CST’s Undergraduate Research Program (URP) provides research opportunities throughout the year–fall and spring semester and during the summer.  What is the difference between fall/spring and summer URP? Below are the program highlights by semester.

Research Course Requirement

Summer: There is no course credit component to summer URP; in fact students are not encouraged to take summer courses while devoting full-time hours on the research project.

Fall/Spring: Students must be registered for a 4 to 1 credit hour research course.

 

Dedicated Hours

Summer: 35 to 40 hours per week for 10 to 12 weeks; PI will set the exact start/end date and work schedule.

Fall/Spring: Follows the academic calendar. Hours per week are based on the number of research credit hours; the PI will set the exact start/end date and work schedule.

• 4 credit course = 12 hours per week working on the project
• 3 credit course = 9 hours per week working on the project
• 2 credit course = 6 hours per week working on the project
• 1 credit course = 3 hours per week working on the project
   

Student Stipend

Summer: $4,000–students must be working on the project 35 to 40 hours per week for 10 to 12 weeks. Stipend is paid in two parts (6/30 and 8/31).

Fall/Spring: $500–only students registered for a 3 or 4 credit research course will earn the $500 stipend. Stipend is paid at the end of the semester (12/31 or 5/31).

 

CST Undergraduate Research Symposium

All URP students, no matter the semester, are invited to participate in the CST Undergraduate Research Symposium. The Symposium is hosted in early fall.