Research Experience in Clinical Psychology: Psychopathology (year-long course)

This course will provide an intensive, rewarding, and fun research experience in one of several areas of clinical psychology such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, psychological assessment, pet-assisted therapy, and cognitive behavioral interventions for irritable bowel syndrome.  Offering more support and structure than the typical independent study, this course will still allow you to make a serious and original contribution to the field.  Every project is based on original research, not just carried out with existing data sets.  Students feel ownership of their projects and are invested in every stage, from initial design and IRB approval, through data collection, to analysis and write up.  Statistical methods that are covered depend somewhat on the nature of the project, but typically include using SPSS to examine correlations, dependent and/or independent t-tests, ANOVA and ANCOVA, factor analysis, inter-rater reliability, multiple regression and tests of clinical significance.  Over the years, students in this course have presented their work at professional conferences and even merited co-authorship of articles in professional journals.  By the time the course is done, you will know whether a career in clinical psychology is for you, and you will be very well prepared to pursue graduate study in a number of related fields.  By instructor permission only.  Pre-requisite: PSYC162.

Junior and Senior psychology majors only.  E-mail application essay to mhunt@psych.upenn.edu including any relevant volunteer or paid work experience, the courses you have taken in psychology (including grades received), and an explanation of why you are interested in the course and how you see it informing your future career choices.  Course is available in the fall of 2012. Requires a full year (two semester) commitment.