Expectations

* Prior to applying to the program or upon acceptance to the RCP program, you have to set aside up to 2 units during the fall semester (for BIOL 280R and 299L), and 3 units during the spring semester (for BIOL 280R, 280S, and 299L) when planning your courses (see below for details).

* All participants must take BIOL 280R (Introduction to Scientific Research) and BIOL 280S (RCP Laboratory Skills). One lab unit of BIOL 280S will count towards the Biology major UD lab requirements. You will also need 1 unit of a research course (e.g. BIOL 299L) once you are accepted into a research laboratory.

>> For participants majoring in Biology or Chem/Biochem, you must enroll in 1 unit of BIOL 299L (Directed Research). Chem/Biochem majors who wish to take CHEM 395 instead of BIOL 299L may be permitted. Psychology majors wishing to enrol in BIOL 299L but doing their research work in the Psychology department, may do so.

>> For Psychology majors who have taken PSYC 201/202, you must enroll in 1 unit of PSYC 498 (Directed Research). You may concurrently take PSYC 202 with PSYC 498, or get a Psychology instructor’s permission to take PSYC 498 alone without having taken PSYC 202.

* Participate in activities and presentations with fellow RCP program participants, and complete all assignments.

* You cannot defer acceptance to the program. Students who defer or withdraw from the RCP program may re-apply in the following semester, but your previous (accepted) status does not carry forward, and it is not a guarantee for re-acceptance.

* Failure to register on-time after you received your registration permit for one or more of the required courses (BIOL 280R, BIOL 280S, and/or a research course such as BIOL 299L) means automatic withdrawal from the program.

* Acceptance in the second semester is not guaranteed unless you obtain a grade of “B” (or better) in BIOL 280R. Likewise, if you are doing research, you must get a “credit” or (at least) a C+ in BIOL 299L/499L, or PSYC 498/499, or CHEM 395/495 after your first semester in the program.

Reminder for Applicants

* BIOL 280R meets every Friday in MH-287 (fall and spring). BIOL 280S is only offered in spring. BIOL 280S is specifically designed to enhance basic skills in cell and molecular biology techniques. If you are a Biology major, the lab unit obtained from this class will count towards the Biology major UD lab requirement. For non-Bio majors, the units will count towards your university degree unit requirements

* You can not be accepted into the RCP program if you are not able to enroll in BIOL 280R and/or BIOL 280S for whatever reason.

* If you cannot commit to the RCP program, but you are very interested in doing research, please contact the faculty member you are interested in and inquire about joining his or her research laboratory.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

Download the application form (available here by clicking on the link) --> RCP Application Form  (MS Word).

Fill out the form and answer three short essay questions. Note that when answering/filling in the box on the application form, you must place the cursor on the box and "right click" until you see a window. Click on "checked" as an option on the window.

Save a copy of your TDA as PDF, and submit with your application in Doc/Docx or PDF format.

Application due date

The application form and TDA must be submitted via email on the due date: May 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM.

Send the application materials to the RCP Director: Dr. Laura Arce at larce@fullerton.edu