Course Description
A course in independent scholarly inquiry or research under the direction of a faculty member.
Athena Title
Directed Studies
Non-Traditional Format
A minimum of three contact hours per credit hour per week is required. Under the close supervision of a faculty member, the student will engage in independent inquiry through directed readings or participation in research that involves systematic and in-depth inquiry into fundamental, scientific problems. The student may work collaboratively as part of a research team. The student will have to apply understanding of the discipline to identify or shape questions, gather data, analyze and interpret data, or synthesize relevant literature. Students will synthesize their experience and relevant results in writing or by presentation to peers and mentors (e.g., lab meetings) and receive formal feedback from the supervising faculty member.
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources offers this course for undergraduate students as an introduction to independent scholarly inquiry via directed readings and participating in research under the direction of a faculty member on special and advanced topics. The expected learning outcomes for a student in a first course in directed research are: 1. To develop a deeper understanding of foundational theories and principles in the field of natural resources ecology, economics, social sciences, and management. 2. To understand the boundaries of current knowledge in natural resources ecology and management and to formulate novel and important questions and hypotheses. 3. To understand the incremental nature of research and how a research program is organized and executed. 6. To participate in lab or reading group meetings and to be able to present and understand the materials or research being conducted by the supervising faculty, their lab, or other groups focused on the relevant area of research.
Topical Outline
Students must apply through a sponsoring faculty member to participate in directed study. Each experience is an independent collaboration between the faculty member and the student. As such, there is no set topical outline.