Course Sequence

Overview of FRI Program

1st Semester

  • 2 credits: general education applicable
  • Co-taught by FRI Research Educators
  • Team project exploring real science problem through pre-proposal development
  • Public poster session

2nd Semester

  • 4 credits: general education, major and minor applicable
  • Conceptual and technical knowledge unique to research stream
  • Develop research proposal

3rd Semester

  • 4 credits: general education, major and minor applicable
  • Conduct team research project
  • Journal-style research manuscript
  • Public poster session

Students receive course credit for each semester's work, which applies to their degree requirements. To learn more about which classes are required for their major, students can sign in to DegreeWorks. See below for specific information regarding FRI coursework and credit received.

FRI Courses

HARP 170 FRI Research Methods Seminar

In the fall of their first year, FRI students take the 2 credit HARP 170 FRI Research Methods Seminar along with the regular course load (typically a total of 16-18 credits).  HARP 170 fulfills a Oral Communication "O" general education requirement. There is a fee of $38.50 associated with the HARP 170 course. Our experience with FRI students is that this overall course load of 16-18 credits is quite manageable for the first semester.

Research-Stream Specific Course Sequences

The table below provides specific course information for each research stream. There is also information about how each course counts towards some majors but this list is not exhaustive. Please visit FRI academic advising to determine how your FRI courses will count toward your major requirements.

There is a fee of $150 associated with each research stream course. The format of the research stream courses is 2 hours of lecture/lab meeting and 6 hours of lab work each week.

BIOL 115 Equivalency

The Research Stream part 1 course for the following research streams satisfies the requirement of BIOL 115, Introductory Biology Laboratory:

  1. Biofilms BIOL 225
  2. Biomedical Chemistry CHEM 261
  3. Ecological Genetics BIOL 241
  4. Molecular & Biomedical Anthropology ANTH 205
  5. Neuroscience PSYC 345
  6. Community & Global Public Health ANTH 206

BIOL 115 is a required course for the neuroscience, biology and biochemistry majors as well as a requirement for pre-health students. Note that students who completed BIOL 117 or 118 before fall 2018 are not required to take BIOL 115.

 
PRE-HEALTH students: Due to this equivalency, these courses satisfy the introductory biology laboratory professional school requirement. Quote from Dr. Thomas Langhorne, Director of Pre-Health Services: "If you are enrolled in one of these FRI laboratories (BIOL 225, BIOL 241; CHEM 261; ANTH 205, ANTH 206; PSYC 345) you do not have to enroll in BIOL 115. These courses satisfy the requirement of BIOL 115 Introductory Biology Laboratory and are annotated accordingly in the Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin). As such, they satisfy the professional school admission requirement for introductory biology with laboratory." 


Therefore, the FRI program, Harpur Advising, Pre-health Advising, and the Biology Department advise students who complete the Research Stream part I course in these six research streams to NOT enroll in BIOL 115.

CHEM 106 Equivalency


The Research Stream part 1 course for the following research streams satisfies the requirement of CHEM 106, Introductory Chemistry Laboratory:

  1. Biogeochemistry ENVI 234 or GEOL 234
  2. Clean Energy CHEM 211
  3. Drug Discovery CHEM 212
  4. Environmental Visualization with Drones ENVI 206 or GEOL 206

Many science majors and all pre-health programs require CHEM 106, General Chemistry Lab. Note students who complete CHEM 107 and 108 are not required to take CHEM 106. 

 
PRE-HEALTH students: Due to this equivalency, these courses satisfy the introductory biology laboratory professional school requirement. Quote from Dr. Thomas Langhorne, Director of Pre-Health Services: "If you are enrolled in one of these FRI laboratories (ENVI 234/GEOL 234; CHEM 211, CHEM 212, ENVI 206/GEOL 206) you do not have to enroll in CHEM 106. These courses satisfy the requirement of CHEM 106 Introductory Chemistry Laboratory and are annotated accordingly in the Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin). As such, they satisfy the professional school admission requirement for introductory chemistry with laboratory." 


Therefore, the FRI program, Harpur Advising, Pre-health Advising, and the Chemistry Department advise students who complete the Research Stream part I course in these four research streams to NOT enroll in CHEM 106.

Writing Studies Minor Course Equivalency

The second and third semester courses for each research stream can be used in combination to count as one approved course for the minor. For more information, please visit the Writing Studies Minor webpage

FRI Policy Regarding Student Progress

Students are expected to engage fully in the FRI projects, complete all assignments in the FRI courses satisfactorily, and demonstrate a steadily increasing ability to engage in research-specific projects as they move through the three-semester FRI sequence. Students are expected to work in research teams and attend class periods and team meetings as required in course syllabi. Students who fail to meet these standards will not be allowed to continue. Students should monitor their own progress and discuss any concerns with the FRI staff.

Binghamton Scholars curriculum considerations for students enrolled in the FRI program

The FRI Program is not directly related to the Binghamton University Scholars Program.  However, certain Scholars requirements are met upon completion of specific FRI courses.  The Scholars III requirement will be met upon successful completion of one of the third semester FRI courses. In addition, scholars enrolled in the FRI Program and taking the required FRI courses may optionally (not required) delay taking their SCHL 280 courses for up to one year if so desired.  Therefore, instead of taking SCHL 280 courses in the second and third semesters, FRI Scholars may delay taking their SCHL 280 courses until their fourth and fifth semesters if desired. For more information, please visit the Binghamton University Scholars Program FRI webpage.

From being in a lab for two days a week (sometimes more), I was able to see what it was like to work and study in a real laboratory setting. The nature of the class allowed for some feeling of freedom, yet I never felt as if I was going into an exercise completely blind, and the instructors always prepared me well. I also knew I could always ask questions whenever I was unsure about something, and that the instructors would be helpful and receptive.

FRI Biofilms Student