The Applied Research Project, equivalence of an MA thesis, establishes a rigorous connection between the practical experience in the workplace and the more theoretical experience in research and in the classroom.

Applied Research Project is divided in two components: during the fall semester (3 credit hours) students learn about general research methodology and receive individual guidance to choose between the research project options. During the spring semester (3 credit hours) students complete the research project under the supervision of a project director. Completed projects are presented and defended publicly at the end of the spring semester, and project-based posters enter a poster competition.

Winners of the 2023 Applied Research Project Poster Competition

1^st place
Chenyu Shen – Project Director: Dr. Xijinyan Chen; Second Reader: Dr. Chaowei Zhu

2^nd place
Mackenzie Krol – Project Director: Dr. Diego Burgos – Second Reader: Dr. Brett Rosenberg

3^rd place ex aequo:
Wenjun Ren – Project Director: Dr. Carlos Fasola; Second Reader: Dr. Zbigniew Wesolowski SVD

Kylie Hayes-Johnson – Project Director: Dr. Diego Burgos; Second Reader: Dr. Brett Rosenberg

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Winners of 2021 Applied Research Project Poster Competition

1^st place
Mengmeng Shi – Project Director: Dr. Chaowei Zhu

2^nd place
Mariana Valverde Vargas – Project Director: Dr. Diego Burgos

3^rd place
Dulce Rivas Rangel – Project Director: Dr. Brett Rosenberg