| Course ID: | MARS 4960R. 1-6 hours. Repeatable for maximum 16 hours credit. |
| Course Title: | Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research I |
Course
Description: | Faculty-supervised independent or collaborative inquiry into
fundamental and applied problems within a discipline that requires
students to gather, analyze, synthesize, and interpret data and to
present results in writing and other relevant communication
formats. |
| Oasis Title: | Undergraduate Research I |
| Nontraditional Format: | This course belongs to a progressive research course sequence to
promote a student's increasing skill development and depth of
inquiry, as well as growing independent research capability.
This course requires the close supervision of a faculty member
as the student undertakes a systematic and in-depth inquiry into
unknown, fundamental, and applied problems. In some cases, the
student will work collaboratively as part of a research team.
The student will have to apply understanding of the discipline
to identify or shape research questions and apply skills and
techniques learned to the research project. Students will gather
data, synthesize relevant literature, analyze, and interpret
data. The student will present results in writing or through
participation in research-group or program meetings and meetings
with their faculty mentor. The student will receive feedback
from the faculty mentor on their research progress and written
or oral presentation of results. A minimum of 45 hours of work
per credit hour per semester is required. |
| Prerequisite: | Permission of department |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered fall, spring and summer semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | The expected learning outcomes for a student in a directed
research course are:
1. The student will pose and test questions, hypotheses, or
problems drawn from concepts in their discipline.
2. The student will utilize foundational principles in planning
and executing a research project.
3. The student will carry out basic research techniques and
methods.
4. The student will conduct research according to the highest
ethical standards.
5. The student will demonstrate how a research program is
organized and carried out.
6. The student will engage in professional communication through
written and verbal participation in laboratory, academic, or
professional meetings or conferences. |
| Topical Outline: | Students must apply through a sponsoring faculty member to
conduct research. Each research experience is an independent
collaboration between the faculty member and the student. As
such, there is no set topical outline. Instead, faculty mentor
and student should develop their own work plan and determine
course requirements and grading procedures (individualized
syllabus). A minimum requirement is that the student present
results in writing and through presentations in meetings with
peers and faculty and that they will receive feedback from their
papers or presentations. |