Independent Research and Study Opportunities
The Department of English encourages high-achieving students to pursue independent research and study projects with guidance provided by a faculty mentor in their program. Students considering this opportunity should plan ahead and be aware of the full range of independent research opportunities offered through the Department of English, the Humanities Center, and the College of Arts and Science.
For more information contact Gabriele Bechtel, Chief Department Adviser, bechteg@MiamiOH.edu
Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program
The Undergraduate Summer Scholars program enables Miami undergraduates to do a scholarly research or creative project in the summer under the supervision of a faculty mentor. To be eligible, students must be completing their sophomore or junior year (60 credit hours minimum) and must plan to enroll for at least one additional semester after the summer in which they are scholars.
The program requires nine weeks of intensive summer study on a project devised by the student and supervised by a faculty mentor. Recipients enroll in ENG 340U for six credit hours, receive a $2,600 fellowship award, and $400 in project expenses.
Students interested in the program are advised to find a research project matching both their own as well as their mentor’s scholarly interests. Submission deadline for this year is February 26, 2021.
Application forms are available through the Office of Undergraduate Research at undergradresearch@miamioh.edu. The complete program guidelines are available from the Office for Undergraduate Research.
The Dean's Scholar Program
Approximately 30 students in the College of Arts and Science are selected in April of their junior year to participate in the Dean’s Scholar program. Applicants must propose a project that they devised and proposed, and that is endorsed by their faculty mentor.
Dean’s Scholars conduct independent research and are supported by a faculty mentor. Awardee and mentor each receive a $750 professional expense stipend. Scholars typically enroll in ENG 480 (Independent Study for Departmental Honors), thereby earning academic credit for their work on the project.
The Scholar’s research project should culminate in significant work of scholarship, with aim toward national/ international publication/ performance/ dissemination. Unless Scholars present their research at a professional conference, they must present at Miami’s Undergraduate Research Forum held each year in April.
Eligible to apply for the Dean’s Scholar Program are students in their junior year who have exhibited excellence in the classroom and the ability to take on the extra challenges of research and scholarly work. Note that the Humanities Center offers workshops for students interested in building in-depth research knowledge and skills.
Scholars are selected on the basis of proposals that applicants submit by April 10, 2021 to the Department of English. We will then evaluate and rank proposals before they are submitted to the Dean’s Office in early April.
For more information on the program and the application form, please visit the CAS Dean’s Scholar webpage.
Humanities Center Fellowships and Apprenticeships
The Geoffrion Family Student Fellowships are available to Miami students who seek a rich opportunity to explore collaborative, interdisciplinary scholarship in the Humanities. The fellowships are part of the Humanities Center’s Altman program. Applications for 2021/22 are due February 28, 2021.
Research Apprenticeships are also available through the Humanities Center each year. They offer opportunities to work one-on-one with faculty on collaborative research.
The Humanities Summer Research Institute brings together a senior professor and up to 12 undergraduate researchers for intellectual community and support. Students working on Dean’s Scholar projects, UGSS projects, or a departmental honors thesis are encouraged to apply to the institute. Dates TBA.
For a complete list of opportunities available to students through the Humanities Center.