Courses - Fall 2025
GEMS
Gemstone
GEMS101
Introduction to Team Research
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program.
An introduction to the basic concepts and tools needed to evaluate and conduct research. It sets the stage for the research lifecycle and teaches students what they need to know and do before embarking on research endeavors. Students will engage in the early stages of the research process and navigate the consumption and analysis of primary literature while working on interdisciplinary teams. They will undergo the iterative process of identifying gaps in the literature and think creatively about how a team of undergraduates could contribute to solving the world's grand challenges while recognizing constraints such as feasibility, timelines, budgets, novelty, and more. Students will learn skills for collaboration and navigating interdisciplinary teams and together will author and communicate components of a preliminary research proposal.
GEMS202
Team Dynamics and Research Methodology
Prerequisite: GEMS100, GEMS102, and GEMS104.
Corequisite: GEMS296.
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program; and sophomore standing or higher.
This experiential course is designed to foster an understanding of effective team dynamics and basic research methodology. It will teach skills applicable to Gemstone team research and the writing of a team thesis. Upperclass Gemstone students serve as discussion facilitators. Students participate in their Gemstone teams and develop a draft of their team thesis proposal.
GEMS208A
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; Team Dynamics and Research Methodology: First Time Section Leader
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program.
GEMS208B
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; Team Dynamics and Research Methodology: Returner Section Leader
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program.
GEMS208C
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; Introduction to Gemstone: First Time Section Leader
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program. These classes are scheduled in the Ellicott building.
GEMS208D
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; Introduction to Gemstone: Returner Section Leader
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program. These classes are scheduled in the Ellicott building.
GEMS208J
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; Gems Camp
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GEMS208K
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; GEMS Connect
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program.
GEMS208P
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; Gemstone Leadership Council
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GEMS208Q
Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development; Facilitator TA
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
GEMS296
Team Project Seminar I
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg
Prerequisite: GEMS100, GEMS102, and GEMS104.
Corequisite: GEMS202.
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program with sophomore standing in a research team.
This is the first of six seminars during which Gemstone students carry out multidisciplinary research with the guidance of a faculty mentor. The teams develop their working relationship, start their literature search, define their research question, and set short & long term goals.
GEMS297
Team Project Seminar II
Credits:
2
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program with sophomore standing in a research team.
This is the second of six seminars during which Gemstone students carry out interdisciplinary research with the guidance of a faculty mentor. The team develops its website, prepares and presents its research proposal and begins its research project.
GEMS396
Team Project Seminar III
Credits:
2
Grad Meth:
Reg
Prerequisite: GEMS297.
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program with junior standing in a research team.
This is the third of six seminars during which Gemstone students carry out interdisciplinary research with the guidance of a faculty mentor. The team presents its progress at the Gemstone Colloquia.
GEMS397
Team Project Seminar IV
Credits:
2
Grad Meth:
Reg
Prerequisite: GEMS396.
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program with junior standing in a research team.
This is the fourth of six seminars during which Gemstone students carry out interdisciplinary research with the guidance of a faculty mentor. The team further develops its website. Also they will prepare and present the team project in the poster session of Undergraduate Research Day.
GEMS496
Project Writing Seminar
Credits:
2
Grad Meth:
Reg
Prerequisite: GEMS397.
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program.
This is the fifth of six seminars during which Gemstone students carry out research with the guidance of a faculty mentor. The team finishes the analysis of their data and writes and edits its team thesis.
GEMS497
Team Thesis Defense
Prerequisite: GEMS396.
Restriction: Must be in the Gemstone program.
Gemstone teams will complete the team research project and thesis. The team will formally present the thesis to experts in the area of interest at a Team Thesis Conference before final submission.
Flagship Institution of the University System of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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301.405.1000
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