Course Enrollment Options
Commonly used courses for documenting undergraduate research experiences in any academic department include the 291/491, 285/485, and 497 course codes.
Course Codes
Research (291/491)
291 (freshman and sophomore) and 491 (junior and senior) courses are the preferred course for undergraduate research experiences and serve as the university's official designated course for undergraduates conducting research under a Texas A&M faculty member.
Directed Studies (285/485)
281 (freshman and sophomore) and 485 (junior and senior) courses are also occasionally used to document high-impact undergraduate experiences, but do not necessarily imply that the student is conducting an independent undergraduate research project. When possible, 291/491 should be used.
Capstone (497)
497 courses are the designated capstone course. In some departments, the 497 code specifically refers to Honors Independent Study.
Credit Hours
Available credit hours for Research, Directed Studies, and Capstone courses vary by department. Faculty, staff, and students should consult the Undergraduate Catalog to determine what credit hour ranges are available in each department.
Registration for 1 to 3 credit hours is the most common in any semester. Some departments may allow registration up to 6 credit hours per semester.
It is the responsibility of the department, faculty member, and the student to determine the appropriate number of credit hours for a Research course based on the expectations set by the faculty member.
Zero Credit Hour Enrollment
Many departments have now approved 0-credit hour enrollment in Research courses, which have distinct benefits for faculty and students in some circumstances.
0-credit hour enrollment in Research courses allow students to document undergraduate research on their transcript when course credit may be detrimental to their degree plan and/or when financial compensation (i.e., a scholarship or student worker position) is not an available or the preferred option. Documentation of undergraduate research experience is valuable when students are applying for jobs, graduate school, or professional school.
Faculty also benefit from enrolling their students in 0-credit Research courses as they are credited as the Instructor of Record and can document their mentorship of students. Additionally, students' can be held accountable to university rules and regulations for all research activity, unlike volunteers, auditors, or observers.
Financial Compensation Options
In addition to course credit, undergraduate students may receive financial compensation for undergraduate research.
Scholarships
Undergraduate students may be paid for research activity via scholarship payment; however, scholarship payments may impact a student's financial aid package, and students should always consult Scholarships & Financial Aid before accepting an award.
Faculty and staff planning to submit scholarship payment requests for undergraduate researchers should refer to the University Scholarship Administrators guidance from Scholarships & Financial Aid.
Student Employment
Undergraduate students can be hired and placed on payroll according to standard employment procedures outlined by the Division of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness.
Advisory Note: Dual Compensation
Also known as “double-dipping,” dual compensation pairs course credit with financial compensation. While it is possible for undergraduate researchers to receive both course credit and financial compensation for the same research experience, this practice should be considered only in specific circumstances with substantial documentation. Careful differentiation between work completed for pay and work completed for credit must be clearly documented. All compensation for research must be compliant with university, state, and federal regulations.
Summer Research Considerations
The Office of Undergraduate Research is an established gateway for policies related to summer undergraduate research experiences. Our office collects and distributes campus policies that impact NSF-REU summer programs as well as other non-NSF undergraduate research experiences, and provides support to colleges, departments, and other units.
Summer Resources & Guidance