Student Resources

CSU Student Research Competition Information

The CSU Student Research Competition (SRC) is the premiere showcase for student research in the CSU. Undergraduate and Graduate Students are eligible to participate in the SRC. Each CSU campus is allowed up to 10 projects. Projects can be individually or multiply authored.

For more information, visit the CSU Student Research webpage at: www.cistudentresearch.com/about/

Interdisciplinary Majors & Minors

Majors and minors offered at CSU Channel Islands

Interdisciplinary Courses

  • SPIRaL Courses
    • Stepladder Program for Interdisciplinary Research and Learning (SPIRaL) is part of a campus-wide effort to institutionalize undergraduate research at CSU Channel Islands (CI). It is funded in part by the W. M. Keck Foundation. SPIRaL begins with new courses at the lower division that introduce common research methods and develop analytical tools and skills.
  • First-Year Communities
    • First year freshman have a variety of options to support academic success and integration into the life of the university. First-Year Communities align with CI's Mission Pillars: Community Engagement, Integrative Studies, Multicultural Engagement, and International perspectives.
      • Learning Communities
        • Students share a common intellectual experience with an academic focus. Two or more courses are paired to promote student success and align with a CI Mission Pillar. Campus housing is NOT a requirement.
      • Living Learning Communities
        • Students are housed with students in their learning community. Living on campus is REQUIRED
      • First-Year SURF Learning Community
        • Student Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURFers) belong to a Learning Community built around curiosity, inquiry, creativity, and discovery. The touchstone of the SURF community for 2017-2018 is Santa Rosa Island. Throughout the year, SURFers visit CI's Santa Rosa Island Research Station twice. Spending time on the island with course faculty presents an opportunity to put classroom knowledge to work in the field.
  • SURF: Summer Program
    • The Summer SURF Program provides for a Spring Faculty Development Learning Community and a ten-week faculty-mentored student research collaborative during the summer.
      • Student Benefits include: Engaging in an intensive and meaningful research experience, professional development opportunities throughout the summer, presenting their research on campus and at an appropriate conference, SURF students receive a $3,750 stipend
      • Applications OPEN in December
      • DEADLINE for applications is February 22, 2019
    • For more information, contact Student Research at CIStudentResearch@csuci.edu or stop by the Student Research Space in BROOME 1740
  • UNIV 399 Peer-to-Peer Effectiveness
    • Experiential seminar for students interested in serving as peer leaders. Interactive course gives students the opportunity to study theories of students development, active learning pedagogy, and practical perspectives on peer leadership and group facilitation
    • Paid mentoring position on campus
    • Spring 2019 - Space is limited to 20 students. Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:45am, Thursdays online

Apply to the GradFIT program

CI continues its partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno’s GradFIT program. The GradFIT team chooses 10 students to attend the program.

Eligible students:

  • Have a sophomore or above standing (30 credits or more completed) with an overall undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher
  • Identify as a first-generation college student or from a historically underrepresented background

Student Research pays the cost of transportation through our generous grant from the Instructionally Related Activities Committee. UNR covers all other costs.

Professor Ahmed Awad (Chemistry) has escorted students to Reno the last two years; he speaks very highly of the quality of the program. Ahmed will escort students again in 2019.

To apply to GradFIT visit www.unr.edu/gradfit

Characteristics of an Interdisciplinary Thinker

These are the characteristics that both employers and graduate schools have said they would like to see in their applicants (AIS Survey). Interdisciplinary studies is one of the best preparations for achieving these results.

  • Ask questions
  • Determine goals and meets them
  • Open-minded, independent thinker
  • Adaptable, not afraid to try new things
  • Creative and innovative
  • Adapts textbook knowledge to the real world
  • Continues to grow and learn
  • Skills
    • Problem-solving
    • Research
    • Writing
    • Oral communication
    • Listening
  • Team-spirited, understands group dynamics, works well in group settings, willing to help others
  • Sees the 'Big picture" (not just an area of specialization)
  • Diversity-aware, treats others with dignity and respect
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