There are many research opportunities available to undergraduate students in the Department of Psychology. Research can be conducted on a volunteer basis, or students can earn academic credit for their research by registering for a course that includes an independent research component.
These courses provide students with valuable learning experiences that are quite different from those found in the typical classroom. In these courses, students typically read background literature in a specific area, learn methods and experimental techniques associated with that area, and assist in the collection, summary and analysis of data. In order to receive academic credit for their research activities, students must be registered for PSYC 392, 397, 490, 492, 493, 494, or 499. Registration in these courses requires the permission of the faculty member with whom the student will be working. Permission to conduct research as a part of these courses typically involves an application and an interview with the faculty member who is in charge of the laboratory. To take full advantage of such opportunities, the student should learn about the research being conducted in the department, find a research area that he or she finds interesting, and then contact faculty to determine what opportunities are available for a given semester. (Descriptions of each faculty member's research area can be found here.) Although students are strongly encouraged to enroll in one or more of these courses during their college career, formal course work is also an important component of an undergraduate education in Psychology. To assure that students have a well-rounded background in Psychology upon graduation, the following guidelines have been set with regard to the amount of independent research that can be applied to the Psychology major requirements:
Additionally, effective Fall 1999, Harpur College has placed an overall limit in the number of Independent Research courses which may count towards the 126 total credits required for graduation. These limits also affect internships, teaching practica (PSYC 391), and PENR classes. Limits on Independent Research courses are explained in the following table:
