The PSYC department offers several different kinds of independent research courses for credit. We offer full credit directed research course (PSYC 493), and half credit directed research course (PSYC 495). These courses are graded pass/fail.
First, you have to find a faculty member who is willing to supervise such a course for you. After that you must do two things. You must fill out the online tutorial enrollment survey here. Also you must add the course to your course sheet, being sure to request instructor permission. Note that some of the information you will need to complete the survey will require discussing the topic of your research and what you will do as a research assistant.
No. We do not offer a Directed Reading or Directed Research course during the summer. Therefore, one cannot get a credit for research done during the summer.
Unlike classes and other academic experiences, you usually need to do some work to seek out research opportunities. No matter what type of position you're looking for (course credit, summer, paid, volunteer, etc.), the process is basically the same. Your first step will be to figure out which professors are doing work that you find especially interesting. To help start this search at Yale, get to know what the professors in the Psychology department do and what research questions they're working on.
Our department does keep a website that lists some of the research opportunities available each semester (click here for a listed of posted ads). However, this list DOES NOT represent all the research opportunities available to you as a Yale student.
There are many, many undergraduate research opportunities available to you! Most psychology laboratories at Yale have opportunities for undergraduates to get involved. Some labs take on undergraduates during the academic year either for academic credit, for pay (through work-study program, etc.) or on a volunteer basis. Some labs will also hire undergraduate research assistants (RAs) full-time over the summer break.
Definitely! In fact, most of our psychology majors gain some psychological research experience during their time at Yale. It is never too early to start doing research. Many psychology labs accept students with varying backgrounds and levels of previous research experience. In fact, many labs encourage freshman and sophomores to apply for positions in the hope that these students will work in the lab for several semesters and possibly complete senior requirement in the lab.
