FIVS 491/291: Research

Step 1: Find and secure a research opportunity

Find a research opportunity that interests you and meets the FEPAC accreditation standards. You must have an official research offer before you can apply for FIVS 491/291 credit.

FEPAC requires that FIVS research be supervised by a practicing expert in a forensic field who has publications in forensic journals. Here is a list of FEPAC approved faculty 

• Look up faculty and their research interests/lab profiles on the department website
• Reach out to faculty members with whom you would like to work
  • Introduce yourself (name, major, your interests/goals)
  • Explain that you are looking for a research position for credit, and what interests you about their research
  • Ask if they have any opportunities for you, and what their expectations are for their lab/projects
• If you are extended an opportunity, work with the research faculty to write up your proposal

Step 2: Confirm the number of credit hours needed

2 credits of 491 are required for your degree plan. 291 does not satisfy the degree requirements.

• 1 credit hour = minimum of 45 working hours.
• 2 credit hours = minimum of 90 working hours.
• Additional credit hours must be approved by your academic advisor, maximum allowed is 4 credits.

To determine if your degree plan has room for more than the required 2 credits to count as directed electives contact your Academic Advisor before applying.

Step 3: Complete the application and proposal

Step 4: Research verification, completion of required training and forms

• Proposals will be reviewed, and more information or additional steps in Howdy may be requested
• Students will not be registered for Research credit until the Department has verified and approved project(s) with the research supervisor
• The department coordinator will email instructions for how you complete required training steps once the research is verified
• Department-required training/s do not include lab-specific training. The research advisor must ensure that lab-specific training is completed by the student prior to entry to their lab.

Step 5: Coordinator registers student for FIVS 491/291

• Students should allow a minimum of two business weeks after application closing date for this process to be approved.
• Students may only be registered for Research credit hours during university approved registration periods; credit cannot be applied retroactively.
• Students are responsible for checking registration dates for each semester.
• Students will receive registration confirmation via email.
• Establish your research schedule with your supervisor before you begin the research.

Professionalism

• Treat this experience as your job and a priority. Be in regular communication with your research faculty advisor and know what their expectations are so you can meet them.
• Log your experiences in a lab notebook. Track the dates, times and hours worked, along with a description of what you worked on, learned and observed daily. This must be logged to earn credits.
• Work your required hours. Work a minimum of 3 hours per week per credit registered during the fall/spring semester. Research can be variable in terms of work flow. Be prepared to adjust your schedule to your project’s needs.
• Present your research. TAMU Student Research Week is a great way to gain experience in a friendly setting.

Requirements for Final Grade

By the deadline indicated for the semester in which the student is registered, the student is to upload the final project documentation to the link associated with the semester for which they registered (see links and deadlines for submitting final documents at the bottom of the page).

Technical difficulties are the responsibility of the student and sometimes occur; therefore, we strongly encourage students to submit the documents well in advance of the deadline to allow for troubleshooting if technical difficulties occur.

Required Final Project Documentation