WHAT IS RESEARCH PRACTICUM?

  • Research practIcum courses are zero credit courses that are a mechanism for recording on your transcript that you participated in a research lab.
  • Because they are zero credit you do not pay for them; but you do get a pass or fail grade depending on whether you met expectations for the research.
  • Those expectations will be worked out between you and the professor at the time you enrol in the course.
  • Remember that the professor and other members of the research team are committing their time to support and train you and they expect to get results for that from you.
  • Students who wish to gain practical research experience, in a lab or in the field, can make arrangements with a faculty member to participate in his/her research.
  • During this course, the student will learn current research techniques and will se these techniques to make a meaningful contribution to the supervisor's research program.
  • Students are expected to commit to approximately 5-10 hours per week (on average) for one term.
  • There is no limit to the number of terms in which they are allowed to enrol.

GRADING

  • The course is pass/fail only.
  • The research supervisor will base the practical evaluation on whether the student has adequately fulfilled the terms of the agreement signed by both student and faculty member at the time the student enrols.
  • This evaluation will take into consideration both the number of hours worked by the student and the quality of the work.
  • Students will also be required to submit, at the end of term, a 1-2 page reflective essay describing the practical skills they have acquired and explaining how those skills will contribute to their career goals.
  • To achieve a passing grade, the student must be judged to have passed both the practical evaluation and the paper.

HOW TO ENROL?

  1. Find a supervisor. Start by reading the descriptions of faculty research, which can be found on the York University web page.
  2. Contact supervisors whose research you are interested in (by e-mail or in person). Be prepared to give your potential supervisor a printout of your courses and grades (not an official transcript) and a one-page resume including your contact information, your degree program and stream, a brief statement of your career goals and how this research experience would further those goals, and any relevant work experience (paid or volunteer).
  3. When you find a faculty member who agrees to supervise you, fill out and sign the enrolment form, and get your supervisor and the course director to sign it as well. The supervisor should have the enrolment form.
  4. Enrol in the course outline.  After the course director has approved the form, take it to the Undergraduate Office of your program and an enrolment window will be opened for you.