Psychology Honors and Distinction

The minimum criteria for Psychology Honors eligibility are: “B” or higher in all psychology courses, a minimum of a 3.5 GPA in psychology, and an “A-” or above in at least two 3000+ level courses. Following the completion of these requirements, Honors are awarded based on the full Psychology faculty’s evaluation of the intellectual quality of a student’s entire psychology program.

Distinction is awarded to graduating psychology majors who, although not meeting the requirements for Honors, have demonstrated outstanding performance in the classroom, in the laboratory, or in the field, or who have exhibited dramatic intellectual growth and development of scholarly sophistication during their time at Manhattanville. Distinction is awarded based on the recommendation of the full psychology faculty.

The Psychology program also gives out two awards to graduating psychology majors: Renee McKee award  and the Everett J. Delahanty Jr. Prize in Psychology.

Renee McKee award is given to a senior psychology major who demonstrates the qualities of Renee McKee, a psychology major at Manhattanville College 1964-1968 whose life was tragically cut short during her senior year at Manhattanville. Renee was a warm and caring person who was passionate about Psychology and wanted her friends and classmates to share her positive feelings for Psychology. She was intellectually bright, friendly, had a cheerful personality, and easily made friends with peers. In honor of her memory, students across the college raised money for a student award to be given to a graduating psychology major with similar qualities as Renee (bright, friendly, cheerful) who is likely to pursue further studies in, or a career related to, the field of psychology.

The Everett J. Delahanty Jr. Prize in Psychology is awarded to the senior psychology major who has achieved the highest cumulative psychology GPA, and, because the award is intended to recognize students who undertake challenging coursework, it is awarded to students who also included at least four courses at the 3000-level or higher. In addition to these criteria, awarding of this prize requires that the full Psychology faculty judge that the intellectual quality of a student’s entire psychology program and performance is superior. The full-time faculty of the Psychology program serve as the Prize Committee and the Prize Committee is responsible for determining the recipient of this prize. The Committee is not bound to make an award each year. The Committee can make more than one award if more than one student is deemed to qualify for this special prize.