The Research Practice (RES PRC) subject area includes interdisciplinary courses in the practice of research. Hosted by the Undergraduate Research Center – Sciences and the Undergraduate Research Center – Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Research Practice courses cover the development of research questions and the application of methodologies, as well as forms of qualitative and quantitative analysis, and research communications and publications. The courses combine the theoretical and the practical, and emphasize experiential learning. In the Research Practice subject area, students do not just gain knowledge and skills in their discipline; they also develop an understanding of how knowledge is created and applied across the university.
Research Practice courses expand on important skills for success in research, and also explore how research skills integrate into a variety of careers. Research Practice courses are not associated with one department; students in any major can enroll. Some courses are associated with a research, journal, or scholarship program, and so acceptance into that program is required to receive a PTE to join the class. Other courses have an open enrollment.
Need help getting course credit for off-campus research during the academic year or summer? We can help with that too as we offer RES PRC 99 and RES PRC 195.
Spring 2026 Course Offerings
Research Practice 98T: Economics of Education (SEM 1 – Lee)
Is going to school still worth it? What can government policy do to improve the current system of education? This course is intended for students interested in learning more about education policy and/or economic research. We will discuss economics research findings related to all aspects of education, from the theory to results, spanning all the way from preschool to college. Along the way, students will practice empirical research skills by learning to code in R, working with public microdata, and writing a literature review. By the end of the class, students will submit a peer-reviewed policy proposal to increase educational attainment.
Research Practice 98T: “Drop the visuals!”: Music Videos as Black Pop Feminism (SEM 2 – Abston)
This course examines music videos and visual albums from the MTV era from 1980s to the present-day streaming era, exploring the history and evolving aesthetics of music videos. With a focus on Black female artists from Grace Jones to Beyoncé, this course will explore how music videos are more than just a medium for entertainment and how performance, lyrics, cinematography, timing, setting, and editing, can shape meaning and create cultural values related to race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, and more. By the end of the quarter, students will submit a project–either as a paper, video essay, or music video treatment–that explores concepts from the course.
Research Practice 98T: Cosmic Evolution: The History of Galaxies through Astronomical Datasets (SEM 3 – Williams)
Astronomers have built an understanding of our Universe’s history from the Big Bang to the present day using observations of hundreds of millions of galaxies, from the tiny satellite galaxies that orbit our own Milky Way to ancient galaxies located billions of light years away from us at the beginning of the Universe. These observations–achieved using Hubble, the James Webb Space Telescopes, and other Great Observatories–are published and available to the public online. However, actually using and engaging with these datasets is often limited to research scientists who study astronomy full time. Together, we’ll take this data into our own hands. No prior knowledge of astronomy is expected and the course welcomes students from all disciplines. It will prepare you to undertake research projects in the future and teach you how to investigate data, critically interpret scientific claims, and effectively communicate what you learn.
Learn more about the Spring CUTF instructors and the CUTF Program here.
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