Under this pathway, you will actually start to prepare for your second year in the course during the spring of your first year.  By the time that school year ends, your goal is to find a research mentor to help guide you through your work.  Although this mentor can be someone local who you meet with in person, they can really be anywhere in the world as long as you communicate with them regularly.  We've had researchers on this pathway have mentors as far away as Australia!  If your research interests do not require a lab based experience, you will most likely be on this pathway.

During the summer before your second year in the course, you will work with your mentor to ensure you have the proper background knowledge to continue with your work.  This will typically involve a lot of reading and sometimes even training using software you will need for your research.  A big part of your summer will be spent on planning your research project.  You'll spend at least 90 hours working on your research during the summer, while also earning your first two college credits through UAlbany.  Mr. Williams will give you a more detailed list of tasks to accomplish during the summer at the end of your first year.  The course description for this summer course is provided below.

ACAS 109:  Intermediate Science Research (2 cr.)

Students learn research methodology in the natural and social sciences by accessing scientific databases, by using on-line bibliographic search techniques, consulting doctoral-level research scholars, developing hypotheses and performing experiments to test them, and by writing research papers and making presentations at scientific symposia.  It is expected that the students will have done many of these activities in the prerequisite high school course, and in this course emphasis is placed upon the formulation of hypotheses and initiation of experiments in consultation with mentors.  Prerequisite(s):  completion of one year of an approved course in science research at the high school level; permission of instructor.  Offered summer session only.

Near the end of the summer session, the instructor will meet with the student’s mentor to discuss the student’s progress throughout the summer.  The instructor will then meet with the student for a “summer assessment session” during which the student’s grade for ACAS 109 will be determined.

When we come back to school in September, you'll continue working with your mentor as your schedule allows.  Your main goal during the first semester will be to plan, write, and propose a formal research proposal to guide your own research.  Assuming you completed all of the requirements of your summer course, you'll register for the next UAlbany science research course - ACAS 110.

ACAS 110:  Intermediate Methods of Research (4 cr.)

Students learn research methodology in the natural and social sciences by accessing scientific databases by using online bibliographic search techniques, consulting doctoral-level research scholars, developing hypotheses and performing experiments to test them, and writing research papers and making presentations at scientific symposia.  It is expected that the students will have done many of these activities in the prerequisite high school course, and in this course emphasis is placed upon performing experiments and consulting with mentors.  Students are expected to spend at least three hours per week outside of class.  Prerequisite(s):  completion of one year of an approved course in science research at the high school level; permission of instructor.  Available for a year-long course of study only.

Shortly before the course ends, the instructor will meet with the student’s mentor to discuss the student’s progress throughout the course.  The student’s final grade for ACAS 110 will be determined at the student’s last bi-weekly meeting.

By the time your second year in the course ends, your goal is to have an approved research proposal that is ready to be implemented.  You may even start your data collection before we leave for the summer!

Although the school year ends, your research pushes on!  You'll spend the summer leading up to your senior year wrapping up your research and working on your final research paper.  You'll register for the next UAlbany science research course and have a more specialized list of tasks to accomplish during the summer as we get closer.  The course description for this year's summer course is provided below.

ACAS 209:  Advanced Science Research (2 cr.)

Continuation of work undertaken in ACAS 109 or equivalent with emphasis placed upon the completion of experiments in consultation with mentors.  Students will consult with their teachers as necessary, but will not meet in a formal classroom period.  Prerequisite(s):  satisfactory completion of ACAS 109 or completion of two years of an approved science research course at the high school level; permission of instructor.  Offered summer session only.

Near the end of the summer session, the instructor will meet with the student’s mentor to discuss the student’s progress throughout the summer.  The instructor will then meet with the student for a “summer assessment session” during which the student’s grade for ACAS 209 will be determined.

When we come back to school in September, your short term goal will be to finish your research paper.  Once your paper is complete, you'll spend the rest of the school year communicating your research with the scientific community.  This can come in the form of presenting your research at conferences and competitions, submitting your paper to be published in a scholarly research journal, or even working with government officials to broadcast your research to a much wider audience!  The final UAlbany research course is ACAS 210, which will guide you through this process depending on the nature of your research and outcomes.  The course description for this course is provided below.

ACAS 210:  Advanced Science Research (4 cr.)

Continuation of work undertaken in ACAS 110 or equivalent with emphasis placed upon the communication of results.  Students are expected to spend at least three hours per week outside of class.  Prerequisite(s):  satisfactory completion of ACAS 110 or completion of two years of an approved science research course at the high school level; permission of instructor.  Students must be enrolled throughout an entire academic year to obtain credit.

Shortly before the course ends, the instructor will meet with the student’s mentor to discuss the student’s progress throughout the course.  The student’s final grade for ACAS 210 will be determined at the student’s last bi-weekly meeting.