"CURE" Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience
CUREs, or Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences, are a novel form of classroom-based
courses that offer undergraduate students hands-on experience doing original research.
These courses provide mentored research experiences to students at a scale that is
not possible through traditional apprenticeships in faculty research laboratories.
Currently, UW’s CURE program is being developed as a sequential, three-course series
for freshman and sophomore-level students, moving students towards more autonomy in
research.
- Course 1: Introduces students to research through developing skills in primary literature
analysis, data analysis and visualization, and scholarly communication.
- Course 2: Gives students deeper knowledge in a specific discipline and training in
research methods.
- Course 3: Focuses on applying skills and knowledge in the context of a research project.
After a student finishes the series of courses, instructors help facilitate further
research opportunities for students, such as working in faculty labs or participating
in internships. Students who finish the sequence will also have the opportunity to
serve as peer mentors for new students.
