Undergraduate Research
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Reasons for Undergraduate Research
For whatever reason, whether it be intellectual curiosity or academic improvement, students of all ages and all schools can strike out on their own, and take their education into their own hands. Undergraduate research is not limited to a "type." All students, of all fields, can and have benefited enormously from research experience. Academic class work provides the solid core of each disciplines. Individual scholarly exploration, however, allows a young scholar to investigate the exciting topics in the "not-yet-known" areas of a discipline. Students use coursework to acquire knowledge in a given discipline; they use research to complement that knowledge, and to discover what else is out there. Whether designing one's own project, or taking part as a team member on someone else's, a researcher is in a position to make a solid commitment to the world of knowledge. She had the ability to discover facts that might be printed in textbooks for the next generation to study and learn. Research also provides crucial insight into the inner-workings of a discipline. This is of particular importance to a freshman or sophomore considering a major, or a junior or senior preparing for graduate school. An independent project provides more practical training in problem-solving and critical thinking than a dozen solid, well-taught courses.
Benefits for Undergraduate Research
Research breaks down the divisions between students and teachers, and between academic disciplines. It allows students to take advantage of UCF's strength as a major research institution. As a researcher, even the junior member of a large team, one is included and recognized for one's contributions. UCF undergraduates are often co-authors, and sometimes primary authors, of academic papers. They present their work at conferences and poster sessions. Most of all, because they're working closely with members of the senior faculty, they have on-going opportunities for regular advising and mentoring. These relationships lead to exciting academic opportunities. The students come to know what they want to study, and why they want to study it. They're able to be both excited and specific about their academic work. Furthermore, researchers have the connections to be guided toward just the right graduate programs for their field of study, and they'll have the proper credentials and recommendations to be admitted. For those who are not interested in graduate school, research provides an in-depth expertise that makes a student stand out from the crowd. A researcher is a near expert in her field; she surpasses the non-researcher in her knowledge and her commitment to a discipline.
Honors in the Major (HIM) Program
Student Mentored Academic Research Teams (SMART) Program
TBHC Travel Funding Request Form
UCF Undergraduate Research Journal
UCF Office of Undergraduate Studies
Fax: 407.823.6583
P.O. Box 161800
Orlando, Fl. 32816-1800