Directed Research
Directed Research (PSY 1903) is an opportunity for students to get involved with research under the supervision of a faculty member of the psychology department or certain other laboratories. This experience is particularly valuable for students interested in pursuing honors in psychology and/or graduate study in psychology.
Students must meet the following requirements before the start of Directed Research:
- Overall GPA 3.0 or higher
- 12 credits of psychology (including current term)
- STAT 0200 or STAT 1000 or STAT 1100 Statistics
- PSY 0035 Research Methods in Psychology
If you do not meet the requirements, your faculty supervisor may admit you by completing the specified Directed Research Prerequisite Waiver section on the learning agreement.
Credit Options
Students may take a maximum of 3 credits of PSY 1903 in one term and a maximum of 6 credits on any one research project. Students may use 3 credits of PSY 1903 to fulfill one of the psychology degree course requirements. Please talk to your advisor to determine which requirement this may fulfill in regard to your own degree progress. Credits are determined by the number of hours spent on the project over the term:
- 1 credit= 55 hours
- 2 credits= 85 hours
- 3 credits= 120 hours
Students must be registered for PSY 1903 during the semester in which the Directed Research hours are completed. Hours completed prior to the registered term will be considered volunteer hours and are not to be counted in hours completed for credit.
Steps to securing a PSY 1903 Directed REsearch position
- Review the listing of research projects under Current Opportunities and/or the psychology faculty research information on our website. Almost every opportunity is listed under the Current Opportunities link, however some psychology faculty members who don't have a formal listing will accept students on their projects. Don't be discouraged if you contact someone and don't hear back, or hear that their lab is full or that they aren't accepting students right now.
- Look for research that would help you explore or expand on your own areas of interest. Also, meet with your advisor to discuss possible lab opportunities that most closely align with your future goals.
- Make sure to thoroughly read the research description and requirements when narrowing down possible research interests. Many faculty members also have links to their websites offering more information about what they are currently researching.
- Once you have chosen a research project, contact the person listed, providing some basic information about yourself including a few key points about why their project is of interest to you or why you are inquiring about a possible opportunity in their lab. Don’t forget to include which semester you are contacting them in regard to a potential opportunity.
- Labs can work differently in their review process. Some faculty members invite students for interviews, while others may just contact you to talk briefly about your interests and potential fit for a PSY 1903 Directed Research opportunity. This is your chance to make a good impression and ask any questions you have about the lab and/or research.
- If you and the faculty researcher are interested in proceeding with enrollment in the PSY 1903 Directed Research program for a given term, you will need to complete a Learning Agreement. Be sure to fill out the entire form, make two copies (the Advising Office retains the original) and follow the directions in the first paragraph of the Learning Agreement. One copy of the learning agreement will be for your records, one for the site supervisor and the original will remain in the Psychology Advising Office. The permission code for self-enrollment will then be provided.
NOTE: All PSY 1903 opportunities require a completed Learning Agreement that must be processed in the Advising Office before the end of add/drop for the term. The Advising Office provides a permission number for you to use to self-enroll in PSY 1903. You must self-enroll using this number before the end of add/drop for the term in order to earn credit for your experience.
During the summer, all PSY 1903 opportunities are offered as a 12 week session course only and therefore, require enrollment by the published add/drop deadline. The four and six week sessions are not available for PSY 1903. If you do not enroll by the published 12-week session add/drop deadline, you will not be able to earn credit for you experience.