Preservation of Undergraduate Research Through the Creation of Senior Research Classes at Florida Gulf Coast University

Undergraduate research is a defining characteristic of Florida Gulf Coast University. Maintaining an undergraduate research requirement has become increasingly difficult, as the university has grown rapidly. Departments of Biological Sciences as well as Marine and Ecological Sciences have developed senior research classes recently to meet student demands. Initial successes can be traced to courses, such as Scientific Process, which introduces research in incremental steps. We hope that the creation of senior research classes will allow us to maintain our tradition of mentor/“mentee” relationships for the most motivated students while providing all students with a quality undergraduate research experience