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

• At the conclusion of this course students will test questions, hypotheses, or problems drawn from concepts in their discipline.
• At the conclusion of this course students will utilize foundational principles in planning and executing a research project.
• At the conclusion of this course students will demonstrate basic research techniques and methods.
• At the conclusion of this course students will conduct research according to the highest ethical standards.
• At the conclusion of this course students will demonstrate how a research program is organized and conducted.
• At the conclusion of this course students will engage in 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

Analytical Thinking

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

Communication

The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, or visual form.

Critical Thinking

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

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Syllabus

Select Faculty / Instructor to download syllabus:   Ferreira, Eric (45285)   Yik, Brandon

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