Undergraduate Research FAQs 

Undergraduate research at 草榴视频 State allows students to work with faculty mentors, contributing original insights to their field. This experience not only deepens learning but also builds valuable skills, preparing students for future academic and professional success. Whether you are just beginning your degree path or are nearing graduation, getting involved in undergraduate research can be a transformative experience that hones critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills!

Get prepared to be come a more competitive candidate for graduate programs and job opportunities with undergraduate research opportunities!

 

  • According to the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), it is: 鈥淎 mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge.鈥�

    Undergraduate research projects are mentored by a faculty or staff member with expertise in the research methods of his or her discipline. The project should make a unique contribution to the literature in the student's field(s). It is strongly encouraged that the student present or publish the project. After all, if you "make an original intellectual or creative contribution to your discipline," you need to let others know about it so they can learn from and build on your work.

  • Undergraduate research is one of the ten 鈥渉igh-impact educational practices鈥� that promote deep learning and engage students (Kuh, 2008). There are numerous benefits associated with undergraduate research 鈥� for example, increased retention, progression, & graduation rates, increased rates of attending graduate school, better success once in graduate school, improvements in critical thinking, improvements in writing and public speaking, etc. (Bauer & Bennett, 2003; Hathaway et al., 2002; Nagda et al., 1998; Nnadozie et al., 2001). In general, you鈥檒l become professionally socialized through your undergraduate research experiences; you鈥檒l learn professional conduct and begin to acquire the skills and attitudes associated with your discipline (Hunter et al., 2006; Lopatto, 2007; Seymour et al., 2004). And finally, undergraduate research has been shown to involve the competencies that employers want from college graduates ().

  • Bauer, K. W., & Bennett, J. S. (2003). Alumni perceptions used to assess undergraduate research experience. Journal of Higher Education, 74, 210鈥�230.

    Hathaway, R. S., Nagda, B. A., & Gregerman, S. R. (2002). The relationship of undergraduate research participation to graduate and professional education pursuit: An empirical study. Journal of College Student Development, 43, 614鈥�631.

    Hunter, A., Laursen, S. L., & Seymour, E. (2006). Becoming a scientist: The role of undergraduate research in students鈥� cognitive, personal, and professional development. Science Education, 91, 36鈥�74.

    Kuh, G. D. (2008). High-impact educational practices: What they are, who has access to them, and why they matter. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.

    Lopatto, D. (2007). Undergraduate research experiences support science career decisions and active learning. CBE-Life Sciences Education, 6, 297鈥�306.

    Nagda, B. A., Gregerman, S. R., Jonides, J., von Hippel, W., & Lerner, J. S. (1998). Undergraduate student-faculty research partnerships affect student retention. The Review of Higher Education, 22, 55鈥�72.

    Nnadozie, E., Ishiyama, J., & Chon, J. (2001). Undergraduate research internships and graduate school success. Journal of College Student Development, 42, 145鈥�156.

    Mekolichick, J. (2021, November). Mapping the impacts of undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry experiences to the NACE career readiness competencies. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Retrieved from  

    Seymour, E., Hunter, A., Laursen, S. L., & Deantoni, T. (2004). Establishing the benefits of research experiences for undergraduates in the sciences: First findings from a three-year study. Science Education, 88, 493鈥�534.

Get Started

Before you begin your research project, be sure to familiarize yourself with the answers to our frequently asked questions! Proactively seek out opportunities by connecting with professors, maintain a strong GPA, and engaging actively in your classes. Explore available research related programs, such as the First-Year Scholars Program or Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP), to find the right fit for your research interests. Remember, research opportunities are competitive, so stand out by being an engaged and committed student at 草榴视频 State!

  • Because it is a requirement that all undergraduate research be supervised by a faculty or staff member, your first step is finding someone to be your mentor. Be proactive! It is unlikely that anyone will approach you 鈥� you need to make the effort and seek out these opportunities. You should approach faculty members with whom you have had classes or whose research interests match your own. You can check out the webpages of faculty members in your major/minor to find out what their research interests are. 

    Undergraduate research opportunities are often competitive, so be sure to engage in behaviors that make you stand out from the crowd. For example, be sure to maintain a high GPA (faculty mentors can be selective about the students with whom they work). Take classes with professors with whom you might want to work, and be a stellar student in those classes (sit in the front, ask questions, complete all assignments early, visit during office hours, etc.). Visit professors during their office hours and talk to them about their research interests 鈥� indicate you would love to help out with any ongoing research projects.

    Here are some quick ways to get started through the Office of Undergraduate Research:

    You do not need to have a specific idea in mind when approaching a faculty member to do research. Many students work with faculty members on their research, especially at first. 

  • Yes 鈥� most departments have a course called Directed Study (using the 4400 designation) or something similar that can be used for credit toward research participation. Some departments may have other courses that involve research; check with your department if you鈥檙e not sure. You can also volunteer to do research without credit if the faculty member agrees to it.
  • Yes! Students are eligible for funding to travel to conferences to present their research or to purchase supplies/materials to conduct their research. Faculty mentors can receive grants in which some of the funding is used for supplies and student travel. External funding options are also available 鈥� check with your department to see what鈥檚 out there.
  • IRB stands for Institutional Review Board. The purpose of the IRB "is to regulate all research activities involving human subjects on the campus of 草榴视频 State University, ensuring that people who participate in research are treated ethically and in compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations."

    If your research involves human or animal subjects, you need IRB approval before you can start your project. This involves completing an , submitting (with a faculty mentor) an IRB form along with all of your research materials, and closing your study when it is complete. If you have any questions about the process, you can email the IRB at irb@kennesaw.edu as well as visiting the FAQ section of the IRB website. 

  • This varies considerably depending on the discipline, the project, the student, and the faculty mentor. Some students complete their research projects in a semester. Other students may work with faculty members for several years on several different projects. The amount of time during the semester varies a great deal as well. For example, if you are earning three credits for your Directed Study, the workload should be equivalent to what you would expect in any three-credit course. You will need to negotiate with your faculty mentor with regard to the amount of time you will spend each week on your undergraduate research project.
  • No! Many faculty members would prefer to begin working with undergraduates sooner so that there is more time to complete a project or even multiple projects. In some programs, less-experienced students work as apprentices for a period of time before making more substantial contributions to the research. It is important to find out the norms in your discipline early on so you can plan accordingly.
  • All undergraduate research at 草榴视频 needs to be supervised by a member of the faculty or staff with expertise in the area. Beyond that, requirements vary by department and by supervisor. In general, it is a good idea to have taken some coursework on research methods and perhaps statistics, but that is not always a requirement. Some departments have requirements for a particular grade point average.
  • We hope that you will be involved in presenting the research at a conference and getting your research published in some way (although be sure to avoid  when you do). Ask your faculty mentor for the best way for your project to find an audience.