Course Description
Psychology 196B is a 4-unit course taken on a P/NP basis that offers Cognitive Science majors the opportunity to assist Psychology Department faculty members and graduate students conducting research in the field of Cognitive Science. Students must have Sophomore standing or above. This course fulfills the Cognitive Science major capstone requirement.
Students are required to:
- Work a minimum of 7 hours per week for the 10-week academic quarter or 70 hours total during summer sessions.
- Meet with their faculty sponsor for at least 1 hour each week (Please see the Faculty Sponsor’s Responsibilities section below for additional details)
- Submit a 5-8-page research paper to their faculty sponsor and give a 5-minute presentation summarizing their work in a research meeting.
- Participate in 2 research studies through SONA. Students must complete 2 SONA credits, and 1 must be fulfilled through an in-person study. Further instructions will be provided after enrollment.
This program is offered during all academic quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring) and summer sessions.
Enrollment Instructions
- Review the Eligibility & Enrollment Guidelines. If you do not meet these guidelines, you will be unable to enroll in the course.
- Find a research position. At least 1 quarter before the one in which you wish to enroll, begin the process of securing a research placement.
- Option 1: Contact a faculty member from the APPROVED COGNITIVE SCIENCE RESEARCH POSITIONS LIST🔗
- Option 2: Contact a UCLA PSYCHOLOGY FACULTY MEMBER IN THE COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AREA🔗 or graduate student to find a research assistant position. Note: Any research assistant position with a UCLA Psychology faculty member in the Cognitive Psychology area is pre-approved for this course and does not require a Lab Position Placement Form for Faculty.
- Option 3: Contact a UCLA non-Psychology faculty member who conducts Cognitive Science research. To work with a non-Psychology faculty member (who is not already on the APPROVED COGNITIVE SCIENCE RESEARCH POSITIONS LIST🔗), they will need to complete the LAB POSITION PLACEMENT FORM FOR FACULTY 🔗 by Friday, June 5, at 11:59 pm for ALL Summer Sessions 2026. Position Placement Forms received after the deadline will not be reviewed.
- Create a Psych 196B Course Contract under your faculty sponsor. Download a PDF copy of the contract and obtain your faculty sponsor’s signature.
- CREATE COURSE CONTRACT VIA MYUCLA🔗
- You ONLY need a signature from your faculty sponsor
- Ensure you create the contract for the correct quarter or summer session; otherwise, it will not be processed.
- Submit your signed Course Contract to the Psychology Department via Message Center.
- SUBMIT FORMS VIA MESSAGE CENTER🔗
- Summer 2026 Form Submission Deadlines: Wednesday, June 24, at 4:00 pm for Summer Sessions A6 and A10 2026 and Wednesday, August 5, at 4 pm for Summer Session C6 2026
- Course Contracts submitted after the deadline will NOT be reviewed
- Students will be enrolled by Friday of Week 2.
- Processing may take up to 10 business days after submission. Please do not send multiple messages, as this slows down processing for all students.
- Provide training, supervision, and regular feedback.
- Ensure students understand departmental policies, research procedures, ethical standards, and requirements related to conducting research and the use of the Psychology Subject Pool.
- Work with the student to establish a schedule that meets the course requirement of a minimum of 7 hours per week (during the academic quarter) or 70 total hours (during the summer session), while considering the student’s academic schedule.
- Lead a 1-hour weekly seminar or lab meeting.
- Provide written feedback on student’s 5-8 page research paper.
- Arrange a research meeting where student gives a 5-minute presentation on their work at the end of the quarter.
- Review final assignments and evaluate student performance to determine final P/NP grade.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: Postdoctoral scholars and graduate students may supervise students enrolled in the course under the supervision of a Faculty Member. However, course contracts must be created under a Faculty Member, who is responsible for reviewing assignments and determining the student’s final grade.