Research Credit & Course Applications

To learn more about getting involved in research, visit the Research page. 

To find a Psychology faculty sponsor for Directed Reading or Field Practicum courses, use these helpful resources:

• Psychology Research Laboratories: On this website you will see a list of Psychology Labs by area of psychology.

• Faculty Research Interests: This website will allow you to search for faculty who are doing research with your topic of interest. If a list of faculty appears after your search, check their research and teaching interests description on their profile. Contact the faculty if you want to know more about their research project or want to ask for opportunities to work in their lab.

There must be a faculty member affiliated with Psychology involved in your project/research for you to be able to receive credit through the Psychology Department. If your primary mentor/sponsor is not affiliated with the Psychology Department, you will need to find a co-mentor/co-sponsor within Psychology. Your co-mentor/co-sponsor should be someone with experience with the topic you are planning to research, and should verify that your project is Psychology-related. The Psychology faculty member would be responsible for entering your electronic course permission request (if applicable), entering your grade, and answering Psych-specific questions (ex. APA formatting, etc.). You should coordinate with your primary mentor/sponsor and your co-mentor/co-sponsor to make sure you are all aware of the work to be submitted, how you will be graded, and how you will keep in touch to review your progress. To find a co-mentor/co-sponsor, use the resources posted above under "How to find a Research Mentor of Faculty Sponsor."

Some independent study courses (typically Psych 420/421, Psych 422/423, and the seniors/honors thesis courses), require a timeline and mentorship plan as part of the proposal.  In some cases, a more detailed mentoring plan, secondary mentor, and/or other proposal modifications may be required before approval.   Reasons may include an incomplete or unclear application, prior mentorship issues, scope, feasibility or ethical concerns, or other factors that may cause difficulties in successfully completing the project to an appropriate standard.  The SAA staff and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies will work with the student and potential mentor(s) to resolve these concerns.  If they are not able to reach a resolution the student and potential mentor(s) may submit a written appeal to the SAA committee at least one week prior to their monthly meeting, and may also attend part of that meeting to answer questions. The Associate Chair may participate in the discussion, but will recuse themselves from the vote.  If the student wants the undergraduate or graduate student members of the committee to be included in the appeal consideration, they should indicate this in their written appeal.  

During a full term (Fall, Winter, or Spring/Summer semesters), this averages to at least 3 hours working on the project/research each week for each credit hour (i.e. 3 credits = 9 hours a week and 4 credits = 12 hours a week). For Spring or Summer half-terms, this averages to at least 6 hours of work per week for each credit hour.

It is up to your mentor/lab to keep track of your hours and make sure you are fulfilling this requirement. You may work more hours some weeks and fewer others, as long as it balances out. Another way to view this requirement is that you must complete 45 hours over the course of the semester per credit earned, regardless of whether it is a full or half-term.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

DESCRIPTION: For adequately prepared students doing their own independent reading focused on an area of psychology that can be explored through academic literature. Course content, assignments, meeting times and grade requirements are arranged with a Psychology faculty member.

KEY DIFFERENCE: Psych 420 = Natural Science topics (BCN); Psych 421 = Social Science topics (Psych)

CREDITS AND FINAL PAPER: You are required to submit an APA-style paper to your faculty mentor, as well as to the Psychology SAA office (psych.saa@umich.edu), on or by the last day of classes for the semester. Your paper must be at least 5-7 pages long per credit in which you enroll (i.e. 3 credits = 15-21 pages). Page count may include cover sheet, references, appendices, etc. May be repeated for up to 6 credits.

GRADE: This course is letter-graded. The grade will not be posted until the paper has been submitted to the Psychology SAA office.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS: Psych 420 fulfills an upper-level elective for Psych majors and an advanced course for BCN majors. Psych 421 fulfills an upper-level elective for Psych majors and does not fulfill any requirements for BCN. Psych 420/421 cannot be your only 400-level elective/advanced course.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (1-2 pages):

1. Description of the project and its purpose.
2. Sample reading list (doesn’t have to be comprehensive, but should include relevant readings).
3. Description of the final paper.
4. Summary of the timeline for the project with deadlines.
5. How often, when and where the student will meet with the faculty member.

420/421 Proposal Examples

DEADLINE: To avoid the late-add process, all applications should be submitted at least one week prior to the regular add/drop deadline. However, applications are accepted at any time.

FACULTY APPROVAL: You must have approval from a Psychology faculty member PRIOR to applying. You will be asked to indicate your faculty advisor/sponsor on the application, and they will be sent a copy of your application for review. It is important you discuss this opportunity with them before you submit your application. You should collaborate with your Psychology faculty advisor/sponsor to discuss credit, hours, and expectations; and to write your proposal, which must be attached to your application.

REVIEW PROCESS: Applications are reviewed first by the student’s faculty advisor/sponsor, then by a Psychology Advisor. Students will be notified of a decision via email. If approved, you will also be sent another email with permission to register. You are not automatically enrolled and must register after you receive the email.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

PSYCH 200 Independent Study in Psychological Issues (1-4 credits, letter graded)

This course allows a student to focus on a Psychological Issue of personal interest, under the supervision of a Psychology faculty member. Completion of an introductory psychology course or a first year seminar is recommended. This course will not count toward elective credits for the Psychology or BCN majors. This course cannot be used to fulfill the lab requirement for the Psychology and BCN majors. This course may be taken for a maximum of 4 credits. Letter graded (A-E).

