BIOL 4995, GEOG 4985, and GEOG 4995 are all fourth-year research courses that operate more or less the same way. Third-year students contact a professor with whom they would like to work, and commence a discussion of possible research projects. By February 15 of their third year, these students must submit a brief research proposal (introduction, aims, methods, etc.) to their chosen supervisor. That professor then carries the proposal forward to be considered at a departmental meeting.

Students who are accepted into a fourth-year research course usually "officially" begin their course in September (finishing by April). In fact many students elect to gather their data during the summer before the course "officially" begins. Professors are sometimes able to find sufficient funds to turn the project into a summer job for the research student.

Professors have different ways of operating their research courses. I try to create a "grad school" atmosphere in which students work on their own projects but come together to report on their progress and to help others "brainstorm" about research problems. Students present a series of these informal seminars to their colleagues; they produce a "thesis" that is an example of their finest work; and they culminate their studies by presenting their research results to a larger audience of students and professors. These types of courses are a valuable preparation for graduate school, for consulting work, and for increasing a student’s potential for employability.

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