Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to pursue options for individualized study through internships, service learning, independent studies and thesis projects. When grants and funding allow, students may have opportunities to participate in faculty research as research assistants.
Undergraduates
Undergraduate students may produce original research by pursuing magna and summa cum laude Latin honors project. Latin honors projects require the completion of COMM 4700 - Writing Practicum. Magna or summa cum laude honors are determined by the quality of the project the student completes; summa cum laude honors are the highest Latin honors available. The completion of COMM 4700 counts towards the 39 hours of Communication credit needed to fulfill the requirements for the major and may also count as a required exit course.
Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Funding Request Instructions
Conference paper presentation is a useful and important part of training in Communication. The Department of Communication has competitive funding for undergraduate students who have been accepted to present their research at a conference. Students at all levels are eligible to apply if they will be presenting a paper or poster and are current students at the time of the conference. However, priority will be given to applicants who have not received a COMM Department Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Funding since the fall semester of 2023. Up to $500 may be awarded per academic year from the Department in support of this travel.
To apply for this funding, you'll need to:
- Choose a professor to help guide you through the application process and act as an advisor for the application process.
- With that professor, fill out the application form. Click here to download the application form.
- Please complete the application form and e-mail the completed form to your chosen professor/advisor for signature (ICB students should e-mail the completed form to your research advisor Dr. Pearl Zhenzhu Zhang, and she will sign it if your application is supported by the majority of the ICB COMM Undergraduate Research Conference Competitive Travel Awards Selection Committee).
- Your chosen professor will then forward your completed application form with their signature (ICB students should have your research advisor Dr. Pearl Zhenzhu Zhang’s signature) to the Department Chair. This must be done at least one month prior to the conference.
- Once you have a decision from the Department, work with Michelle Medal (Denver) "Payton" Weijia Wu (Beijing) to make travel arrangements and submit your travel reimbursement. ICB students should also communicate with advisor Dr. Pearl Zhenzhu Zhang.
No purchases of any kind can be made until and unless the Chair has approved the travel request.
Funding is limited, so not all requests may receive funds.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) also offers competitive funding for students who have been accepted to present research at a conference. COMM students are encouraged to seek funding from the Department of Communication and CLAS. Learn more and find the application here.
Graduate Students
Students in the academic track of our MA program may elect to pursue thesis research under faculty supervision or complete an original research project of substance. Four to six thesis credit hours are required for the thesis option. Students interested in pursuing research should talk to the Director of Graduate Studies at least one to two semesters before they intend to begin a project.