Research is an important component in counselor preparation. However, students often are not motivated in taking the research course. The author explores and applies the Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2000) to teaching the research and evaluation course. Self-Determination Theory posits that student will be autonomously motivated to learn when basic needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence are present in the classroom. Strategies to increase all three basic needs are discussed in this paper
