Mentored Research Program

The following courses will be taken in sequence:

IDS 4462 RESEARCH PROJECT I: In consultation with the faculty mentor, the student will design and begin research/experimentation/data collection for a research project at the advanced undergraduate level. 2 hours

IDS 4552 RESEARCH PROJECT II: The student will complete the research project and prepare the results for presentation/review. The presentation requirement allows for flexible options including undergraduate research conferences, discipline meetings, publication, or a faculty committee. Once the faculty mentor approves the project for presentation, the student will forward the presentation plan to the Research Director. If required, the Director will arrange a faculty committee to hear the presentation. Can be taken up to three times upon approval of the faculty mentor. 2 hours

To apply student must have:

• GPA of 3.0 by the time student begins IDS 4462

• At least 75 hours completed by the time student begins IDS 4462

• A research-based course relevant to the project’s field OR a letter from a professor familiar with the student’s research experience affirming the student’s preparedness for a large research project. Mentor professors may assign a research methods course as appropriate. Research courses may be taken concurrently with IDS 4462.

Courses that will satisfy the research-based course prerequisite include, but may not be limited to:

• SCI 2102 Scientific Writing and 2710/2711 STEM Communication

• PSYC 3003 Research Methods in Psychology

• SOCI 4783 Methods of Social Research

• ENGL 4503 Critical Approaches to Literature

• COMM 4523 Communication Research

• MUSC 3102 Forms and Analysis

Student Responsibility

The Mentored Research program requires candidates to be proactive, self-motivated scholars. Your faculty mentor and the program director are here to assist you, but you are responsible for setting and meeting deadlines and for maintaining consistent progress. Navigating disappointments is an essential part of academic research, but if you find yourself falling dangerously behind in either progress or motivation, be proactive about seeking help. If at any time you wish to exit the program in favor of IDS 4522 (Senior Seminar), see the program director.

USAO Student Showcase

Students enrolled in Mentored Research are expected to participate in the USAO Student Showcase. This is an opportunity to display and answer questions about your work in a low-pressure setting. Participation requires only a poster exhibit; your entire research project does not need to be complete by the time of the event. The showcase takes place in the fall term.

Graduation

Once a completed project has been approved by the faculty mentor and the director, students are eligible to have their project title added to the academic transcript. In addition, students will be hooded at their graduation ceremony by the faculty mentor. It is your responsibility to alert your mentor and the director of your intent to walk at graduation and receive your hood, as the title of your project must be submitted to the registrar’s office prior to the ceremony.

Students in the Mentored Research Program will be able to:

• Identify and evaluate the existing scholarly conversation regarding their chosen topic
• Discover and articulate a relevant research question
• Identify and utilize appropriate methodologies to address their research question
• Approach research as a process and recognize setbacks as part of that process
• Meet the appropriate discipline’s standards for ethical and responsible research
• Work collaboratively with other researchers
• Prepare the research for peer review using the guidelines and conventions of the appropriate discipline
• Present the research effectively to a peer audience