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Undergraduate Apprenticeships

About Apprenticeship

The Psychology Apprenticeship Program immerses students in the professional world of psychological research and practice. Through a two-course sequence, this program aims to:

  1. Provide hands-on experience in applying scientific methods to behavioral research in faculty-led laboratories and applied settings.

  2. Develop students’ skills in presenting and disseminating psychological findings and applications.

  3. Engage students in faculty-mentored experiences that span both research and applied psychology initiatives.

As integral members of active research laboratories or professional practices, Psychology Apprentices contribute to the production of professional-quality research, services, and writing. The program fosters the development of critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and essential professional skills.

Apprentices are expected to:

  1. Function as full team members, treating colleagues with professionalism and respect.

  2. Responsibly complete assigned tasks and assist others in their work.

  3. Think critically about their own work and that of their peers.

  4. Attend all research and small group meetings as scheduled.

  5. Communicate clearly and professionally within their teams.

  6. Actively participate in all aspects of their assigned sites, including involvement in all designated tasks.

This comprehensive approach prepares students for successful careers in psychology and related fields by providing real-world experience in research methodologies, practical applications, and professional conduct within the discipline.

Check out recent apprenticeship projects here.

 

 

From the Undergraduate Bulletin

4301 PSYCHOLOGY APPRENTICESHIP I Participants apply the scientific method to behavioral research questions in a faculty-led research laboratory and practice the fundamentals of presenting psychological science. Apprenticeship in Psychology category requirement. Prerequisite: PSYC 2331. [UD UCA Core: Z]

4302 PSYCHOLOGY APPRENTICESHIP II Participants apply the scientific methods and/or data-based skills of psychology to behavioral research questions and applied psychology programs and initiatives in a faculty mentored experience. All participants gain experience with the skills involved in disseminating psychological research and application. Apprenticeship in Psychology category requirement. Prerequisite: PSYC 4301. Course may be completed up to 3 times for credit (9 credits total).

 

Faculty Available for Apprenticeship for Spring 2026

This spring, Dr. Charlton’s lab will explore topics related to the future of undergraduate psychology in the United States. The work will focus on enhancing the psychology curriculum to better serve students pursuing graduate school and direct workforce entry. The lab will also examine ways to integrate technology, including AI, into psychology education while developing flexible learning paths for non-traditional students. The main objective is to better understand how the psychology curriculum can prepare students to tackle individual, social, and global challenges.
Students apprenticing in Dr. Charlton’s lab this semester will be working remotely (online, asynchronous).
Dr. Nam’s Lab explores how culture and context shape psychological processes, with a focus on cultural differences, social behavior, and developmental pathways. Our work spans topics such as the influence of socioeconomic status on decision-making, cross-cultural perspectives on emerging adulthood, and the role of education in promoting equity and engagement. We also investigate innovative approaches to teaching and learning, including active learning strategies and the integration of artificial intelligence in education. By combining social psychology, cultural research, and educational studies, our lab seeks to advance understanding of how individuals grow, adapt, and thrive within diverse social and cultural environments.
Dr. Anna Park
My research projects tend to focus on how reflection and therapeutic writing can foster personal growth and improvement to various personality traits. I also study college instructor practices that encourage student learning and interest in the course content.
Dr. Mollie Price-Blackshear
I am an experimental social psychologist. My research areas focus on strategies to improve intergroup relations and outgroup attitudes, and ways to reduce prejudice and discrimination. My work also considers social and group identity, and factors which influence peoples’ thoughts and experiences regarding those identities. My work has traditionally examined theories which influence intergroup attitudes and group identity, such as self-affirmation, mindfulness practices, system justification, and resilience. Students’ apprenticeship research projects will involve factors such as these and others known to influence intergroup attitudes and group identity. More information about my research is available on my website: https://mollieapriceblackshear.owlstown.net/
Dr. Reed’s apprenticeship course uses service-learning and community partnerships to provide students with hands-on research experiences that impact the university and local community. Students work with academic departments and/or local agencies to provide research assistance, data collection, data analysis, and/or project evaluation. Current projects are in partnership with the UCA Department of Chemistry, Pediatrics Plus in Conway, and the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences’ Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative. Students may also conduct research projects that focus on goal pursuit and self-regulation in the academic setting, which are Dr. Reed’s areas of research expertise.
Dr. Deanna Rumble
In my research, we study how pain and discomfort affects cognition and motor tasks. We create safe, controlled pain experiences using a pain-spasm-pain model with TENS units, which apply electrical stimulation to cause brief muscle spasms, and a cold water pressor, which uses circulating cold water to test pain responses. Next semester, we’ll add a tool called an algometer to assess pressure pain – so you can potentially help me develop some new protocols. This is hands-on, in-person research, ideal for students who are curious and ready to dive into challenging but rewarding work. You’ll gain real experience in pain, cognition, and motor tasks research – but be prepared to work hard!
Dr. Marc Sestir
Hi, in my lab we conduct research on media effects, with a focus on the associations and interpretations media consumers make. Specific topics include things like the influence of social media stimuli, reactions to AI-generated content, transportation into narratives, and the relationship between media consumption and sleep. Hope to see you there!
Dr. Ken Sobel
In Ken Sobel’s lab, we will take basic stimuli like words, numbers, shapes, and images, and mess around with them. These stimuli have perceptual aspects like the way they look and sound, and semantic aspects like what they mean. For example, a numeral like “4” consists of a set of lines, and can be written in a tiny or gigantic font, but it also refers to a set of things containing four items. We will look at how the perceptual and semantic aspects of a stimulus interact with each other in attention and memory.

As an apprentice with Dr. Wages, you will become an active member of the Research in Social Cognition (RISC) Lab, where we explore how people think about, relate to, and make decisions about others. Our teams work on empirical research projects in social cognition, intergroup relations, and decision-making—examining both fundamental psychological processes and real-world applications. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable research experience and meaningfully contribute to psychological science. More information about the RISC Lab is available here: https://jameswages.owlstown.net/people.

Students apprenticing in Dr. Wages’s lab this semester will be working remotely online with synchronous team meetings on Zoom.

College of Health and Behavioral Sciences Internship and Clinical Placement Policy

  • One or more clinical or internship components are required of most degree programs in CHBS. The majority of clinical and internship components are mandated by licensure boards and accrediting organizations.
  • Clinical and internship facilities have a variety of requirements that must be met by students, including vaccinations.
  • Vaccination status of students is not considered when making clinical or internship assignments. (UCA does not require a student to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or to produce any documentation regarding vaccination for COVID-19.)
  • Exemptions to vaccination requirements must be requested by the student through the clinical or internship facility.
  • Failure to comply with the requirements of the clinical or internship assignment may result in an indefinite delay of degree completion.