Undergraduate Research in Zoology

The Department of Zoology believes that undergraduate research is an important part of the educational experience at Weber State University. Students that participate in the research process gain valuable experience and skills that are not easily conveyed in the classroom setting.  Participation in research promotes critical thinking and problem solving skills and fosters a mentor-student relationship between faculty and student. In order to provide undergraduate research opportunities, the Department of Zoology has developed a summer research program and a curriculum which fosters undergraduate research.  The Undergraduate Research Experience in Biology  is a program which provides support for students to conduct full-time independent research, collaboratively with a faculty mentor for ten weeks during the summer. Applications for the 2003 program will be available during the spring semester.  Zoology students are also given the opportunity to receive course credit for research with a faculty member.  All Zoology majors are required to take an orientation class (Zoology 1990), which introduces them to the faculty and their research interests. Students are encouraged to take Readings in Zoology (Zoology 4830) and Problems in Zoology (Zoology 4800). These courses permit advanced students to work closely with faculty and provide exposure to scientific literature and to participate in ongoing research projects.