• Advanced Independent Research

    Request for ### 398 Course Registration
     

    New Fall 2024: Students will no longer be allowed to exceed the 8 credit limit for 395 courses with the same instructor.  If you have met the limit and want to continue doing research in the same lab, there are two options:

    1) ask the instructor to hire you (after all, after two semesters working in the lab, you should be making a valuable contribution to its goals);

    or

    2), use this form to apply to register for ### 398, Advanced Independent Study. This course carries no credits, but the title and grade will appear on your transcript. 

    Note that a meeting with your track advisor is necessary as part of the approval process for ### 398 courses.

    Submission Period / Deadline: This form will accept submissions for the Fall 2025 semester through September 22nd.  Do not wait until the night before to submit forms. It takes the registrar a few business days to process these forms. Please note that students no longer have until the end of the semester to submit a form to register their 398. The 9/22 deadline applies to all courses, regardless of the start date. Some may need to submit their forms before the course begins.

    One-Form Registration: Requesting registration has gotten easier as students only need to submit one form. In the past, students needed to submit two forms (pre-registration and registration form) which are no longer needed.

    Approval Process: This form will automatically forward to the following for approval.
          1.     Independent Research Instructor
          2.     The Biology Department Undergraduate Office
          3.     Track coordinator of intended/declared biology 
          4.     UPBM Director

    Turnaround: A definitive processing time cannot be given.  Be sure to build in plenty of time to get the answers you will need to complete this form properly and enter accurate email addresses as the form will not forward correctly otherwise. The system will automatically send daily reminders to the instructors until it is signed and students will receive notifications when each part of the process is complete.
     
    Course Titles: All biology advanced independent research courses will now be registered as ### 398 or "Advanced Independent Research". Students do not need to create a title anymore.
     
    Meet with Instructor A reminder to new and returning independent researchers to consult their instructor each semester to discuss course details to ensure clear understanding of expectations. Please note that students will need instructor feedback in order to answer the questions on this form. Click here to download a copy of this form to bring with you to meetings.


    Rules and Regulations:   Visit the Biology Department Independent Research Rules and Regulation website for further insight regarding grading, incompletes, final report submission, credits / contact hours and much more.

    Technical Difficulties: Communicate issues by email to the Biology Department Undergraduate Office
     

  • Student Information

  • PLEASE NOTE  This form will automatically forward to the following for approval:     

    1. BIOL 398 Independent Research Instructor
    2. The Biology Department Undergraduate Office
    3. Track coordinator of intended/declared biology for scientific & major application review
    4. UPBM Director

      Forms of Non-biology major or students unsure of their program of study will forward to the UPBM Director to evaluate the course for general college credit only.

      Non-biology majors need to reach out to the advisor of the program of study they wish to apply for the course to gain approval. This approval must be done independently as the Department of Biology only approves applications to biological science tracks. 
       
      Students should retain the course details and final report so advisors of non-biological programs can evaluate how the research may or may not apply to future fields of study.

  • Instructor Information

    Faculty who has agreed to supervise research course

  • Authorized Instructors for Bioscience Courses: Instructors who have not previously supervised independent research courses need to be authorized to supervise independent research courses.

    Students who have previously taken courses with instructors will likely be on this list.

    Those new to the process should check the List of Authorized Independent Research Instructors for the name of their faculty.   Instructions on how to add new faculty to the list are also available on this website.   

  • FINAL REPORT OR POSTER REQUIREMENT FOR 398 COURSES: A copy of a final report or poster is required for all independent research courses. Students must submit a new and different report for each semester a 398 course is taken and may be uploaded to Blackboard by the last day of exams.  

    Students who elect to make a poster may use presentation software to create the poster and upload a copy of the file into Blackboard instead of the report at the end of the semester. Please note that slides must fully explain the research findings. Slides with one-word bullet points are not acceptable. 

    Ideally, the poster options will allow students the flexibility to create materials they can use to present in scientific events such as the UPBM Poster Session in October as well as the Undergraduate Research Expo or other annual conferences organized by the Office of Undergraduate Research during the spring semester.

    Please note that the report or poster is needed for record purposes.  The UG Bio Department Administrative Offices do not grade the papers.

  • Clear

  • Course Details

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  • Contact Hours:  Need help figuring out contact hour requirements?  Visit UR Bio Department Indpendent Research Course Rules and Regulation for information 

    Please Note all forms must be submitted with instrutor approval by 9/22/25 regardless of start date or the amount of credits the course is taken for.

     


  •  THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH BIOL 398 (NON-CLINICAL) AND INDEPENDENT STUDY 391 (CLINICAL)

    Research involving clinical trials and patient studies falls under a different classification of independent studies, and students need to follow a different process to register for these types of courses. 

    Independent studies should be registered under the 391-course number instead of the 398-course number. Visit the CCAS Handbook for Independent Studies for more information on policies and instructions on how to register.

    Please note that students are not required to use this form to register for a 391. Additionally, approval from the Bio Department UG Office is not required for 391 courses. Intending biology majors should be aware that 391 courses do not apply to biological science tracks and should consult their advisor for further clarification if necessary.


  • NOTE ABOUT MONETARY COMPENSATION:  Students cannot receive monetary compensation for the same work they earn academic credit.   However, a student may hold a paying job within the same lab but must keep their work separate from their research project.

  • 395 Course History

    End of Form Print / Submit

  • Click here for a printable version of this form to bring with you to meetings.Click here to download a copy of this form to bring with you to meetings.

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