Minor in Research Ecosystems (RSE)

Program at a Glance

18 Credits
(five 3-credit courses + 3-credit internship)

Fully online,
synchronous courses

Open to all undergraduate majors
(sophomore standing or program director approval)

Complete in as little as 3 semesters

The research ecosystem minor helps students develop foundational skills across research ecosystems in various research domains, including art, engineering, health, and education. Successful completion of the minor contributes to the building of a professional staff infrastructure supporting research teams as they create impactful research.

Through this program, learners will:

Demonstrate professionalism and effective oral and written communication across team-based operations in varied research domains.
Analyze ethical, regulatory, and legal issues in the research ecosystem and professions.
Discuss the infrastructure that supports diverse research domains.
Implement team science and project management principles in diverse research domains.
Explain the roles and responsibilities across the life cycle of an externally funded project.

Career Impact

In addition to didactic and skills-building courses, students complete the minor with an internship focused on a research ecosystem position of their choice and within their research domain. This is a career-focused minor with the primary outcome being employed as a member of the research team. The minor is designed to be accessible for all majors fostering specialized content knowledge and skill sets. Potential career paths include:

Research Administrator
Grant Administration
Research Assistant
Project Management

Skill Development

The RSE minor builds adaptable research skills, preparing graduates to tackle challenges across various research settings. Key skills include:

Team communication
Project management and coordination
Dynamic problem solving
Research administration fundamentals
Data stewardship and management
Research communication

Our curriculum is focused on the interdisciplinary nature of team science utilizing team members’ diverse set of skills to implement successful research.

Curriculum

The six 3-credit courses (18 total) introduce learners to strategies and practices for leading and communicating within the research field, with assignments that allow them to apply these skills in their professional context. Courses include:

ALHP 305– Ethical, Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Issues within Research Ecosystems
Explore key ethical and legal issues surrounding informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, incentives, and risk/benefit are discussed.
ALHP 315– Managing Innovation Across the Research Ecosystem
Dive into research organizational structures, key roles and responsibilities, and the grant life cycle, with a deeper exploration of pre-award, award, and post-award responsibilities and activities as they appear across different research domains.
ALHP 335– Research Study and Site Management Essentials
Build on what you learned in 305 by exploring how to manage study and site operations while managing tasks simultaneously.
ALHP 350– Introduction to Team Science and Project Management
Learn strategies to run an effective research team, including project management fundamentals.
ALHP 490 – BSHS Community Internship Experience
Apply what you’ve learned and get hands-on experience in the field of research you’re interested in.
Student Choice for Elective
Use this elective to gain experience in business, accounting, or other leadership skills

Admission requirements, degree requirements, recommended course sequences and more information about the B.S. in Health Services minor can be found at VCU Bulletin.

Start Your Research Journey Today

For more information, or any questions regarding the minor, please contact:

Lauretta Cathers, PhD
Director of BSHS Program
Email: s2lasaff@vcu.edu

Shirley Helm
Senior Administrator for Network Capacity and Workforce Strategies at VCU’s Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Email: shirley.helm@vcuhealth.org