Minor in STEM Research
If you're curious about how scientific discoveries are made and want to gain real research experience before graduation, the STEM Research minor at CCU gives you the opportunity to do exactly that.
Through this program, you'll learn how to ask meaningful scientific questions, design experiments, collect and analyze data, and communicate your findings with confidence. You'll develop the critical thinking and laboratory skills that scientists use every day while gaining hands-on experience conducting research alongside faculty mentors.
Rather than simply learning about research in a classroom, you'll become a researcher yourself. You'll develop your own research question, design experiments to investigate it, and spend multiple semesters working in the lab as part of a long-term research project. Along the way, you'll present your findings at lab meetings and at the Rocky Mountain Undergraduate Research Conference, hosted on CCU's campus each spring. Your research experience culminates in writing and defending your own research thesis.
STEM Research at CCU
Offered through CCU's School of Science and Engineering, the STEM Research minor allows you to explore God's creation through scientific discovery. As you investigate complex questions and uncover new insights, you'll learn how faith and science work together to deepen your understanding of the world and glorify the Creator behind it.
This minor is designed to prepare you for opportunities beyond graduation, whether that means pursuing a career in scientific research or continuing your education through a master's or Ph.D. program. You'll gain valuable experience working with professional research methods, scientific literature, and interdisciplinary STEM concepts that are highly sought after by graduate schools and employers.
CCU students who have participated in undergraduate research have gone on to prestigious graduate programs at institutions such as the University of Denver, Purdue University, Stanford University, and many others. If you're passionate about discovery and want to make a meaningful impact through science, the STEM Research minor can help you take the next step toward your future.
Program FAQs
What is the STEM research minor at CCU?
The STEM research minor at Colorado Christian University is a comprehensive program offered through the School of Science and Engineering that provides exposure to all aspects of research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This research minor equips students with essential skills in research design, data analysis, and scientific communication, culminating in a thesis defense and conference presentation. You will gain knowledge and experience in how to develop research questions, design and conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data objectively, and effectively communicate your findings through both written scientific communication skills and oral presentations.
The STEM research minor prepares you to interact with professional scientists and engage in discussing scientific literature at a sophisticated level. Through this interdisciplinary STEM program, you will develop your own research projects, spending several semesters conducting research in the laboratory to investigate questions you design. This specialized training in laboratory-based skills and critical thinking prepares you for graduate school or professional research positions. It is a privilege as Christians in the sciences to study God's magnificent creation through hands-on investigation and rigorous scientific inquiry.
What can you do with a STEM research minor?
A STEM research minor gives you the necessary expertise and experience required to enter professional research associate positions or pursue post-graduate endeavors in research across STEM fields. Many students interested in graduate school use this research minor to strengthen their applications to master's degree and Ph.D. programs in the biological sciences, chemistry, physics, engineering, or mathematics. Former CCU research students have entered top-tier Ph.D. programs at universities including the University of Denver, Purdue University, and Stanford University, demonstrating the high-impact research experience this program provides.
Beyond graduate programs, the STEM research minor prepares you for careers as professional scientists working in research laboratories, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical development, environmental science, or medical research facilities. The skills you develop through your own research projects translate to positions requiring data analysis, experimental design, and scientific problem-solving. Students who complete this research minor often present their work at external conference presentations and publish results in peer-reviewed journals. These experiences position you to compete for research fellowships and scholarship opportunities while building credentials that demonstrate your ability to conduct research independently and contribute meaningfully to advancing knowledge in STEM education research and scientific discovery.
What courses will you take in the STEM research minor?
The STEM research minor curriculum includes laboratory-based courses where you gain hands-on experience with advanced research techniques. Core required courses include Biomedical Research, which allows you to work alongside a faculty member on ongoing research projects after completing foundational coursework in molecular biology. You will complete a Research Thesis that documents your own research projects from question development through data analysis and interpretation. Special Topics in Molecular Biology provides focused exploration of current research areas within the field, preparing you to engage with cutting-edge scientific literature.
Additional courses in the research minor include laboratory-based coursework in Microbiology, Cellular Biology, and Molecular Biology that build technical proficiency with experimental methods. The curriculum emphasizes courses that discuss scientific literature, teaching you to critically analyze published research and understand how professional scientists communicate findings. You will also take courses focused on practicing oral scientific communication skills through presentations and discussions. These courses are credit-bearing experiences designed to prepare students for the rigorous demands of STEM research. The program requirements ensure comprehensive training across multiple STEM fields while allowing focus on your specific research interests through elective courses and individualized research design.
