Undergraduate Research
Learning how to conduct research is a critical component of becoming a successful student in any field of science. In the School of Geosciences we are committed to engaging interested undergraduate students in cutting-edge, authentic research. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways:
Senior Thesis: The senior thesis is the most formal method of conducting an undergraduate research project. A student must first contact a faculty member in his/her field of interest that would be willing to serve as a mentor. The student and faculty mentor will then design a research project that can be completed in a semester timeframe. These projects commonly lead to a publication or presentation at a national scientific conference.
GEOL 4983 Senior Thesis in Geology. Prerequisite: senior standing with a major in geology and permission. May not be repeated. Individual research of a geological topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. The project may involve fieldwork, theoretical analysis, computer modeling, and/or data analysis and interpretation, culminating in a written thesis. (F, Sp, Su).
GPHY 4953 Senior Thesis in Geophysics. Prerequisite: senior standing with a major in geophysics and permission. May not be repeated. Individual research of a geophysical topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. The project may involve fieldwork, theoretical analysis, computer modeling, and/or data analysis and interpretation, culminating in a written thesis. (F, Sp, Su) [V]
Mentored Research: To enroll in a Mentored Research course the interested student must first contact a faculty member in his/her field of interest that would be willing to serve as a mentor. The faculty mentor and student will design a project or lay out a work plan that can be completed within a semester timeframe. Typically, this type of reserach is less involved than senior theses, however, they can also lead to the student presenting results at a scientific conference.
GEOL/GPHY 3440: Mentored Reserach Experiance. 0 to 3 hours. Prerequisites: ENGL 1113 or equivalent, and permission of instructor. May be repeated; maximum credit 12 hours. For the inquisitive student to apply the scholarly processes of the discipline to a research or creative project under the mentorship of a faculty member. (F, Sp, Su).
Undergraduate Research Assistant: Our majors can also get involved and work as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in a faculty's geology or geophysics lab or in the field. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the scientific method and is helpful for preparation for graduate school. Students can inquire about potential positions with specific faculty in the areas of geology or geophysics that interests them.
