Senior Research

1-12 Credit Hours

The OWEN L. COON/JAMES A. RAHL SENIOR RESEARCH PROGRAM is an opportunity for students in their third year of study to conduct in depth, supervised legal research. The Program contemplates frequent, weekly individual meetings between the student and the supervising faculty member. An oral examination may also be required by the supervising faculty member. Senior Research is research leading to a publishable paper or article under the direct and active supervision of a faculty member. Senior Research may be taken by third-year students for 4 to 12 total credit hours in one or two semesters (minimum of 4 credits in the first semester taken, maximum 8 in any semester) in any field of study upon agreement with the supervising professor, subject to the rules governing the program. Any variation requires early, personal discussion with and approval of the Director of Research. Enrollment presumes and assumes student knowledge of program rules and requirements. Students must obtain final approval from the supervising professor and the Director of the Senior Research Program before they can be enrolled. Enrollment is manual in the Registrar's Office, not self-service on CAESAR. A completed, approved research plan must be filed in the Registrar's Office before the end of any drop/add period. The research plan form is available on the Registration and Records web page, and in the Registrar's Office. The research plan form should be submitted to the Registrar's Office after the signature approval of the supervising professor. The Registrar's Office will submit the plan to the Director of Research for final approval. Senior Research requires close and frequent consultation between the student and the supervising professor, which means local presence. Proposed plans that involve distant research would be very much the exception and require early, personal review with the Director of Research. Senior Research projects of at least 4 credits meet the research writing graduation requirement.