Research Curriculum

The Research Curriculum was developed under Phase I of CSULB BUILD includes seven courses designed to support student’s consideration of research career options and to provide training appropriate to developing a research career. Students can view the current CSULB class schedule here.

Course Descriptions & Outlines

This course was designed to serve entering or undeclared students to explore and evaluate the diversity of career opportunities available, particularly for those considering research careers. Students will develop knowledge and skills that are designed to cultivate curiosity and an identity as a researcher as well as stress and time management to support healthy behaviors.

This course covers the definition, prevalence, risk and protective factors, and interventions for health disparities among diverse populations. Using problem-based approaches, students will learn about discipline-specific and interdisciplinary methods to address common biomedical issues in a culturally relevant way. The course also examines the social and cultural contexts of health and illness and factors that affect both illness and health care over the life span.

  • Satisfied GE Category D3 (Social Science and Citizenship) and Human Diversity GE requirements
  • Multidiscipline approach to health issues & disease
  • Develop an understanding of the cultural & personal relevance of research
  • Supports a culturally-relevant science identity

  • Introduction to research design & hypothesis testing
  • Data measurement, analysis, and presentation
  • Review of scientific literature

RSCH 296A Introduction to Biomedical Research Methods

This course introduces students to principles and ethics of experimentation, hypothesis formulation, and testing. Students will learn data measurement, analysis, and presentation, how to find and read scientific literature, keep a laboratory notebook and basic data graphing and analysis skills. This course was designed to serve an audience of undergraduate student researchers who are ready to begin participating in directed research experiences.

RSCH 296B Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods

The course introduces topics for inquiry and analysis in behavioral and social science research. Historical events shaping current ethical standards for research guide research design, analysis, and reporting. Students learn observation and experimentation, hypotheses formulation and testing, measurement, analysis, and reporting. This course was designed to serve an audience of undergraduate student researchers who are ready to begin participating in directed research experiences.

This course builds upon prior research focused experiences and coursework to explore differing types of research and how that work is communicated, obtaining and understanding research literature, communicating research to a range of audiences, written and oral communication, and the development and use of infographics.

  • Satisfies GE Category F Writing Intensive Capstone requirement
  • Proficiency in oral & written communication related to dissemination of research
  • Intensive practice in writing, editing, & critiquing
  • Discipline-specific methodologies
  • It is strongly recommended that the student completes IRM or IRM-equivalent course before taking this class.

  • Satisfied GE Category F Advanced Skills Capstone requirement
  • Research design & hypothesis testing
  • Identifying funding sources (e.g., NIH, Foundations, etc.)
  • Grant writing
  • Prerequisites of RSCH 361 and upper-division standing.

RSCH 496A Advanced Biomedical Research Methods

This course provides an advanced study of the theoretical and practical aspects of conducting biomedical research including hypothesis formulation, experimental design, assessment of error within empirical data, and the preparation of sound and fundable grant proposals. This course was designed to serve an audience of undergraduate student researchers who are ready to begin to develop their own research questions into research programs.

RSCH 496B Advanced Behavioral Research Methods

This course is designed to provide in-depth knowledge of scientific research, emphasizing the connection between research design and statistical analyses, to conduct behavioral research. The course covers literature review, hypothesis generation, types of research designs and conceptual approach to data analyses. This course was designed to serve an audience of undergraduate student researchers who are ready to begin to develop their own research questions into research programs.