LOCAL STRATIGRAPHY AS THE BASIS FOR PROJECT-BASED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS INCORPORATED INTO SEDIMENTOLOGY/STRATIGRAPHY LABORATORIES

Southern Utah University Department of Geoscieces has utilized the ideal setting of the institution on the Colorado Plateaux/Basin and Range boundary to develop an integrated undergraduate research program into the Sedimentology/Stratigraphy laboratory course. All junior/senior level students enrolled in the course are required to complete an appropriate independent research project as an integral part of the course. After successful completion of two sessions of the course, students are mentally prepared and start looking for projects of interest a year or more ahead of the beginning date for the course. Each student selects an appropriate project in consultation with the professor and many discussions preceed the actual date. As students learn the expectations of the professor individual research project selection and supervision become easier.

Course expectations: select a project of appropriate difficulty, present a project prospectus to the professor and have it approved, complete approximately 40 hours of field and related laboratory work (including at least 2 or 3 one-on-one half day excursions with the professor), present the final results in a formal setting to the rest of the class, present results in a formal venue, i.e. Utah Academy of Science or section meeting of a professional society.

After the above experiences, several students have worked with the professor and submitted their research for publication. Incorporation of undergraduate research into the curriculum has been extremely rewarding for both student and professors. Incorporation of undergraduate research into the curriculum also requires a great deal of effort on the part of both student and professor.