URES 197 FAQ’s

How much experience will I need in order to be able to sign up for a URES 197 project?

This will vary from project to project.  Project descriptions will usually specify the sorts of prior experiences required of students wishing to be involved in the project.  When in doubt, contact the faculty sponsor to see if you are a good candidate to get involved in the project.

How many times may I enroll in the URES 197 course?

A maximum of two times, for a maximum of 6 credits.  Each URES course may be taken for up to three credits.

How is URES 197 different from an individual study course (491/492)?

When a student enrolls in individual study, the expectation is that the students is designing and conducting an independent research project in which the faculty member serves as mentor and guide.  Individual studies are most often done by more advanced students (juniors and seniors) who have the necessary background to successfully formulate an individual study project.

In URES 197, the student does not design a research project but instead contributes to the faculty member’s project.  URES 197 is open to students at any level, so long as they meet the requirements for project participation as outlined by the faculty member. Students who complete URES 197 will likely develop their own individual study project at a later time, thereby building on the URES 197 experience.

I’ve already taken an individual study course – am I still eligible to enroll in URES 197?

Absolutely!

What are the benefits of enrolling in URES 197?

You’ll have an unique opportunity to engage in a research project with a faculty member that will give you an introduction to and appreciation of research that would be hard to duplicate in a traditional classroom course.  You’ll get to see, and be a part of, an actual, on-going project supervised by a faculty member.  This will help you learn about research by doing some of it under the guidance of an experienced research mentor. You’ll also have the sense of satisfaction in knowing that you had a part in the successful completion of a research project.

What’s the deadline for enrolling in URES 197?

You must submit the competed and signed learning contract to the Office of the Registrar, Lee Hall, no later than the end of the first week of classes in the semester in which you wish to enroll for credit.

How can I find out about possible URES 197 projects?

Examine the list of projects at this web site, or contact the department in which you wish to work to see if there are other opportunities available.  You might also ask a faculty member you are interested in working with if she or he has an available project in which you might work.

How will I be graded in the URES 197 course?

You’ll first have to meet the required time commitment, which is three hours of research project work per week for each credit hour you have registered for.  You will also complete a final project/report designed by the faculty member that will serve as an opportunity (1) to summarize the work done and (2) to reflect on the experience of serving as a research apprentice. The course grade will be based on the quality of the student’s research activities in support of the faculty member’s project, and on the final project/report evaluated by the sponsoring faculty member.

What goes on my transcript if I take URES 197?

The course title listed will state “Undergraduate Research in” followed by the name of the academic discipline in which you worked.  So, if the project you worked on was in mathematics, your transcript would read “Undergraduate Research in Mathematics.”

Will URES 197 count in my major?

These are elective credits.  A maximum of 6 URES 197 credits may be counted toward graduation.

If I take URES 197, does that make me ineligible to do an internship or an individual study?

Absolutely not.

How do I sign up?

Follow the steps outlined at this web site.