Support for Student Research

Students who engage in research with a faculty member often can get course credit for their participation. For a list of research assistant positions available, see current postings under Research Assistant Opportunities for Students as well as the Psychology Faculty Directory for a list of professors and their research interests. There are also a number of programs that help support students as they engage in research (described below)!

Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (SSURI)

Work with a Social Sciences faculty member on their research! The Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (SSURI) is designed to engage sophomore and junior SSU students in the "research life" of the university. The program offers financial support for students and faculty to work together on a shared research project. Learn more about current research projects and how to apply to join SSURI through the Student Information page.

Godolphin Mini-Grant for Undergraduate Researchers

The Godolphin Mini-Grant supports undergraduate student researchers who are working with a Psychology faculty mentor and engaging in empirical research. This mini-grant is generously supported by Debra H. Weiner, a SSU alum (class of 1977) who wanted to celebrate Professor Godolphin's development of students' research design and quantitative data analysis skills.

McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program prepares undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. At SSU, the program helps 27 undergraduate students per year prepare for and get accepted into graduate school. The McNair Program is designed to support and champion underrepresented and minoritized students in their pursuit of doctoral studies. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need and/or members of groups that are traditionally minoritized in graduate education.

ORSP Student Research Awards

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) offers Student Research Awards that can be used towards research supplies and/or travel related to the research project. These awards are intended to support both undergraduate and graduate student research across all academic disciplines at SSU. The funds are made possible through contributions from private donors. For questions about ORSP's Student Research Award, please contact ORSP.

Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts Travel Award

The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts provides awards to support conference registration and travel costs for students whose projects were accepted for presentation at a regional or national conference.

Deadline: The deadline to apply is typically at the end of September for Fall semester and typically at the end of February for Spring semester.

Application Process: Students will receive an email from HSSA with the survey link and more instructions by the first week of September. The application form will ask you to include a copy of the conference abstract that was accepted for presentation. Note that students need a signature from a Faculty Sponsor (who is typically your research mentor).

Presenting Your Project on Campus

Students who have conducted research are encouraged to present their findings at local and national conferences.

Presentation Opportunities at Sonoma State University

SSU's Week of Research and Creativity
Social Action Student Symposium (SASSy). SASSy showcases research conducted by students in the School of Social Sciences and is held in conjunction with Social Justice Week.

Presenting Outside of Sonoma State University

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs offers a list of other conferences and research opportunities beyond SSU, including:

The CSU Student Research Competition. The Annual California State University Student Research Competition is a system-wide competition that showcases excellent research conducted by CSU undergraduate and graduate students in the full range of academic programs offered by the CSU. Undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled at any CSU campus as well as alumni/alumnae who received their degrees in Spring, Summer, or Fall of the current academic year are eligible. Sonoma State students that are interested in applying to participate in the CSU Student Research Competition will need to apply using SSU's InfoReady portal.
The CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Program. The California Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to increase diversity within the pool of university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of students in the CSU.

Other Support / Resources

Academic Course Credit for Research Assistantships

Students who are currently working as Research Assistants (RAs) can receive course credit (Psy 481). Please contact the faculty member with whom you are conducting research for details about Psy 481, the registration requirements, and the necessary forms/contracts to be completed prior to the registration period. RAs must work a minimum of 45 hours within a semester to receive credit.

Elective Courses regarding Research and Writing

SSCI 299 - Sophomore Seminar: How to Think Like a Social Scientist

MATH 265 - Intermediate Applied Statistics with SPSS

Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) courses - See LARC website for list of WIC courses