I plan on doing grad school (in a social science) and would love to (need to?) have a senior thesis or some other significant work to submit. I worry about finding a prof to supervise me- most of my classes are big, required courses unspecific to any topics I’d like to research/pursue further in grad school. In 3rd and 4th year if I want to do research, can I just contact profs I’ve never actually had and ask them to supervise me (specifically if they specialize in topics I’m interested in)?
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hey there,
already thinking about research, huh? good for you. you’re a model student, unlike myself. just thinking about the idea of doing research is sending a shiver down my throat and to my gag reflex – and class hasn’t even started yet.
for the keen and eager student such as yourself however, there are opportunities available. but not to fear – you don’t have to just contact profs out of the blue. there are lots of courses geared specifically towards doing research and working closely with a professor on a project.
for?third year, there are the 397/8/9 research courses, which are available in many departments. other 39*?courses will involve a research component in a different way – for example,they might be “special topics” courses, which
each class will have different application processes depending on the course, but all the details will be posted on the course calendar.
you can use the course calendar to take a look at what’s available this year, and get an idea of what might be in store for you once you get to your third and fourth years. some examples of 39* courses include SOC390Y1, POL397Y1 and ABS398H0.
some of these courses (specifically, the 300-level independent studies courses) will require that you find your own supervisor. other courses, like the 497/8/9 advanced research courses, will already have an instructor attached to them (examples of 49* courses include CJS499H1?and SOC498H1).
again, just browse the course calendar to see what’s available, and see what the usual deadlines are. then you just apply and see what happens!
cheers,
aska