Course Description

Faculty-supervised independent or collaborative inquiry into fundamental and applied problems within a discipline that requires students to gather, analyze, and synthesize and interpret data and to present results in writing and other relevant communication formats.

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Athena Title

Undergraduate Research I

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Non-Traditional 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.

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Prerequisite

Permission of department

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Semester Course Offered

Offered fall, spring and summer

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify and test questions, hypotheses, or problems drawn from concepts in their discipline.
• Students will be able to plan and execute a research project of their choice.
• Students will be able to apply basic research techniques and methods to a topic of their choice.
• Students will be able to manage research according to the highest ethical standards.
• Students will be able to demonstrate how a research program is organized and carried out.
• Students will be able to demonstrate professional communication through written and verbal participation in laboratory, academic, or professional meetings or conferences.

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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.

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Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes

Analytical Thinking

The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.

Critical Thinking

The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.

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