PREP Proposal Promises Change
The physics department, in cooperation with the division of professional practice, is investigating an optional certificate program that would allow students to acquire experience outside of the university setting. The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is modeled after UC's nationally recognized College of Engineering co-op program and would give students the opportunity to add two 6-month internships to traditional academic curriculum. The proposal, recently submitted to the NSF, describes the objective of PREP as [improving] the quality and marketability of the physics undergraduate program with the ultimate goal of increasing student enrollment, retention, and success after graduation.
Maggie Stevens, director of McMicken's experiential learning programs, says, PREP is being proposed in response to students' requests. Over 50% of the first- and second-year physics majors we surveyed indicated they would be interested in an option like this. We expect that the program could become a model for science and math departments at UC and across the country.
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