PSY 4911-4914 and PSY 4920
Students in good academic standing can arrange with individual faculty
members to participate in supervised research projects. The nature of
the project is negotiated between each student and the specific faculty
member, and may include laboratory research, field research, library
research, etc. Participating in a DIS provides diverse training experiences
for those interested in careers in psychology or related fields. Importantly,
it also provides the opportunity for students to work hard in a more
individualized and independent setting than a classroom, which allows
students to earn strong letters of recommendation from faculty. Such
letters are necessary to be admitted to competitive graduate programs.
These opportunities also are useful in helping students secure good
jobs after graduation. To identify faculty members that may be doing
research in an area of interest to you, check out our faculty web site
listings or go to the Advising Office (204 Eppes) and ask for a
copy of the Psychology Handbook, which includes a listing of faculty
members' interests. Contact those faculty to see if they are interested
in supervising you in a DIS. Be sure to also look for notices outside
the Advising Office for faculty or their graduate students who are actively
seeking DIS students.
Administratively, faculty may either have you sign up for a DIS (PSY 4911-4914)
or a Supervised Research (PSY 4920). Generally, you sign up for
4920 if that faculty member also is signing up 4 or more other
students. Otherwise, the two courses are the same. If you sign
up for a 4920, the supervising faculty member will give you a
reference number so that you can register. For DIS, you will need
to complete a DIS form (you can download it on this site) or you can pick up a copy in
the main psychology office (209 Eppes). Please submit the form
to the main psychology office after you have completed it and
the faculty member has signed it. The main office staff will then
give you a reference number for registration.
Six (6) semester hours of DIS (or 4920) work can be counted toward
the psychology major (toward the elective requirements), and twelve
(12) semester hours can be counted toward graduation. Junior or Senior
standing is required for participation in DIS. To take more than one
DIS or 4920 in the same semester, you need the permission of both supervising
professors.
