The experience is designed to teach students about how and why experiments are done, and to let them join in the excitement of seeing results. More advanced students may design their own research project, but the majority work alongside a faculty researcher or graduate student on an on-going project. To gain a good sense of the scientific research method, it is good to work on a specific project with a hypothesis, read original scientific papers related to the research topic, perform experiments, perform data analysis or discuss data analysis with your sponsor, and write a report. If you want to start earlier, you can approach faculty at any time that you wish. The University of Washington expects students to work an average of 3 hours per week to receive 1 credit hour.
Students typically take three to five credits per quarter over two or more quarters.
This translates into an average of 9 to 15 hours per week. However, because research is done by individual arrangement there will be some variation. You will register in the department of your sponsoring professor regardless of your major. In order to register for undergraduate research credit you first have to discuss an arrangement with a faculty member with whom you will do research. Once an arrangement is made you will need to pick up an entry code from the professor's home department.