Research Courses

Students will find that departments have varying rules and principles on whether research may be done for credit or pay.  Rarely would a department allow a student to receive both course credit and pay for a project.  These principles are based on the ethical beliefs of a department and its faculty.  Explore the department’s expectations with your faculty mentor or associate dean.

Undergraduate Research Courses (USU 4900)

Undergraduate research is heavily supported here at Utah State, and many degrees require some form of research involvement. Many departments have their own course prefix/number for undergraduate credit (i.e. ENGR 1000). For those departments that do not, the university number can be used (USU 4900). Grades are submitted by the Associate Vice President, and the work is evaluated by a faculty member. For more information about what course number is best for your degree, please contact your advisor.

Research Integrity Courses (USU 6900)

Participants in this course will receive training required by key Federal agencies to participate in their grant programs, and successful completion will include both responsible conduct of research (RCR) and institutional review board (IRB) certification.  The course will provide an overview of approaches to moral reasoning and of core research integrity issues including:

  • Ethical treatment of human subjects in research
  • Ethical care and use of animals in research
  • Data management
  • Authorship and publication practices
  • Peer review
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Collaborative science
  • Mentor/trainee relationships
  • Research misconduct

The course uses a case-based learning approach, with required readings and preparation and analysis of one case. Advanced undergraduates and graduates may enroll.