Research, Independent Studies, and Tutorials
Honors Undergraduate Research
For the students who are seriously interested in the question of why, the opportunity of doing research or a tutorial with a faculty member for academic credit is intriguing. Working with faculty members in their area of expertise allows students to become a part of the exciting process of discovery.
How does a student find his research niche? First consider a situation in the department of your major(s). Look at the list of faculty and their research interests, which can be obtained either on the website or in the main office of the department. Make appointments with the faculty and go talk with them about their research and whether they have openings for undergraduates (do not email them). If there is no opening, ask them to recommend faculty with whom you could talk.
Sometimes there are faculty members in other departments who are doing work that would closely relate to your interests. When you go to your appointment, have a list of questions ready. Remember you are on a fact-finding mission!
Guidelines for Honors Undergraduate Research
Please provide a copy of these guidelines to your faculty research mentor!
The student is responsible for making arrangements with a faculty member in his/her major department to serve as a research mentor. If s/he chooses to do research in a related department, it is important to obtain permission from the head or Honors advisor of the major department. The faculty mentor and student will define the research problem and decide how many credit hours of research should be done, semester by semester.
Signing Up for Research
- Complete an Honors research form each semester that he or she does research. The student is responsible for completing the form and obtaining the necessary signatures in order.
- Sign up for the Undergraduate Research CRN on HokieSpa, under the course number UH 4994H. The CRN changes every semester.
- Finally, the student must turn in the form to the dean in charge of Undergraduate Education in his or her college.
Credit and Payment
The student should expect to work in the lab, field, or library in connection with the research approximately 9-12 hours per week for 3 hours of credit. If a student works significantly more time, then the academic credit should increase. Students cannot be paid for the six hours of research required for two of the Honors diplomas. However, a student may be paid if he or she works in excess of the hours required for the six hours of academic credit. In other words, a student may be paid if he or she signs up for three hours of academic credit and is working more than 9-12 hours per week.
It is expected that a knowledgeable graduate student and/or the faculty mentor should be available on site for consultation on research methods, use of equipment, or problem solving.
Grades
Michelle Wooddell, the Office Manager of the University Honors Program, will call each research mentor every semester to ask for a final grade for the student. If the mentor plans to leave town early, please call the Honors Office (231-4591) or send an email with the grade to mwooddel@vt.edu.
Honors undergraduate research may be computed for the in-major GPA if the faculty research mentor sends an email request to that effect to Clyde Cridlin in the Registrar’s Office.
Honors Tutorials and Independent Studies
Independent studies are opportunities for students to devise a learning plan around a topic of interest and to engage in a collaborative relationship with a professor in the pursuit of that plan. A tutorial is a more structured kind of independent study that allows a student to approach a subject, often outside of their discipline, with which that have little familiarity but wish to gain more.
Expectations
The tutorial usually includes a regular meeting time and a reading list defined by the professor. Typically, students should select a class that involves primarily reading for the tutorial. A student can request to take a particular class by tutorial; then the title of the independent study is the name of the class. The student would do a minimum of three hours of reading/reflection/writing per week for each hour of credit and meet with the professor for conversation an hour once or twice a week.
By signing up for a tutorial, you are developing a contract with the professor that says you will devote a minimum of three hours of independent work each week for each hour of academic credit you earn. Students often devote, within reason, even more time than that minimum.
Signing Up for Tutorials and Independent Studies
- Obtain the Undergraduate Research Form either in the Honors Office (137 Hillcrest) or download it.
- Sign up for the correct CRN on the Course Timetable. The course number for research is UH 4994H, and for a tutorial/independent it is UH 4974H. Note you must find the specific CRN number for the particular semester in which you will complete the research or tutorial.
- Discuss the answers to various questions with your research supervisor before you complete the form.
- Obtain the signatures in order. Mr. Blackwell, Mr. Shrader or Ms. McIntyre will sign the form for University Honors.
- Hand-deliver the final form to the Dean for Undergraduates of your college.
Doing undergraduate research or tutorials is a wonderful opportunity to work with a faculty member. This opportunity allows you to use all the information you have gathered on one particular topic and make sense of it. It is a chance to find out whether you enjoy this particular area and like working independently on a defined topic.