Research Electives

SMD 616 Introduction to the Research Learning Community: Over the past five years the Medical Student Research Club and the Office of Research Affairs have helped self-motivated students to find faculty-mentored research experiences during their medical education. Research experiences typically took the form of: 1) student-initiated electives (SIE's) in the summer between years 1 and 2; and 2) extracurricular projects conducted at varying intervals throughout the year. Some M1 students came to WSU with significant prior research experience, and for them, developing a research SIE during year 1 was a viable option. Others indicated no prior research experience. Many in both groups expressed a fundamental curiosity about research and how it might contribute to their future professional development. SMD 616 is designed to give M1 students who are curious about research an established curriculum alternative to the SIE. It can also help students to plan and write a subsequent SIE proposal. SMD 616 runs longitudinally from January-July; the admission application deadline is December 1. Read the SMD 616 course description.

SMD 617 Research Learning Community 2: The elective for M2 students builds on the concepts and activities established in SMD 616 (Introduction to the Research Learning Community). The M2 elective provides a supportive environment for continuation or completion of research projects begun in SMD 616, but SMD 616 is not a prerequisite. The M2 elective also supports students who continue to participate in extracurricular or SIE (student initiated elective) research projects. SMD 617 runs longitudinally from September-April; the enrollment deadline is Sept. 30. Read the SMD 617 course description.