How to Register for Psych 200: Once you have found a faculty member to work with, the faculty member will need to enter a permission for you to enroll in their section of Psych 200. Once the permission is processed, you will receive an email indicating that you are eligible to register in Wolverine Access. You will choose your credit hours when registering. 

PSYCH 322 Faculty-Directed Research in Psychology (1-4 credits, C/NC)

This course offers an opportunity to apply academic knowledge within the context of a psychological research setting. It is intended to be an introductory experience within a psychology research lab. Completion of an introductory psychology course and at least sophomore standing are recommended. Psych 322 & 326 may be repeated for a combined maximum of 30 credits. Students should contact a Psychology Advisor to determine if these courses will work in their major plan. LS&A Experiential. This course is mandatory graded Credit/No Credit and while the course can fulfill the research/experiential lab requirements for the Psych or BCN major, they do not count towards a student's overall 32 credits.

How to Register for Psych 322: Once you have found a faculty member to do research with, the faculty member will need to enter a permission for you to enroll in their section of Psych 322. Once the permission is processed, you will receive an email indicating that you are eligible to register in Wolverine Access. You will choose your credit hours when registering.

PSYCH 326 Faculty Directed Early Research for Psychology (1-4 credits, letter graded)

The student works with the instructor on various aspects of psychological research, completes readings, collects and analyzes data, and may produce a written report (as directed by the instructor). Psych 322 & 326 may be repeated for a combined maximum of 30 credits. Can fulfill the research/experiential lab requirements for the Psych or BCN major; students should contact a Psychology Advisor or consult their major worksheet. LS&A Independent. Letter graded (A-E).

How to Register for Psych 326: Once you have found a faculty member to do research with, the faculty member will need to enter a permission for you to enroll in their section of Psych 326. Once the permission is processed, you will receive an email indicating that you are eligible to register in Wolverine Access. You will choose your credit hours when registering. 

Psych 331 is a labor-intensive 4-credit course, in which undergraduates work closely with a Psychology lab for 9 hours/week on one project. During that time, students will gain a thorough understanding of laboratory research, project design and analysis, and the logic behind why the current project is being conducted (both with respect to the lab's general goals as well as the gap in the literature the project is designed to fill). The students will engage in writing assignments throughout the semester, and the course will culminate in the student's production of a literature review and scientific poster based on their research project.

The purpose of this 4-credit course is three-fold:

• Provide students with opportunities to gain hands-on laboratory experience by assisting a faculty member (or other mentor) in the Psychology department with their ongoing research.
• Introduce students to selected general methods and techniques used in Psychology; and to provide practical knowledge about research purpose and design, experimental analysis, and the use of humans and animals in research.
• Provide students with the practical skills necessary for communicating research to the scientific and general community through a variety of different types of writing and oral presentations.

Course Requirements: Psych 331 fulfills the Upper Level Writing Requirement (ULWR). As a ULWR-approved course, writing assignments will be peer-reviewed and edited, and/or edited by the course instructor, with the opportunity to rewrite sections prior to submission for grading. Goals for students in ULWR courses include: organizing thoughts into writing, using clear and concise language, analyzing information effectively, incorporating appropriate evidence into writing, and understanding central concepts and approaches of the chosen major or discipline.

Application process: Admission to Psych 331 is by application only and requires permission from an approved lab. Labs will accept students on a rolling basis. Applications should be submitted during the period after the backpack opens (November for Winter registration; March for Fall registration), but before the semester begins. Once you submit this application, the faculty you indicated on the application will receive a copy of your responses via email. They may set up an appointment for an interview. If you are accepted, you will receive an override request for you to enroll in Psych 331. If you don't hear anything from the lab within a week or so, you are encouraged to follow up with the faculty member directly.

Click here to find out which labs are accepting students. This spreadsheet will be updated for the next semester approximately 1-2 weeks before the backpack opens. If it says "TBD," check back for updates. 

Class format: Students will attend the Psych 331 lecture 2 hours/week and are expected to work 9 hours/week in a faculty member's lab.

PSYCH 331 APPLICATION

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

DESCRIPTION: For adequately prepared students doing their own independent research or assisting a faculty member in all aspects (design, data collection and data analysis) of a research project. Course content, assignments, meeting times and grade requirements are arranged with a Psychology faculty member. If the research extends beyond one semester, there must be a measurable sample of work submitted at the end of each semester.

KEY DIFFERENCE: Psych 423 fulfills ULWR, while Psych 422 does not.

MANDATORY RCRS TRAINING: All students engaged in research are required to complete Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (RCRS) training described towards the top of this page.