Why should you pursue the STEM research minor at CCU?
The STEM research minor at CCU provides a high-impact research experience rarely available to undergraduates at many universities. Small classes and personalized mentorship from faculty members ensure you receive individualized attention as you develop your own research projects. Unlike programs where graduate students conduct most research, CCU's School of Science and Engineering emphasizes undergraduate involvement, allowing you to take ownership of experiments and research design from start to finish. This hands-on approach builds confidence and competence that prepares you to compete with students from larger research institutions.
The integration of Christian faith with scientific inquiry makes CCU's STEM research minor distinctive among colleges offering similar programs. You learn to view research as an act of worship, exploring God's creation through rigorous scientific methods while maintaining ethical standards grounded in biblical principles. Faculty member mentors who are both accomplished researchers and committed Christians guide you through the research process while helping you develop character alongside technical skills. The program's emphasis on scientific communication skills, including opportunities to present at conferences and publish findings, provides practical experience that strengthens applications to graduate school and positions you as a competitive candidate for research careers in STEM fields.
What degree is best for STEM research?
The STEM research minor complements any major within STEM fields including biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics, or computer science, making it an excellent addition regardless of your specific degree path. Students interested in careers as professional scientists or planning to pursue graduate school benefit most from combining this research minor with a related science major. For example, biology majors gain deeper research experience through the minor, while engineering students develop experimental design skills that enhance their technical training. The minor works with following programs across the School of Science and Engineering.
While STEM majors provide foundational knowledge in their disciplines, the STEM research minor offers specialized training in conducting research that transforms you from a student who learns science into a researcher who creates new knowledge. This distinction matters significantly for graduate programs and research careers where the ability to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate findings determines success. The minor requirements are structured to complete alongside your major coursework, typically involving credit from courses that also fulfill major requirements plus additional courses focused specifically on research skills. This interdisciplinary STEM approach ensures you develop both deep expertise in your major field and broad research capabilities applicable across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.
What is STEM research in education at CCU?
STEM research in education at CCU encompasses both learning how to conduct research within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and contributing to STEM education research that improves how these subjects are taught and learned. Through the STEM research minor, students gain comprehensive training in research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques applicable to investigating questions across STEM fields. This includes learning scientific methods, developing hypotheses, designing controlled experiments, and interpreting outcomes objectively. The program prepares undergraduates to engage meaningfully with the research process rather than simply observing it.
The STEM education minor component involves understanding how people learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts, though the primary focus remains on conducting research within these disciplines. Faculty members supervise student research projects that may investigate biological processes, chemical reactions, physical phenomena, engineering solutions, or mathematical models. Students learn to interact with the broader scientific community through discussing scientific literature in coursework and practicing oral presentation skills at conferences. This education prepares you to pursue research careers or graduate programs where you will continue advancing knowledge through systematic investigation. The emphasis on written scientific communication skills ensures you can effectively share discoveries with other researchers, contributing to the collective understanding within your chosen STEM field.
Is the STEM research minor difficult?
The STEM research minor is challenging but rewarding, requiring dedication to learn complex research design techniques and develop proficiency in data analysis and scientific communication. The program demands significant time investment as you conduct research over multiple semesters, working to complete experiments, analyze results, and prepare presentations. However, students interested in research find the difficulty worthwhile because the hands-on experience develops skills that cannot be learned through traditional coursework alone. Faculty members provide close mentorship throughout the process, ensuring you receive support when facing obstacles in your research projects.
Success in the research minor depends more on curiosity, persistence, and willingness to learn from failed experiments than on exceptional innate ability. Not everyone finds research suited to their interests, but those who do often describe the minor as their most valuable undergraduate experience. The courses that discuss scientific literature and practice oral scientific communication skills build gradually, allowing you to develop competence before tackling more advanced challenges. Students who complete the minor gain confidence working independently, solving problems creatively, and contributing original knowledge to their field. The departmental honors research opportunities and preparation for graduate school make the effort invested in this credit-bearing program an excellent foundation for future success as researchers, whether in academia, industry, or applied science careers.
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