The IDEA Center aims to provide any undergraduate student with the opportunity to engage in research and creative expression in their field of study. More specifically, the IDEA center assists undergraduates in gaining awareness of research and ethical research practices, and supports them while they work with a faculty mentor to produce a research or creative expression project. The IDEA Center also offers undergraduates opportunities to publicly present their projects to the campus community.
The McNair Scholars Program, officially known as Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, is a federal TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either low-income first-generation college students or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.
Not necessarily tied to any individual program that supports undergraduate research, the TXST Office of Undergraduate Research lists links to various departments and programs that offer research opportunities through faculty members to undergraduate students.
Undergraduate Research Fellowships (URF) support undergraduate research and creative projects at Texas State University. Every semester the URF committee awards between 10 and 12 competitive scholarships of up to $1000 to students seeking funding for their projects. Fellowships are awarded for projects such as Honors theses and independent studies as well as for Capstone projects or for original work done under the umbrella of faculty-directed research. Undergraduates of all majors are eligible. Membership in the Honors College is not required to apply.
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. They offer you a chance to explore research opportunities at other universities across the United States and provide you with monetary and housing support while doing so.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has an Education & Training Application Portal (ETAP) where you can search for research opportunities tied to your research and academic interests.