Undergraduate Research

We encourage students to begin their experiences with research at an early stage in their education at USC. To this end, we suggest that students complete PSYC 100, PSYC 274, PSYC 314, and PSYC 316 as soon as possible. These courses serve as critical foundation for your development as a young scientist and are requirements for many of the research options available to you. Students will contact instructors using the research directory or other sources and are responsible for obtaining a placement. Once they find a placement, they fill out the contract and submit to academic advisor.

The proposal forms for PSYC 290x or PSYC 490x must be completed, submitted, reviewed, and approved by an undergraduate advisor before the student is given permission to register. The advisor will submit the proposal to the Chair for final approval. Students are responsible for registering for the class after the undergraduate advisor has given departmental permission (D-clearance).

PSYC 290x allows students to become involved in faculty-led research early in their studies. It is open to students in any major or year. The prerequisite is PSYC 100. The purpose is to develop specific research skills, knowledge in the area under investigation, and a clearer sense of long- term interests in research, academic programs, and career options. Students may enroll in 2 or 4 credits in one semester, continuing over multiple semesters, up to a maximum of 8 credits. Successive placements may be with the same or a different faculty advisor. Credits earned for 290x may be applied toward the lower division psychology elective requirement for majors or minors.

DOWNLOAD: PSYC 290x Description, Proposal Form and Submission Guidelines 

Proposal & pages 2/3 due by Friday of Week 2 of the semester. You can email it to PSYC Advisor Vivian Hsu-Tran (vhsu@usc.edu)

PSYC 490x allows students to conduct independent research under faculty direction. The prerequisites are PSYC 100, PSYC 274, and one additional psychology course. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also required. Generally, a student will contribute to their PSYC 490x faculty mentor’s lab on a voluntary basis or while completing PSYC 290x before enrolling in PSYC 490x with that faculty member. Some students will design and conduct their own studies while enrolled in PSYC 490x. Others will work fairly independently on an ongoing research project in the lab, or prepare a significant literature review under the faculty member’s direction.

Students may enroll in 2 – 4 credits of PSYC 490x in one semester, continuing over multiple semesters, up to a maximum of 8 credits. Note that credits earned through completion of PSYC 490x may not be applied toward the 400-level course requirement for the psychology major. However, PSYC 490x may be applied toward the required, additional psychology course, either upper or lower division, of at least 2.67 units (max 4 units).

PSYC 490x MUST BE TAKEN FOR A LETTER GRADE.

DOWNLOAD: PSYC 490x Description, Proposal Form and Submission Guidelines

Proposal & pages 2/3 due by Friday of Week 2 of the semester. You can email it to PSYC Advisor Vivian Hsu-Tran (vhsu@usc.edu)

Learn more about the Honors program here, or contact Dr. Richard John, richardj@usc.edu who can provide more information about the Honors program.

These programs provide stipends and research training during the summer or academic year. The psychology department’s undergraduate advisors or the professor where you are volunteering as a research assistant can help you.

There’s more to being a researcher than just collecting and analyzing data. There are broader university-wide resources to help undergraduates develop into researchers such as fellowships, funding and symmposia.

• If you have specific interests in an area of psychology, you may use our website to identify faculty who might serve as appropriate mentors. The psychology site contains a page on research, listing research interests and professors in the department who specialize in certain areas, as well as a handy guide of undergraduate research assistant opportunities. You will also find that the Psychology faculty are flexible and open to exploring different avenues for partnerships with students.