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Psychology 195B: Fieldwork in Cognitive Science

Course Description

Psychology 195B is a 4-unit course taken on a P/NP basis that offers Cognitive Science majors the opportunity to complete an internship (paid or unpaid) in a Cognitive Science-related setting. Students gain practical experience, apply course concepts in real-world settings, and explore potential career paths. 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 site supervisor for at least 1 hour each week (Please see the Site Supervisor’s Responsibilities section below for additional details)
    • Complete assignments via BruinLearn, including a 5-8-page paper, a 5-minute presentation summarizing their experience, and other career development-related activities assigned by the course TA.

    This program is offered during all academic quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring) and summer sessions.

    Enrollment Instructions

    1. Review the Course Guidelines. If you do not meet these guidelines, you will be unable to enroll in the course.
    2. Find an internship position. At least 1 quarter before the one in which you wish to enroll, begin the process of securing an internship placement.
      • Option 1: Look through the APPROVED COGNITIVE SCIENCE FIELDWORK LISTINGS 🔗 and contact the site supervisor to secure your fieldwork placement.
      • Option 2: Work with an internship not on the approved list. If you are proposing to work with an organization that is not already listed as an approved fieldwork site, your site supervisor will need to complete the NEW SITE APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORS 🔗 by Friday, June 5, at 11:59 pm for ALL Summer Sessions 2026. Forms submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed.
    3. Create a Psych 195B Course Contract under the Faculty Member, Carolyn Murray. Download a PDF copy of the contract and obtain your site supervisor’s signature.
    4. Fill out the Supplemental Form and obtain your site supervisor’s signature.
    5. Submit your signed Course Contract and signed Supplemental Form to the Psychology Department via Message Center. Students do not self-enroll in the course, which is why it appears closed. After you submit your signed forms, you will be enrolled by the department.
      • SUBMIT FORMS VIA MESSAGE CENTER 🔗
      • Summer Session 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
      • Students will be enrolled by Friday of Week 2.
      • Course Contracts and Supplemental Forms submitted after the deadline will NOT be reviewed 
      • 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 an initial orientation that includes an explanation of the organization’s overall purpose and operations.
    • 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.
    • Provide training, supervision, and regular feedback throughout the internship, including meeting with the student at least once per week to discuss progress and answer questions.
    • Schedule a presentation time before the end of the quarter or summer session.
    • Complete surveys given by the TA, which are used by the teaching team to determine the student’s P/NP grade.
    • Respond to communications from the course TA
    • Additional details can be found in the course Supplemental Form