an individualized directed-research project. The program is open to foreign students majoring in psychology, as well as psychology majors at the University of Haifa.  Participation in the seminar is mandatory for Honors Program students, while the additional classes and individualized project are optional.

In the Psychology Honors seminar students will read papers that cover a broad range of research questions in psychology as applied to the special context of Israel.  Examples include child rearing on the kibbutz, intergenerational transmission of the Holocaust trauma, and adjustment of adolescents to the military. Through the seminar students will deepen their understanding of select issues in psychological research as well as important aspects of the Israeli society.  Students will also be required to select a topic that links psychological research to Israel and present a paper in class.  This seminar is the centerpiece of  the Honors Program in Psychology and only Honors Psychology students can participate.  This seminar is worth four credits.

The individualized project allows students to participate in guided reading or guided research projects in an area of interest to them under the supervision of University of Haifa faculty both from the Department of Psychology and from other university departments (e.g., Education and Social Work).  In the context of this course students can design their own research projects or work with faculty on an existing project.  They can also select a topic of interest to them and become involved in a guided reading project.  In both cases a final paper that summarizes the students' work is required. Because the independent study options involve greater commitment both on the part of the student and the faculty advisor, only a select number of students may qualify for this option.   The independent project is worth four credits. Students in the International School may enroll in one Directed Research/Reading, Fieldwork or Internship per semester.

In addition, the International School offers one or two psychology courses each semester.  Honors Program students are encouraged, though not required, to participate in these courses.  These additional psychology courses vary each semester.

Admission to the Honors Program in Psychology is selective, and students will be admitted on the basis of prior academic achievement. To be admitted to the program, students must have a 3.2 grade point average or the equivalent and have taken psychology courses beyond the introductory level. To apply to the Honors program, please complete a regular application for admission, as well as the supplemental form for the Honors Program in Psychology.