Student Research Proposal
In order for a proposal to be reviewed, the student and the proposal must meet the following prerequisites:
- Student has completed at least 60 credit hours (at start of research).
- Major discipline encompasses project discipline.
- Student has a cumulative GPA of 3.0.*
- Faculty sponsor has agreed to mentor.
If you have met these requirements, please begin your proposal. To help you complete your proposal, please read the sections below to make sure your proposal is ready. Please submit your completed three-part proposal in addition to your application to admin_aid@byuh.edu. You will find the application on the bottom of Student Research page.
Outline Proposal
The proposal should be written by the student under the supervision of the sponsoring faculty mentor and include the following:
General Statement
- Interests and career goals.
- Project area and reasons for choice.
- Previous research experience (if applicable).
Research Design
- Introduction (including objectives, thesis statement, and projected outcomes/findings).
- Methodology (including a week-by-week timeline).
- If dealing with human subjects (IRB status).
Presentation and/or Publication Plans
- Planned presentation/publication timeline or dates.
- Conference and/or publication venues.
- Conference/Publication Abstract.
Reviewer's Guidelines for Qualified Applicants
Researcher Preparation
- Does the applicant's general statement show appropriate preparation for and interest in the proposed project?
Proposal Preparation
- Has the proposal been prepared carefully and completely?
- Is the proposed research placed in context of the discipline being studied?
- Does the proposal demonstrate a serious and professional approach to the endeavor?
- Has the sponsoring faculty mentor seen and approved of the proposal?
Objectives (Relationship to University Mission and Goals)
- Are the objectives of the project clearly stated?
- Do they have a relationship to the university mission and goals (intercultural, leadership, etc.)?
Propriety and Feasibility of Methodology
- Is the proposed methodology appropriate to the project feasible in terms of undergraduate research and the proposed time frame?
- Are the requested resources available and/or adequate to complete the project?
- Does the Project have sufficient focus to be feasible? Tightly focused questions and research methods are preferred over vague and overly-ambitious ideas.
Project Merit
- Will the result of the project add to the body of knowledge in its field?
- Does the project have academic merit?
- Does the project address a question of significance?
- Are the project results likely to be accepted for publication or presentation?
- If a faculty member is sponsoring multiple student proposals, does the project rank highly in the faculty member's comparative rankings?