PLSCI 4990 - Independent Undergraduate Research in Plant Science

Fall, spring. 3-6 credits, variable.

Prerequisite: GPA of at least 3.2. Permission of instructor required. Enrollment limited to students in the Plant Sciences major. Students must register using CALS Special Studies form available online. Link: https://dust.cals.cornell.edu/IndStudyPolicy.aspx

Staff.

Affords opportunities for students to carry out independent research under appropriate supervision. Each student is expected to review pertinent literature, prepare a project outline, conduct the research, and prepare a report.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to:
• Identify a question or topic requiring original research through critical examination of existing literature.
• Formulate the question into one or more testable hypotheses or central arguments and develop methods suitable to evaluate these hypotheses or arguments.
• Obtain information relevant to the hypotheses or arguments through effective use of contemporary methods and research techniques.
• Critically analyze the evidence obtained to refute or support the hypotheses or arguments.
• Integrate the findings of this research to the findings of others and to larger issues in the discipline.
• Communicate effectively through writing the thesis and oral or poster presentations.