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Browse Different Research Pathways

The ARCH Program offers different pathways for Honors College students to engage in research and creative projects, regardless of subject field or major. We encourage students to explore these pathways and find the best way for them to get involved!

Adanced Research and Creativity in Honors

ARCH Apprenticeship
(Fall or Spring)

Duration: 1 semester, 0 credits

The apprenticeship is for students looking for an introduction to research and work in a research lab.

Please note the ARCH Apprenticeship does not fulfill any upper-division Honors College course requirements.

  • Requirements
    • Assisting in an existing lab
    • Learning the basics of research (requirements vary by lab)
    • Producing a weekly log of what you did and what you learned
  • Final Reflection

    Students are required to submit a final reflection of about five pages that serves as a substantive review of the lab experience. It may consider:&

    • Full course details and all material covered (about one page)&
    • Where you plan to go from here&
    • Main takeaways&
    • Something you thought you knew before, but were wrong about&
    • Things you would have done differently&
    • Things lab personnel, mentors or the Honors College could do differently&
    • What the most challenging aspect was and how you overcame it&
    • What the easiest aspect was and why it was easy for you&

ARCH Proposal
(Fall and Spring)

Duration: 2 semesters (1 academic year), 0-3 credits per semester

The proposal is for majors that don’t offer a thesis option, or for students who want to conduct rigorous research.

  • Requirements

    For the ARCH Proposal, you must:

    • Be researching in the natural or social sciences
    • Conduct rigorous and extensive writing, original data collection and statistical research methods
  • Research Thesis

    The research thesis consists of an Introduction, Background, Methods, Results and Discussion (or some variation thereof, depending on disciplines).

    Topics addressing an international or intercultural issue of global significance are eligible for the FIU Global Learning Medallion Capstone.

  • Schedule Breakdown

    First semester: Writing a literature review and proposal

    Second semester: Writing a thesis and presenting your research at the Undergraduate Research Conference at FIU (URFIU)

Honors in the Major
(Fall, Spring & Summer)

Duration: 3 semesters (1 academic year)

If your major offers a thesis option for Honors in the Major, the Honors College will count that work toward ARCH. The Honors College and ARCH program will offer direction to associated faculty and students.

Students are required to meet with faculty to establish parameters and requirements, as well as the academic advisor in their major to ensure all necessary prerequisites are met for the thesis in the major.

  • Requirements

    For the ARCH Proposal, you must:

    • Be researching in the natural or social sciences
    • Conduct rigorous and extensive writing, original data collection and statistical research methods
  • College of Engineering and Computing Senior Design and Capstone

    For Honors College students admitted before Fall 2025 : The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) Senior Design and Capstone is eligible for enrollment in this ARCH pathway.

    For Honors College students admitted in or after Fall 2025 : The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) Senior Design and Capstone is not eligible for enrollment in this ARCH pathway. Please email arch@fiu.edu with any questions or concerns.

ARCH Project
(Fall and/or Spring)

The project is for students completing a creative project in the humanities or arts, or for students who can only commit one semester to a research project.

The ARCH Project can cover several written or creative activities, such as whitepapers, position papers, extended literature reviews, theory papers, performances and more.

Students may request to take this section for a second semester with a different topic.

  • Requirements

    For the ARCH Proposal, you must:

    • Be completing a creative project in the humanities or arts
    • Learn the fundamentals of the research process, conduct a literature review and write a project report
    • Conduct substantive and rigorous writing; however, no data collection is required