Psi Chi at Central

Psi Chi (pronounced "sigh" "kigh") is the International Honors Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 to advance the science of psychology and encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in the field. There are a number of benefits to Psi Chi membership, including awards, scholarships, grants, and publication opportunities.

Our Central chapter is active in the University and local community:

• We publish a near-monthly newsletter (Central Psychology News) to keep everyone informed about psychological science and the events occurring within the Psychological Science Department.
• We organize and facilitate panels to help student learn about amazing opportunities at Central and beyond (study abroad, internships, and research)
• We interview professors and students in our department and post podcasts so students can get to know them.
• We organize student-led speaker series about undergraduate and graduate research.
• We volunteer at the Friendship Center in New Britain.
• We organize fundraisers to support student travel to professional conferences.

Since 2009, our chapter members have won over $16,900 in scholarships, grants, and awards from Psi Chi. In 2018, Central Psi Chi members received an unprecedented 6 research awards at the Eastern Psychological Association's annual conference! And in 2017, our chapter was honored with the Ruth Hubbard Cousins award, for the most Outstanding Chapter within the organization -- that's over 1100 chapters around the world!!!

To be eligible for Psi Chi as an undergraduate at Central, you must:

• Have at least second-semester sophomore status (i.e., have at least 45 credits completed, not just in progress);
• Have completed at least 9 credits in Psychological Science (from Central);
• Have earned at least a 3.5 GPA in Psychological Science courses (from Central);
• Have earned the following overall cumulative GPA based on your current credit status:
  • Second-Semester Sophomores: 3.08
  • Juniors: 3.14
  • Seniors+: 3.27
• Have earned at least a B in Research Methods I (PSY 301) OR an average of a B in Research Methods I & II (PSY301/302). (This means that you must have taken and received a grade in PSY221 and/or PSY222 to be eligible to apply.)

If you are an undergraduate transfer student, you must have completed the equivalent of 1 full semester of study (i.e., 12 credit hours) at Central and earned at least 9 credits in Psychology at Central and have completed PSY221. Your cumulative GPA and your Psychological Science GPA is based solely on your record at Central.

To be eligible for Psi Chi as a Master's student at Central, you must:

• Have earned at least a 3.5 GPA in Psychological Science courses from Central;
• Have earned at least a 3.0 GPA overall; and
• Have earned at least a B in Research Design and Analysis I (PSY 596) OR in Research Design and Analysis I & II (PSY596/597). (This means that you must have taken and received a grade in PSY596 and/or PSY597 to be eligible to apply.)

If you were inducted into Psi Chi at a different institution, you are welcome to transfer your affiliation to Central. This is not necessary to be recognized as a Psi Chi member here at Central. If you want to transfer affiliation, please drop me an e-mail with your Psi Chi number and chapter of induction.

Please note that our admission requirements meet the standards set by Psi Chi National Office AND include special requirements as written in the by-laws of our Psi Chi chapter, which are voted on by Psi Chi members and endorsed by the Department of Psychological Science.

If you meet these requirements and want to become a member, please:

Contact Dr. Amanda Marin-Chollom at amarin-chollom@ccsu.edu to verify your eligibility. Please include your most recent Central Degree Evaluation in your email.

Once your eligibility is verified, links to complete the Psi Chi application and pay the one-time LIFETIME membership fee of $60 ($55 Lifetime Member fee plus $5 processing fee)will be sent to you.

Applications will be processed three times a year on June 30, October 15, and February 15. The induction ceremony is held during Honors Night, typically the first Friday in May.