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Getting Started Doing Undergraduate
Research:
What to consider and how to get credit...
First,
give some careful thought to the idea. Ask yourself whether or not
you've got the time to commit to a research project. Students often ask
what kind of time commitment research takes. That's a difficult
question to answer because it varies with the type of research project
and with the particular faculty mentor you work with. The level of
commitment is not unlike that required of a varsity athlete, however,
and means that you must budget your time carefully in order to be able
to put in the hours required by your research.
Second,
Browse the descriptions of faculty
research
then talk to professors and other students who are conducting research
that interests you. Researchers love to talk about their
research, so don't be shy. Attend department
research seminars (Fridays at 12:20 - watch for posted
announcements), and make appointments to talk with individual faculty
members about their research.
Third,
plan ahead. Think about starting research in your sophomore or junior
year. Some faculty like to work with students for two or three years.
Others prefer that the student waits until they have had relevant
course work before beginning research. Discuss this with the particular
faculty member you wish to work with, but don't wait until your senior
year. The mechanisms for recieving academic credit for research are
listed below. Most students receive credit for independent research in
one or more of the following courses:
BIO 495.
Biotechniqies. 1
credit. Emphasis is placed on theory, methodology and the development
of manipulative abilities. Students must notify the biology office of
their interest the semester before registration. May be repeated for
credit when course content changes.
BIO 496.
Research Literature.
1 credit. A systematic review and study of the research literature in a
selected field of biology. Proposal for study must be approved by
sponsor and department head before registration. May be repeated
for credit when course content changes.
BIO 497.
Biological Research. 1-3 credits, repeatable to 6 credits.
Minimum GPA requirement is 2.75 overall. Research in a selected area of
biology as arranged with sponsor. Research outline must be approved by
sponsor and department head the semester before registration.
BIO 499.
Honors research. 6 credits. Minimum GPA requirement is 3.25
overall. Three semester course taken as parts A, B and C; 2 credits
each. A research proposal is submitted to the University Honors
Program Office in the fall or spring semester of the junior year. An
honors thesis is required and is due in the spring semester of the
senior year. Students who wish to pursue honors research should contact
faculty during their sophomore year.
Note: A
maximum of 8 hours of credit in BIO 494, 495, 496,
497, 498, 499 and ICSI 450 can be counted toward the major.
Biology
majors have two options when they wish to do independent study in a
laboratory with a mentor not currently listed as a full time
biology faculty member in the James Madison University Catalog.
(1)
Register for the independent
study/research under the course
designator of the mentor's department. Credits taken this way
count
toward a Major or Minor in that department, if appropriate, and toward
the 120 hr Bachelors degree requirement. They do not count
toward the
40 hr BIO course requirement for the biology major or the 20 hr BIO
course requirement for the biology minor. (Courses applied toward
the
biology major or minor must have the BIO designator when taken and
credit cannot be substituted.)
(2)
Register for the independent
study/research as BIO 496, 497 or 499
following the standard application procedures for biology independent
study. In addition to having the external mentor endorse the project
and serve as the person awarding the grade, a biology faculty member
will serve as a co-mentor and approve the proposal and
the final report as appropriate biology research. In the case of BIO
499, this person will be the second signer on honors program documents.
This co-mentor will be currently listed as a full time biology faculty
member in the James Madison University Catalog.
If you have more questions, feel free to speak
with any faculty member in Biology or link to the FAQ
page on research.
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