LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Increase your understanding, through Discovery Park, of the importance of interdisciplinary research for (1) its potential impact on your educational and future career goals and; (2) its potential for commercial application with start-up ventures.

2. Explore a field, build research and on-the-job skills, and develop a working relationship with a group of faculty or within a company.

3. Appreciate basic safety, ethical, and interpersonal issues involved with performing research and on-the-job activities.

4. Increase your interest in attending graduate school and/or pursuing research and entrepreneurial related careers.

5. Aid in your transition into either a research environment or full-time professional career.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

This course has four required components: lectures, online journal assignments, group project discussions, and a project report. The course is graded pass/no-pass and you must complete all components in order to receive a passing grade. More than one unexcused lecture absence or missing journal assignment will result in a grade of NP. Any student who receives a grade of NP will not receive his/her scholarship (DURI) or stipend (IfI) payment for the semester.

LECTURES:

Attendance is mandatory for all lectures and attendance will be taken for each session. Detailed absence requests must be submitted in writing to the course administrator either in advance or within one week after the class. You will not be penalized for absences approved by the administrators. You will be required, however, to attend an alternative lecture and submit a one-half page summary. Failure to submit the summary within seven days of the lecture will result in an unexcused absence. We encourage further professional development through attendance in scholarly lectures and seminars on campus. The course administrators will notify you of these events as details become available.

GROUP PROJECT DISCUSSIONS:

An important aspect of this seminar series is the opportunity to interact with your fellow classmates. Students will be assigned to small groups for the purpose of discussing lectures and on-site experiences. You will receive further details prior to the first discussion.

JOURNALS and FINAL ESSAY:

You are required to submit (through Blackboard), a one-half-page response to the posted journal questions and a two-page final essay. The due dates are listed in the Class & Assignment schedule in this syllabus. The purpose of these assignments is to follow your progress in the program. Only the course administrators will read your responses so please be open and honest with your submissions.

PROJECT POSTER: Students are required to prepare a tri-fold poster detailing their internship project for display at the Poster Session and Dinner Reception on April 3. Set-up will begin at 4:30 PM in the Shively Club at Ross-Ade. Your poster should include these items: introduction, hypothesis/research questions, experimental design, and results. You must meet with your project coordinator prior to submission to discuss the poster and obtain his/her signature on a poster approval form, due with your poster on April 3.

GRADES: Attendance and grades are posted on Blackboard. You have seven days from the date the grade is posted to request clarification from the course administrators. No grade changes will be made after seven days.

STUDENT CONDUCT: During seminar sessions, you are expected to conduct yourself according to common standards of respect and courtesy for lecturers and classmates. Please do not arrive late, talk with others around you, employ laptops or other electronic devices, read other course materials and/or the newspaper, or pack your bag before the end of class. Such behavior is distracting, disrespectful, and rude to both the guest speakers and your classmates. If you must arrive late or leave early, sit near the aisles. Students are expected to know and abide by “PART 5 -Student Conduct” within University Regulations, 2007-08, which is considered part of this syllabus by reference. We reserve the right to refuse attendance credit for anyone in violation of this policy by using outside materials (including but not limited to newspapers, laptops, studying for other courses, cell phones, and MP3 players) during class lectures. Such students will be required to attend two outside events as a make-up activity per violation.

CLASS & ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE (All sessions will be held from 4:30-5:30 pm unless otherwise noted. Topics and speakers subject to change):

Date Location Topic / Assignment