During the fall semester, Undergraduate Research Fellows become familiar with a substantive area of interest. The focus is on understanding more fully the nature of inquiry and the process of scholarly research, as well as learning research and communication skills. During the spring semester, students work actively on their research projects, learn more about regional science, prepare their draft and final reports, and often present their research at a conference. Faculty mentors also help students prepare their manuscripts for possible journal publication. Students learn general research skills, including writing well and acquiring and using data, while they learn about the research process and the variety and range of regional research.
Students learn the core theories and methods of regional science.
Topics include regional growth and decline, industrial location, migration, labor markets, and several methods of quantitative regional analysis. Students conduct research with their faculty mentors. Typically, they join an on-going research project. They serve initially as research assistants, working toward the point when student and mentor can define an independent research role for the student. The final product is a scholarly research paper written by the student.