CREDITS AND FINAL PAPER: You are expected to complete 45 hours of research-related work for each credit you enroll in. You are required to submit an APA-style research paper to your faculty mentor, as well as to the Psychology SAA office (psych.saa@umich.edu), on or by the last day of classes for the semester. Paper must include all components: introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion and conclusion. Page count may include cover sheet, references, appendices, etc. Psych 422 requires 5-7 pages of writing per credit in which you enroll (i.e. 3 credits = 15-21 pages). Psych 423 must be taken for 3 or 4 credits and requires a 25+ page paper, as it fulfills ULWR. May be repeated for up to 6 credits.

GRADE: This course is letter-graded. The grade will not be posted until the paper has been submitted to the Psychology SAA office.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS: Fulfills Methods Lab or Experiential/Research lab for both Psych and BCN majors. Psych 423 also fulfills ULWR.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (1-2 pages):

1. Description of the research and its purpose.
2. Explanation of the student’s role in the lab and how they plan to integrate the data.
3. Description of the final paper.
4. Summary of the timeline for the project with deadlines.
5. How often, when and where the student will meet with the faculty member.

422/423 Proposal Examples

DEADLINE: To avoid the late-add process, all applications should be submitted at least one week prior to the regular add/drop deadline. However, applications are accepted at any time.

FACULTY APPROVAL: You must have approval from a Psychology faculty member PRIOR to applying. You will be asked to indicate your faculty advisor/sponsor on the application, and they will be sent a copy of your application for review. It is important you discuss this opportunity with them before you submit your application. You should collaborate with your Psychology faculty advisor/sponsor to discuss credit, hours, and expectations; and to write your proposal, which must be attached to your application.

REVIEW PROCESS: Applications are reviewed first by the student’s faculty advisor/sponsor, then by a Psychology Advisor. Students will be notified of a decision via email. If approved, you will also be sent another email with permission to register. You are not automatically enrolled and must register after you receive the email.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

See the "Virtual Info Session" button below.

The Honors sequence is a 2-semester commitment (the student's final 2 semesters). Students must have at least a 3.4 GPA and APPLY to the Psychology Honors program before permission will be granted to enroll in Psych 424. Visit the Prospective Honors Students page for more information.

PSYCH 424 Senior Honors Research I for Psychology (2-4 credits)

The primary focus of Senior Honors I is to begin research according to the plan set forth in the application. Students must arrange for a faculty sponsor, attend an Honors Program Informational Session and be accepted into the Psychology Honors Program before registering for these courses. Students will be expected to participate in two semesters of academic course work (conducting and analyzing research), submit a final thesis, as well as present their findings at the Annual Research Forum (poster presentation). Application forms are available on the Psychology Departmental website in the Prospective Student section of Honors. It is recommended that the student have already completed STATS 250, PSYCH 322 or 326 AND a Methods Lab and/or have extensive experience with research. May not be repeated for credit. Letter graded (A-E).

PSYCH 426 Senior Honors Research II for Psychology (2-4 credits)

The primary focus in Senior Honors II is the continued implementation of a student's honors research design culminating in the final acceptable honors thesis and poster preparation for the year-end poster session. Students should meet with the honors advisor to ensure that they are meeting all the concentration requirements. Students must have completed PSYCH 424 and be in good standing with the Psychology Honors Program maintaining a 3.4 overall GPA. May not be repeated for credit. Letter graded (A-E).

See the "Virtual Info Session" button below.

The Senior Thesis doesn't have a GPA requirement. Students with an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher should apply for the Honors thesis (see above). Students completing a Senior Thesis have the same expectations and requirements as Honors thesis students - the only difference is they don't have to have a 3.4 overall GPA, and do not earn Honors. Therefore, Senior Thesis applicants may find the information on the "Prospective Honors Students" website helpful, particularly the sections on "Preparing for the Program" and "Finding a Research Project/Mentor."

Overrides into Psych 428 can only be granted once a student completes the application and is accepted into the program. The senior thesis sequence is a 2-semester commitment (the student's final 2 semesters). 

PSYCH 428 Senior Thesis: Research in Psychology I (2-4 credits)

• May fulfill experiential lab rquirement for Psych majors
• May fulfill research lab reqiurement for BCN majors 

PSYCH 429 Senior Thesis: Research in Psychology II (2-4 credits)

• May fulfill methods lab OR experiential lab for Psych majors; meets ULWR
• May fulfill methods lab OR research lab for BCN majors; meets ULWR

The primary focus of the Senior Thesis is the development of a research plan in collaboration with a sponsoring faculty member. This will include the writing of an extensive literature review on the topic, culminating in an acceptable research proposal that is approved by both the faculty member and the Theis Program Director. Students will be expected to participate in two semesters of academic course work (conducting and analyzing research; attending approximately bi-weekly class meetings), submit a final thesis, as well as present their findings at the Annual Research Forum (poster presentation).

It is expected that the student have already completed STATS 250, PSYCH 322, 323, 326 or 327 AND PSYCH 422 or 423 and/or have extensive research experience. Students must indicate a second reader. These courses may count towards concentration credit but students will need to speak with a Psychology Department Advisor to make this assessment. LSA Independent. Letter graded (A-E). 

Application Process & Deadline