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Arts & Humanities Research Guides CUR Resources for Students      

Roadmap to Research 

Everyone's research journey is unique, but this outline can provide some structure
as you embark on yours. 

  • Be curious 
    • Hone in on your interests: Write down your favorite classes and why you liked them, journal about your favorite memories and how you could leverage that interest in research, and ask people close to you what they think your favorite academic subjects are. 
    • Explore Diverse Topics: Dive into various subjects that pique your interest. 
      • Utilize search engines and AI to explore related topics. 
        • Example: ChatGPT “I am interested in anthropology; what are some related fields?” or “What are the hottest topics in music research in the last decade?” 
  • Brainstorm 
    • Identify Problems: Look for gaps in existing research or issues that need solving. 
    • Generate Ideas: Hold brainstorming sessions individually or with peers to generate a list of potential research topics. 
      • Have at least 2 interests prepared before your meetings. 
  • Meetings 
    • Advisors will also help you evaluate the feasibility of your idea in terms of time, resources, and potential impact. 
  • Meet your mentor 
    • Choose a mentor with the help of your advisor.
    • Email: Here is an email template to help you connect 

      • Hi Dr. [X],

        I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am a [your grade] at Montana State University. I came across your work in [enter specific example here] and found it fascinating. After discussing potential research opportunities with the Undergraduate Research Ambassador, I was advised to reach out to you about possibly pursuing a research project under your guidance.

        [Speak about your experience] (example: While I am still early in my academic journey and understand the limitations of my practical experience, I am eager and committed to learning in order to enhance my education at MSU.) I have already explored a variety of funding options through the Undergraduate Scholars Program, the Honors College, and the Montana Space Grant Consortium, which I believe could support my involvement in research.

        I would love the opportunity to chat further about your current projects. I have a flexible schedule and would appreciate the chance to meet with you at your convenience. Here is my availability to meet over the next week:

        • Monday: [Insert hours]
        • Tuesday: [Insert hours]
        • Wednesday: [Insert hours]
        • Thursday: [Insert hours]
        • Friday: [Insert hours]

        I have attached my resume, cover letter, and class schedule for your convenience. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you and hope to connect soon!

        Best regards,
        [Your Name]
        [Your Contact Information]

    • Establish a Relationship and Set Goals: Regularly meet with your mentor to discuss progress and seek guidance. Work with your mentor to set short-term and long-term research goals. Use this editable PDF to establish expectations with you new mentor. 
  • Secure funding or credit
    •  Students can volunteer, work, or earn credit as they conduct research
    • How you get paid depends on several things, and your advisor/mentor can help with this. The grant that funds the research, the organization you applied through, or your status as a work-study are all examples of different ways payment gets configured.
    • Students can also earn credit for their research. This option is to be established through your mentor and will likely come from your mentor's department. 
  • Training (discipline-specific) 
    • This is often in the beginning of your work via online courses to prepare you for hands-on research.  
    • Training timelines and expectations should be discussed in the initial Mentor-Mentee expectations meeting. 
  • Research 
    • After you are fully trained, you will conduct your research and report back to your mentor. 
    • If you need assistance with special archives or literature reviews, the Renne Library's staff is excellent at helping! Schedule online to meet with a librarian (trust us, they'll love it). If in-person isn't your thing, you can also access their online resources. 
  • Present/Publish

 

Learn more about getting started on your research journey by visiting these two sites:

Getting Started With the USP Research Is A Journey      

 

Applying for Credit 

Use this outline to apply for independent research credits with your department.

Research Credit Application 390/490R

Student Name ________________________________________________________________

Mentor Name and Department __________________________________________________

Fill in Code and Select one: _________ 390R or _________490R               (ex. BIOM 490R)

Select one: 1 credit = ~ 3 hours/week     2 credits = ~ 6 hours/week     3 credits = ~9 hours/week

Describe your project

Background: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Goals (what you want to get done this semester):

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mentor Expectations (what you are expected to do around the lab, office, etc., and other expectations outlined by your mentor)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other comments or notes:

 

 

Rubric

Topic A: Excellent B: Sufficient C: Decent D: Lacking F: Fail
Professionalism Student meets the field’s standards Student meets most standards but may be lacking in one or two areas Student meets most standards but may be lacking in two or more areas A student meets some standards but does not meet the majority Student meets no standards
Time Commitment and management Student meets the weekly hours noted above and shows strong time management Student mostly meets the weekly hours noted above and has some time management Student is strong in one area and somewhat strong in the other Student either meets the weekly hours or shows strong time management Does not meet time commitment or show strong time management
Academic Writing Student showed improvement or is already proficient Student showed some improvement or is somewhat proficient Student improved somewhat or is okay at academic writing Student did not improve, but is able to produce writing Student did not improve and is not able to produce writing
Critica Thinking Insightful, well-reasoned, and demonstrates deep understanding Solid analysis with minor gaps in depth or reasoning Basic analysis with logical gaps or minimal originality Weak analysis with significant gaps No meaningful analysis or understanding
Goal Completion Completes all goals Completes most goals Completes some goals Completes one goal Completes no goals