OURS100 - Entering Research

OURS100: Entering Research is a one-credit, half-term, asynchronous course designed to prepare and guide undergraduate students from any major through the process of finding their first research experience at UMD.

What is this Course?

Designed for students who are interested in getting involved with undergraduate research, OURS100: Entering Research provides a structured, step-by-step approach to developing a path to undergraduate research experiences. From identifying research interests to confidently contacting faculty members, this course will help students develop essential skills for engaging in research and building transferable skills in professionalism and communication. During the course, students will be immersed in an online community of peers seeking research opportunities while receiving direct support and peer mentorship from experienced undergraduate researchers.

Who Should Take OURS100: Entering Research?

Students interested in being prepared to find and contact a research mentor by the end of the half-semester course.

Students with limited or no prior research experience.
Students from any and all majors at UMD.

What Will You Learn?

Upon completion of OURS100: Entering Research, you will be able to:

Locate research opportunities that align with your personal, professional, and academic interests.

Connect with potential faculty mentors using tailored and professional communication strategies.

Confidently discuss your research interests with faculty members during one-on-one meetings.

Understand what it means to be a researcher and recognize your own potential role in the UMD Research community.

What Will You Do?

Weekly, you will work towards developing skills, networks, resources, and experiences that will help you in your search for an undergraduate research opportunity. This will range from weekly reflection on your interests to practicing skills needed when meeting with faculty research mentors for the first time.

Students enrolled in the course will:

Reflect on your personal and professional interests to identify forms of research that align with your future goals.
Leverage your personal and professional network to learn about research opportunities at UMD.
Curate an inventory of UMD researchers whose current research aligns with your academic or professional interests.
Develop, refine, and practice skills needed to confidently engage with a faculty member conducting research.
Regularly communicate with an experienced undergraduate researcher who will assist you in your search for a mentor and answer questions that may arise along the way.

Due to the high demand and limited capacity of OURS100: Entering Research, enrollment in the course requires a brief pre-enrollment step. The pre-enrollment form (below) is short and does not ask about previous academic experience or GPA.

The information you share during pre-enrollment will inform us more about research fields of interest, why you wish to engage in research experiences, and the barriers you perceive.

Pre-enrollment for OURS100: Entering Research is not a competitive academic process. We will use the perspectives you share to identify students who are a good match for this opportunity and will generally admit students to the course on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spring 2025 Pre-Enrollment & Enrollment Process

November 17, 2024: The pre-enrollment form will close at the end of this day.
Week of November 18, 2024: Students admitted and waitlisted will be notified. Admitted students will have approximately two weeks to enroll in the course.
Week of December 9, 2024: Waitlisted students will be admitted on a seats-available basis.

During which weeks of the Spring 2025 semester does this course run?

OURS100: Entering Research will run during the first seven weeks of the Spring 2025 semester, beginning on January 27, 2025, and ending on March 14, 2025.

Is this a research-intensive course? Will I be conducting research?

No, this is not a research experience or lab course. Rather, OURS100: Entering Research is designed to help you prepare for future research opportunities by teaching you how to find and connect with faculty mentors and identify areas of research that align with your interests.

Will I have a research position lined up by the end of this course?

We hope so! While we cannot guarantee a research position, you will be prepared with the tools and strategies to pursue opportunities independently and confidently by the end of the course.

Is there any homework or outside work required for this course?

Yes. In OURS100: Entering Research, you will complete weekly reflections and activities and engage in opportunities to practice skills you are developing to help you work towards finding a research opportunity. However, we intentionally have designed course assignments to be manageable and aligned with your research interests and goals.

Will there be exams or quizzes?

No. This course will not have exams or quizzes.

Will I get to meet experienced undergraduate researchers during this course?

Yes! Each student in OURS100: Entering Research will be connected with an experienced undergraduate student at UMD who will serve as your peer mentor throughout the course. You will meet with your peer mentor two times during the course, and get feedback from them on assignments.

This class is listed as online and asynchronous. Are there any instances when I will need to meet with anyone synchronously for the course?

While this course is asynchronous in the sense that there are no "set times" that you will meet with all of your peers in the class at the same time, you will be asked to coordinate synchronous meetings three times during the semester: twice with your peer mentor and once with a member of your network that we will help you identify. Meetings may occur in person or online based on your preference and availability.