Involving undergraduates in research can take two forms: including students in faculty labs/research projects and including substantive research projects in courses. In this section we provide information on both kinds, but would like to stress the benefits, to students and faculty, of developing good research assignments in classes. Such assignments promote active learning and deeper engagement with the material. An example of a program connected to a class is the Biology 1B Field section, which students can take instead of a traditional lab section. In this section, students get a chance to conduct a semester-long research project early in their career. However, there are much simpler ways to integrate research into a course, and a number of them are detailed below.
Sample Research Project Syllabus and Final Product [pdf]
Here you will see how a research project is integrated into a syllabus, with a variety of steps set up throughout the semester.
Undergraduate Research at Berkeley
This webpage provides links to a very extensive list of places on campus where students can get involved in research of various kinds.
Mellon Library/Faculty Fellowship for Undergraduate Research
This five year program brought together 10-15 faculty every summer to learn how to develop and integrate substantive research components in a variety of classes.
Good Practices from the Mellon Fellows
Building Up to the History Research Paper
Collaborative Implementation of a "Homework" Activity
Individualized Help in a Large Undergraduate Class
Evaluating Resources
Using a Worksheet on Evaluating Resources as a Component of a Research Assignment
Using a Pre-Assignment as Homework Before the Library Session
Designing an Online Guide about Research Processes and Sources
Active Learning Through Library Sessions in the Reference Room
Library Research Assignment for a Large Undergraduate Class
Staging Library Instruction Activities around Topic Definition
Staging Library Instruction Through Collaboration with Faculty
Designing Journal Article Assignment for Large Enrollment Course
Getting the GSIs On Board in a Large Enrollment Course
Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program
The Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) is designed to involve Berkeley undergraduates more deeply in the research life of the University. The Program provides opportunities for students to work with faculty in their labs and on their research projects.
The Library Prize for Undergraduate Research
Recognizes students' sophistication, originality and/or unusual depth or breadth in the use of library collections in the creation of a project that has the potential to lead to original research.
The Council on Undergraduate Research
A national organization dedicated to fostering undergraduate involvement in substantive research.