Research Experience

If you are a Kent Campus psychology major, take a look at the current list of research labs searching for undergraduate research assistants as well as the slides from our most recent Faculty Research Showcase.  Contact labs of interest for more information.  Each lab is very different and has a different application process.  Most labs are somewhat selective and require at least a 3.0 GPA.  Contact each lab of interest for more information.

• If you are a Regional Campus student, click here to contact your Academic Advising office at your Regional Campus to learn about possible research experiences they might have available.

• If you are a Bachelor of Science (BS) major experiencing difficulty getting accepted into a research lab and your GPA is below a 3.0, you might want to strongly consider switching to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program – click here for instructions.  BA majors can still complete research experience, it is just not a formal degree requirement (i.e., “Application of Psychological Science Area” on one’s roadmap/GPS) like it is for BS majors.

Once accepted into a lab, e-mail the faculty member/lab coordinator associated with your lab if you are seeking to complete your research experience for course credit as either Undergraduate Research (PSYC 31498 – graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading scale) or Individual Investigation (PSYC 41498 – graded using a traditional letter grade, A-F, scale).  Every credit hour of PSYC 31498/41498 requires a minimum 45 hour commitment in one’s lab throughout the semester (e.g., approximately 3-4 hours per week during a Fall/Spring semester).

• Important: In most cases, Bachelor of Science (BS) majors must complete at least 3-6 credits (depending on one's Catalog Year requirements) of PSYC 31498/41498 in addition to Research Writing in Psychology (PSYC 41980; or PSYC 41990) to fulfill their “Application of Psychological Science Area” degree requirement before they can graduate with a BS degree.

• Important: For the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, Advanced Research Methods (PSYC 42574) can count as 3 credits towards one's “Application of Psychological Science Area” degree requirement category, but students generally must complete their remaining credits (if applicable, depending on one's Catalog Year) in this category by completing research or individual investigation in a faculty member's lab (PSYC 31498/41498) along with Research Writing in Psychology (PSYC 41980) or by completing one of our highly competitive and research-focused Lab Experience courses (PSYC 41573/41574) – which have several pre-requisites (including a 3.2 GPA) and instructor approval.  If you are a BS major needing additional credits in this category and do not feel this is possible, you should strongly consider switching your major to the Bachelor of Arts degree – click here for instructions.

If seeking to complete your research experience for course credit (PSYC 31498/41498), complete this Permission to Register Form and arrange a time for your faculty supervisor to sign the form.  Return your signed form to the Main Office (Kent Hall 144) once finished.  The secretary will then enroll you in the appropriate section of PSYC 31498/41498 for the number of credit hours indicated on your application.

• Important: Students conducting research where they come in contact with animals must contact our department’s animal technician, Laure Farnbauch (lfarnbau@kent.edu), in Kent Hall 235 for information on a preliminary health check.  She must initial this form before you turn in the completed copy.