Why participate in undergraduate research?

Benefits for Student Researchers

You don't need to wait until graduate school to start participating in rigorous and meaningful research. There are numerous benefits of participating in research while an undergraduate:

• It provides a powerful learning environment for students
• It goes beyond what is taught in the classroom and enables students to apply the knowledge they are learning in their classes to a more specific question in their discipline
• It creates meaningful student-faculty interactions
• It increases the level of student excitement and engagement
• It enhances critical thinking skills and stimulates a culture of intellectual curiosity
• It is the most effective manner to create relevance between the world and the students' education
• It boosts student confidence and professionalism
• It helps to create important personal traits such as tenacity and focus that are helpful in every facet of your life
• It enhances student resumes for future graduate work or career advancement
• It's fun!

Benefits for Faculty Mentors

Faculty mentors are vitally important to ensuring Cal Lutheran students have opportunity to participate in undergraduate research and there are several benefits to consider:

• It is one of the most effective delivery methods for teaching
• It develops powerful learning environments for both faculty and students
• It creates meaningful student-faculty interactions
• It increases the level of student and faculty excitement and engagement
• It is a means for engaging communities
• It promotes faculty professional development
• It's fun!

It has helped me to become a much more efficient and pragmatic thinker and to organize my time more efficiently. These skills have helped in all parts of my life.

Donovan Argueta '14

I learned a lot about myself and gained more self confidence throughout the process. I formed scholarly relationships with my peers and professors and feel more comfortable working with people.

Jessica Reid '13

The summer research program has benefitted me by allowing me to get an understanding of the discipline I am studying as an undergraduate. By conducting research in the field of psychology with my mentor I have had the opportunity to find out that psychology is something I truly am passionate about and want to pursue as my future career.

Aaron Waters '14