CU Boulder Coopertive Learning and Pathways Programs
The Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program is a professional development education program that allows undergraduate students to participate in a year-round schedule that alternates professionally related work experiences with classroom coursework. The Co-op Program can provide as much as two years of direct professional development within a five-year bachelor's degree program.
The Discovery Learning Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder brings together engineering students, faculty, government and business partners to advance research and education across traditional boundaries.
Pathways to Science
Pathways to Science is a project of the Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP). It supports pathways to the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Pathways to Science places particular emphasis on connecting underrepresented groups with STEM programs, funding, mentoring, and resources. Its website can be used to find undergraduate summer research opportunities, graduate fellowships, and postdoctoral positions.
National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Opportunities
https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/
BSI Scholars in STEM Undergraduate Research
This program, new in 2016, replaces both the BURST and UROP-HHMI funding programs.
Independent research is a time-intensive endeavor. You should have a strong interest in conducting research given the demands of finding a lab, applying for funding, and gaining background knowledge and training - all before actually conducting research. Once in the lab, you should expect to spend at least 10 hours per week on research during the school year and 20-40 hours per week during the summer.
Additional Resources
CU Boulder Computer Science Research Summaries
http://www.colorado.edu/engineering/sites/default/files/research-cs.pdf
GRE Fee Reduction Program
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about/fees/reductions
UROP
CU Boulder has a rich culture for cultivating undergraduates as emerging scholars, artists and practicing researchers. UROP provides consultation services, informational workshops and grants to promote undergraduate research as a high-impact learning practice for student success.
Each year UROP funds hundreds of students who produce new knowledge and creative work in partnership with CU's world-class faculty. We serve students and faculty whose learning and teaching goals include outside-the-classroom enrichment.
In a UROP project, you:
- Explore academic interests beyond the classroom
- Get hands-on experience with research or creative production
- Develop student-faculty relationships for professional references
- Acquire academic and professional skills and credentials
- Demonstrate successful grant-writing skills
- Refine your academic and career goals