Psychology

Jonas Clark Hall, home of psychology at Clar

Research Opportunities in Psychology

There are 5 types of research opportunities in Psychology:

Read interviews with some of the undergraduates who have engaged in research and internships.

Research Courses

The Department offers the following Research courses. These courses meet the laboratory/research requirement.

  • 216    Research in Political Psychology (Curtin)
  • 218    Research in Learning and Culture (Correa)
  • 219    Research in Development and Culture (Jensen)
  • 220    Research in Family Violence (Hines)
  • 221    Research in Social Psychology (Laird)
  • 222    Research in Cognitive Development (Wiser)
  • 223    Research in Motivational and Emotional Development in
              Children, and Adolescents (Grolnick)
  • 224    Research on Identity Development (Bamberg)
  • 225    Research on Intergroup Conflict and Cooperation (Vollhardt)
  • 226    Research in Men's Mental Health (Addis)
  • 227    Research in Addictive Behaviors (Palm Reed)
  • 228    Research on Youth and Depression
  • 229    Research in the Development of Language (Budwig)
  • 230    Research in Cultural Psychology (Valsiner)
  • 231    Couples Research (Cordova)
  • 232    Research in Community (Cardemil)
  • 233    Research on Thinking in Societal Context (Falmagne)
  • 235    Research in Diverse Families (Goldberg)
  • 292    Capstone Research (Fulfills the Capstone requirement)
  • 297    Honors (Fulfills the Capstone requirement)

* The Psychology major research requirement can also be fulfilled by taking a Lab course (Psyc 200-214)

Honors in Psychology

The Psychology Honors Program is a two-semester sequence that begins in the fall semester of the senior year. Honors work in psychology is open to students who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement and the motivation and ability to work as scholars. Students in the program conduct an independent research project under the supervision of one or more faculty members. This research provides the basis for a thesis that, upon completion, is presented and defended by the student before an examining committee and the student's project advisor. Students considering graduate study in psychology or another related discipline are strongly encouraged to consider applying to the honors program.

Students must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher to be eligible to apply to the Honors program. In addition, all applicants must have identified on the application a specific faculty sponsor with whom they will be working during their senior. This faculty sponsor should submit a letter of support as part of the application, attesting to his/her willingness to mentor the student. Although students do not enroll in a junior honors seminar (as in prior years), please note that individual faculty mentors may require that their honors students register for a research course or directed study during the spring semester of the junior year. Students should communicate clearly with their faculty sponsors regarding expectations for prior research involvement.

Students can print the application for the 2013-14 Honors Program or pick one up in the Psychology Main Office (Jonas Clark 306). Please submit all materials to Kelly Boulay in the Main Office by October 26, 2012.

If you have any questions regarding the honors program or the application process, please contact Professor Esteban Cardemil (ecardemil@clarku.edu).

View a list of honors thesis titles for 2012.

Capstone Research

Students who have completed one research course can then meet the capstone requirement by signing up for a Capstone Research course (Psyc 292) with the same faculty member, or with another faculty member with permission.

Take a look at the faculty members' research interests. Contact individual professors if you are interested in conducting research on a credit or non-credit basis.

Additional Opportunities

On a volunteer basis, there are opportunities for conducting research with various faculty members on a non-credit basis. (See individual faculty members for opportunities.)

Academic Spree Day

There is opportunity for those students working on research with psychology professors to participate, on the faculty member's recommendation, in Academic Spree Day which is held in April.