Student Research and Other Opportunities
Senior Research Project
All psychology majors complete a senior research project in which they design their own psychological experiment, test participants, analyze the data, prepare a scientific paper, and make an oral presentation of the results. Many of our majors present their research at professional conferences or publish it in psychology journals. For example, each year we take a group of students to the Southeastern Psychological Association conference where they present posters--and often win awards--in the undergraduate research forum.
Research Participation
Throughout your time in the psychology major, you will participate in various psychological research projects conducted by senior project students and faculty research labs. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the research process, to get ideas for your own research projects, and to help senior project students collect data. The department uses an online research participation system called SONA. You can create an account, sign up for studies, participate in online studies, and manage your credits. Some classes require participation and others use it for extra credit opportunities. The participant manual contains all of the information you need to know about creating an account and signing up for studies. Feel free to email the SONA administrator with any questions.
SURE Grants and Other Summer Research Opportunities
Students also have the opportunity to apply for a Stetson Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) grant and are encouraged to apply for other summer research opportunities such as Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). The SURE grant provides funding for equipment, room and board, travel and other expenses for students to work with a faculty mentor on a summer research project proposed by the student. REU is funded by National Science Foundation and provides similar funding. Julia Ramos DeCarmago is a summer 2026 REU recipient. Read more about her research experience at Johns Hopkins here.
Leonardo Giorgioni and Elena Edwards are 2026 Sure Grant recipients from the Psychology Department. Other Psychology Department recipients include Blair Durda, 2024, Andrea Mingo and Lauren Radesi, 2022; Julia Gray, 2020; Mackenzie Nalven, 2018 (Read more about Mackenzie's project here.) Jozefina Logu, Jennifer Mondelli, Steven Pilato, and Matthew Vanaman, 2016. SURE grant recipients
Internships
Stetson students are encouraged to explore a variety of service opportunities through the Office of Career Success. Psychology majors have the opportunity to include a supervised internship in up to eight credits of coursework. The internship experience can provide a significant step toward graduate work or direct entry into the job market.
Our students have interned with the Florida Department of Corrections, the Neighborhood Center, Camp Boggy Creek, Advent Health, Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare, the Central Florida Zoo, the Florida Autism Center, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and other organizations. On campus, our students have interned at the Brain Fitness Academy and Stetson Counseling Center. Read about Skyler Whitman's internship at SLED
Please contact Michele Camden for more information.
Certifications
Students have the opportunity to sign up for a free certification course in Mental Health First Aid, a certification provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. This certification and others are facilitated in partnership with Career Success.
Teaching and Research Apprenticeships
Teaching apprentices assist in an undergraduate course under the supervision of a faculty member. They may tutor students, lead discussion groups, hold review sessions for exams, and present short lessons in class. Research apprentices become part of a professor's lab and may be involved in all aspects of research from reviewing the literature to writing up the results for publication. Both teaching and research apprenticeship programs offer course credit.
The Psychology Alumni Mentors Program
The Psychology Alumni Mentors Program matches upper-level psychology majors with Stetson alumni who have graduated from the department are now established professionals in their field, and who are able and willing to provide our students with career guidance, advice and encouragement as they navigate the academic program and contemplate their professional futures. For more information, please contact Sarah Garcia, PhD.