ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the undergraduate research (UR) environment and discusses where religious studies fit into it, focusing on the benefits of reframing some of the excellent creative work already being done in colleges and universities. Within that context, we share ideas about the importance of UR, desired learning outcomes, how knowledge is created, the usefulness of the apprenticeship model, and how to get the most out of this book. Students will begin to understand how their learning can be linked to the discovery and creation of knowledge while they become more engaged in the process, and faculty will begin to understand why it is meaningful to fully integrate students into their research. Although terms like “research” and the “apprenticeship model” are more commonly associated with the sciences, this chapter sets the stage for illustrating how these interactive pedagogies are much more engaging and effective than traditional classroom learning in religious studies as well.
