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. APPLICATION DEADLINE is November 20, 2025 for Winter 2026 enrollment. Labs will review applications after the deadline and accept students week of December 8, 2025. Once you submit this application, the faculty you indicated on the application will receive a copy of your responses via email following the application deadline. 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.
Click here to find out which labs are accepting students. NOTE the Advisory Prerequisite information. This spreadsheet will be updated for the next semester approximately 1-2 weeks before the backpack opens.
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
APPLICATION DEADLINE is November 20, 2025 at 11:45pm. Students may submit the application twice, applying to no more than two labs.
