| Undergraduate
Research
Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in research.
Research can be done as a volunteer, for credit hours, or for a
stipend. Please note that graduate schools are interested in your
research experience and do not emphasize whether you participated
as a volunteer, for credit hours, or for a stipend.
Although the information provided here is for Psyc 395, where course credit is
given for participation in research, some of the information (e.g., How do I
find a faculty mentor for Psyc 395) is useful for finding research opportunities
in general.
After reading this site, if you have further questions, please feel free to contact
Dr. Jeannie Loeb.
Why should I consider participating
in research?
Will participation in Psyc
395 be as a volunteer, for credit hours, or for a stipend?
How can I participate in Psyc
395?
How do I find a faculty mentor for Psyc
395?
When is a good time to participate
in Psyc 395?
What is required in a Psych 395 course?
What summer research
opportunities are available?
What funding opportunities are available for
undergraduate research?
What opportunities to present and/or publish research are available?
1. It can give you hands-on research experience that classroom courses
cannot, giving you an opportunity to see if you would like to pursue
a graduate degree.
2. It can give you a chance to explore different types of research
which is useful if you are trying to decide which field of Psychology
you would like to pursue in graduate school.
3. It can give you an opportunity to connect with a faculty member
or graduate student at a more intimate level. This can be advantageous
when seeking a letter of recommendation.
1. Psyc 395 gives credit hours for participation
in research.
A. Up to three credit hours of Psyc 395 may count
towards the BA or BS major as a Psychology elective
course.
B. A maximum of six Psyc 395 credit hours may be accumulated
while at UNC.
2. Remember that research experience is what is crucial
when applying to graduate schools, not whether it
is done as a volunteer, for credit hours, or for
a stipend. Thus, you can still be involved with research,
even if you do not enroll in Psyc 395.
1. You must meet the following requirements (no exceptions):
A. Minimum GPA of 2.5
B. Completion of Psyc 101 (Introductory Psychology)
C. Completion of two other Psychology courses (other than Psyc 101)
D.
We also recommend, but do not require, that
you complete Psyc 210 or Psyc 215 (Statistics) and
Psyc 270 (Research Methods)
2. Contact and ask a faculty
member if they would like to serve as your Psyc 395
mentor. Please see “How do I find a faculty
mentor for Psyc 395?” Expect this step to take time and effort. Also note that only Psychology faculty may be mentors for Psyc 395. Non-psychology faculty will need to find a Psychology faculty member willing to sponsor.
3.
Once you find a mentor, print out the Psyc
395 Application,
fill it out, obtain the course syllabus from your
mentor, and have your mentor sign the application.
4. The application
AND attached course syllabus should be turned in to Barbara
Atkins,
Student Services Manager (203 Davie Hall). Ms. Atkins will review the application and then submit the application to Jeannie Loeb for review. Please do not turn in applications directly to Jeannie Loeb.
5. APPLICATIONS ARE ALWAYS DUE BY 4 PM ON THE LAST
DAY TO ADD CLASSES. NO EXCEPTIONS. Also, you should NOT attempt
to register
online. Barbara Atkins will register you after your Psyc 395 Application
has been approved.
Expect this process to be very time-consuming. It might also be a good
idea to create a table listing faculty you are interested in working with, their
research interests, and their contact information.
There are several ways to find a Psyc 395 mentor:
1. Check Announcements for New Undergraduate
Research Opportunities to see advertised positions (coming soon!).
2. If you know what Psychology program
you are interested in, go to Graduate
Studies.
A. Click on the program you are interested in (i.e., Biological,
Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Quantitative, and Social);
B. Click on People, then Faculty, then Core Faculty;
C. Read about the faculty’s research interests, read some
of their publications, then contact faculty with whom you are interested
in working with.
3. Go to the Office of Undergraduate Research
A.
Click on Research Opportunities, then click on Browse Research
Opportunities;
B. Scroll down and choose which type of research you are interested
in (e.g., Psychology), then click Submit;
C. Read through the opportunities and contact faculty with whom you
are interested in working with.
4. Go to the first floor of Davie
Hall and check out the bulletin board for Undergraduate Research Opportunities.
A.
Note the fliers which advertise research which interests you;
B. Contact the coordinator of the study (based on flier information).
5. Also
be sure to read the Psychology Major’s e-newsletters
as there may be advertisements of research opportunities.
6. It is highly recommended that you ask the potential Psyc 395 mentor about the various duties that you will perform. Past students have been most satisfied when their duties have been varied, as opposed to focusing on only one type of duty ( e.g., coding data). It is a good idea to thoroughly check the syllabus the potential Psyc 395 mentor proposes, to be sure that you know what you are committing to.
1. Anytime after your freshman year is a good time to take
Psyc 395 (since you will have completed Psyc 395 pre-requisites
and
may have a better idea of the type of research you would like to
become involved with).
2. Those of you who are considering the Honors Program should
also consider taking Psyc 395 at least by your junior year. Doing
this will make finding an Honors mentor much more likely, as many
faculty are more willing to commit to being an Honors mentor if
they have already worked with the student.
1. Each Psyc 395 course is designed according to your agreement with
your faculty mentor but there are a few general requirements:
A. 9 hours of work per week is expected, if 3 credit hours are requested
B. Scholarly work, accumulating to at least 10 pages, is to be completed by the last day of classes. A final copy of the paper should be given to your mentor at this time, as well as uploaded onto the Psyc 395 Blackboard site.
1. Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowships gives funding
for independent undergraduate research, international research exchange opportunities,
and entrepreneurial research projects.
2. The Summer
Pre-Graduate Research Experience Program (SPGRE) is a 10-week research
opportunity
for underrepresented minority groups. The program includes
GRE preparatory sessions as well as an opportunity
to present research at a research conference (MURAP)
that occurs in July.
3. The Moore
Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP) is a research opportunity
for underrepresented
minority groups. This program also includes GRE preparatory
sessions and an opportunity to present research to
other faculty and students in the program.
1. Go to Research
Funding Opportunities on the Office of Undergraduate Research's
website,
choose Psychology, then click Submit.
Some particular
opportunities to note are:
A. Undergraduate Research
Support for Essential Supplies and Travel Support for students
pursuing own
research interests (up to $750). Student must submit
on-line application.
B. Summer Undergraduate Research
Fellowships offers up to $3,000 for 9 weeks of research
C. Undergraduate
Travel Awards for Presentation at National and International Meetings
offers typically
$500-$750 for airfare, registration, and limited hotel
coverage.
D. Research
Education Support Fund. Eligible minority students
may receive $1,600 per semester, travel allowance to attend conferences
and meetings,
and up to $125 per month for expendable supplies.
2.
Also see Programs
and Application Deadlines to see
a quick list of application deadlines
on the
Office of Undergraduate Research's website.
1. Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research
2. Research
in the Capital - an opportunity to present undergraduate research
to Senators and House Representatives. Offered bi-annually.
3. Undergraduate
Research Journals on
the Office of Undergraduate Research's website for
a listing of journals focusing on undergraduate research.
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