How to Enroll

Many students gain experience in a faculty research laboratory through special study courses numbered 99 (for lower-division undergraduates) or 199 (for advanced undergraduates). Both courses involve independent study and research under the supervision of a faculty member, vary from one to five units, and can only be taken on a Passed/Not Passed basis. You must complete 84 units before enrolling in a course numbered 192, 194H, or 199 to receive degree and upper-division credit.

Other special study courses that enable students to participate in undergraduate research are identified in the summary of courses below. Please refer to the UC Davis catalog for further information about these courses.

Summary of special study courses

• 92/192 - Internship (1-12 units)
• 98/198 - Directed Group Study (1-5 units)
• 99 - Special Study for Lower-Division Undergraduates (1-5 units)
• 194H - Special Study for Honors Students (1-5 units)
• 199 - Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5 units)
• EVE 189 - Introduction to Biological Research (1 unit)
• MCB 191 - Introduction to Research (1 unit)
• MCB 193 - Advanced Research (3 units)
• PLB 189 - Experiments in Plant Biology: Design and Execution (3 units)
• PLS 191 - Undergraduate Research (3 units)

Most major programs limit the number of special study course units that can be counted toward satisfaction of the major requirements. See your major adviser or an adviser in the Undergraduate Academic Programs office in the College of Biological Sciences Dean's office, (202 Life Sciences), (530) 752-0410, for detailed information about how special study courses fit into your degree plan.

How to Enroll in a 99 or 199 Special Study Course

If you want to be involved in a faculty research project through a 99 or 199 special study course, follow the steps below:

1. Review the faculty profiles in this guide that are in your area(s) of interest. Since the research interests of faculty members often cross disciplinary boundaries, you may want to look under related areas as well.

2. Contact the faculty member(s) and make an appointment to meet with them. (Do not hesitate to contact them; they are expecting your call.) Make an effort to talk to more than one faculty member so that you are in a better position to select a laboratory that is best for you.

3. Once you've selected a laboratory and the faculty member has agreed to sponsor you in a special study course, you'll need to confirm the amount of time you'll spend on the project and your start date. The faculty member will then submit a proposal for enrollment in a special study course to his or her department or section chairperson for approval.

4. Following approval of the special study course by the chairperson, enroll in the course using the faculty member's individual CRN number.

Additional Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Internship and Career Center on the second and third floors of South Hall, has hundreds of internship opportunities that range from observational to hands-on experiences. They have expert advisers in each area of study. Especially important to CBS students are the advisers in Health and Biological Sciences, and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.