Prospective Students

Aplications for the 2025-26 UROP cohort will open in late Spring semester.

Interested in participating in UROP for 2025-26 academic year? Fill out this interest form here.

Informational sessions -

Are you interested in learning more about UROP or have specific questions about how to apply, what to expect, etc.? Sign up for one of our information sessions in Spring semester. Informational sessions are hosted virtually through zoom.

What to expect -

Participation in UROP is an immersive journey into research where you get the opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor and build community bonds via a shared cohort experience. Throughout the academic year, you will participate in several professional development and enrichment activities, including:

Year-long UROP curriculum - All UROP students will enroll in a one-year curriculum to learn how to do research, demystify the hidden curriculum and promote professional development (EDLD 10 in the fall semester; EDLD 11 in the spring). The course curriculum comprises (four) total units and incorporates (four) main components:

1. Introduction to research (e.g., methods, ethics, reviewing literature, data collection/analysis)

2. Professional development (e.g., resume/CV development, interviewing)

3. Critical consciousness (e.g., reflecting on positionality/standpoint, power and inequity in research)

4. Communicating research (e.g., public speaking skills, poster development)

Student/faculty collaborative research partnership - Each UROP student will be matched with a faculty mentor for an entire academic year to work on a faculty-led research project. UROP uses a two-way selection process where faculty and students engage in a bi-directional interview to gauge reciprocal interest of both parties. Students will receive direct mentorship learning how to do research in applied, on-the-ground settings. Participating faculty meet regularly with their student mentees, approve work hours, provide training and enrichment materials, review student posters and abstracts, and orient students to the research process. Students are eligible to work up to 10 hours/week (paid) with their faculty mentor (wage TBD).

Culminating experience(s) - All UROP students will participate in two end-of-year research symposiums (i.e., Celebration of Research, hosted by the Office of Research and Innovation, and Lurie College Showcase, hosted by the College of Education). Both events are an opportunity to celebrate faculty and student research projects, and serve as mini-conferences for students to present their work and learn about the research their fellow UROP classmates have worked on throughout the program.

Career exploration workshops - Each year, UROP students participate in two exploratory workshops where they engage in various self-assessments to help explore their interests and potential career pathways. The workshops are hosted by program leadership in the SJSU Career Center.

Who can participate

UROP is open to all incoming freshmen, rising sophomores, and new transfer students.

What students receive

Participating students in UROP will receive the following:

Up to 10 hours/week (paid) to work with faculty mentor
4 elective units towards your degree
Dedicated faculty and peer support
Opportunities to professionally network and community build

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to have previous research experience to participate in the program?
- No, you are not required to have any prior experience to be in the program. In fact, we have found that those students with limited or no research background often have the most fruitful experiences in the program.
Do I have to enroll in the UROP courses (EDLD 10 and 11) to be eligible?
- Yes, once you are accepted into the program, your official enrollment is contingent upon you registering for both courses (EDLD 11 enrollment becomes open during the fall semester). You cannot participate in UROP if you are not enrolled in both courses.
What are students required to present at the end-of-year research symposiums?
- Students will participate in the Celebration of Research and Lurie College Showcase at the end of the year.
How do I submit an application?
- Prospective students should submit an application during the open enrollment period (i.e., mid-April through early August). Application links will be available on the website during the spring semester.
How do I secure a faculty mentor to work with?
- At the beginning of each semester, the program instructor will make available the database of available faculty projects to all students enrolled in the course. Students will first explore the database of available projects, then contact faculty to set up a time to meet. UROP uses a two-way selection process where faculty and students engage in a bi-directional interview to gauge reciprocal interest of both parties. Once student’s identify a faculty member to work with, they email the instructor to finalize the partnership. Students will most likely be required to reach out to more than one faculty due to volume of projects.
What if I am in a different major than my mentor teaches in?
- UROP students are often partnered with faculty outside of their specific discipline or area of study. We see value in these collaborations, as they encourage students to think about research holistically. Students will gain a comprehensive research experience regardless of the discipline their project is based in.
Can I enroll if I am an international student?
- Yes, international students can enroll in the program and are encouraged to do so. There is a specific hiring process that must be completed to receive payment for research work and a social security number and work permit is required.