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Humanities and Social Science Scholars Program


Our Program Features

  • Coaching and mentoring from the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
  • Mentoring from dedicated faculty, and
  • upper-class peers
  • Meetings with and access to CAS deans and other key leaders in the school
  • Pre-Fall Semester Program for entering first-year students
  • Academic success coaching, support services & programming
  • First Year Research Experience (FYRE) courses
  • HASS Scholars Living Learning Community
    (LLC)
  • Financial incentives
  • Career preparedness and leadership
    development
  • Graduate and professional school
    preparation
  • Tutoring and supplemental instruction
    in humanities and social science-related
    coursework
  • Dedicated course advising

Our Accepted Majors

Humanities

  • American Studies
  • Classical Humanities
  • Comparative Media Studies (co-major)
  • Comparative Religion
  • Critical Race & Ethnic Studies
  • East Asian Languages & Cultures
  • English: Creative Writing
  • English:Literature
  • English: Linguistics
  • English: Professional Writing
  • Film Studies (co-major)
  • French
  • German
  • Global & Intercultural Studies (co-major)
  • History
  • Italian Studies
  • International Studies
  • Journalism
  • Latin American, Latino/a, & Caribbean Studies
  • Media and Culture
  • Philosophy
  • Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies
  • Spanish
  • Strategic Communication
  • Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

Social Sciences

  • Anthropology
  • Diplomacy & Global Politics
  • Geography & Sustainable Development
  • Gerontology
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Social Justice Studies
  • Sociology
  • Speech Pathology & Audiology
  • Urban & Regional Planning

HASS Admission

How to Apply

First-year students who confirm to Miami University and meet eligibility requirements will be selected based on their application for admission to the university. Selected students will receive an invitation to participate in the HASS Scholars Program.

Upper class and transfer students may have the opportunity to enroll in HASS Scholars when there are open seats in the program. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the HASS Scholars Program, students must:

  • be confirmed as a Miami University incoming undergraduate first-year full time student on the Oxford campus
  • have a primary major in the humanities or social sciences in the College of Arts and Science
  • be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its possessions
  • have received an invitation to participate in the HASS Scholars Program

Our Living Learning Community

The HASS Scholars Living Learning Community is a residential community of first-year undergraduate humanities and social science students. All incoming first-year students in the Humanities and Social Science (HASS) Scholars Program in the College of Arts and Science are required to live in the HASS Scholars LLC.

The HASS Scholars LLC is the residential component of the Humanities and Social Science (HASS) Scholars Program. The LLC provides students with opportunities to explore and engage in activities that build community and lifelong friendships. It aims to complement the HASS Scholars program in assisting students with their transition to college and in achieving academic success, personal and professional development, and engaging with the Miami community. Residents of the HASS Scholars LLC may request non-HASS Scholars as roommates.

Registration

Once admitted to the University, ​all incoming first-year students that have been accepted and confirmed participation in the HASS Scholars Program will be automatically enrolled into the HASS Scholars LLC by the HASS program director.

HASS Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HASS Scholars Program?

The Humanities and Social Science Scholars Program (HASS) is the inaugural student success program from the LEADS Institute that targets high achieving first-year students with an interest in Humanities or Social Science majors.

Purpose: To support the successful transition to and success in college

Goal: To better address diverse students' academic, professional, cultural and social interests, and enhance their experiences and sense of belonging in the college

What are the benefits of participating in the HASS Scholars Program?

HASS Scholars Program student participants will have access to the following resources and benefits:

  • Coaching and mentoring from the HASS Scholars Program Director
  • Dean's Office support and access to key leaders in CAS
  • Mentoring from CAS faculty and upper-class peers in humanities or social science majors
  • Participation in a Pre-semester Program
  • Dedicated HASS Scholars Academic Advisor
  • Academic Support Services & Programming
  • Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction (if applicable)
  • Graduate School Preparation and Pre-Professional School Readiness Support
  • First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) courses (humanities & social science focus)
  • HASS Scholars Living Learning Community (LLC)
  • UNV 101 related resources and information
  • Career-preparedness & Leadership Development
  • Intensive Writing and Diversity workshops
  • Partnership with the Humanities, Pre-Law, Howe Writing, and Mallory-Wilson Healthcare Education Centers

What are HASS expectations for participation?

  • Must have and maintain a primary major in the humanities or social sciences
  • Participate in HASS Scholars Orientation and any other required Pre-Semester Program
  • Participate with parent/guardian in HASS Scholars Information Session
  • Sign commitment to fully participate in the HASS Scholars Program and complete required activities during the academic year
  • Maintain a strong academic GPA
  • Enroll in undergraduate research courses for HASS Scholars
  • Attend required monthly meetings and/or classes
  • Participate in career & leadership development activities
  • Participate in HASS Scholars Living Learning Community (LLC)
  • Meet with Program Director and mentors
  • Adhere to Miami's Academic Integrity Policy
  • Become a student leader

Why should I participate in the Living Learning Community for the HASS Scholars Program?

The HASS Scholars Living Learning Community is a residential community of first-year undergraduate humanities and social science students. All incoming first-year students in the Humanities and Social Science (HASS) Scholars Program in the College of Arts and Science are required to live in the HASS Scholars LLC.

What is the Pre-Semester Program?

A pre-semester program is a summer educational and transitional experience that takes place before the normal start of classes of a student’s first semester at Miami.

HASS Scholars will participate in Koschik and Hara Summer Bridge to Success Bootcamp and  MADEatMiami pre-semester programs only. Please do not plan to participate in any other pre-semester program.

What is the process for moving into the residence halls early?

Students will have access to their residence hall by using their Miami University swipe card keys. If you have any problems accessing your room, please call the H.O.M.E. office at (513) 529-5000.

What is undergraduate research, and why should I do It?

Undergraduate research is performed by college students who have not yet received their bachelor's degree. It can start as early as the first year in college. Undergraduate research takes place in all departments at Miami University. Some undergraduate research takes place in on-campus laboratories under supervision. Research also takes place in the many centers, institutes, and museums housed at Miami University.

Undergraduate research is directed early on by faculty or graduate students as younger students learn specific laboratory requirements for using machines and documenting results. Junior- and senior-level students may get to devise their own research under the direction of a Miami faculty or Ph.D. student.

Summer and Winter Term field research and on-campus opportunities are also available (through an application process).

Participation in undergraduate research has been shown to benefit students in several ways:

  • Students gain highly developed critical thinking skills used both in graduate school.
  • Students develop enhanced analytical abilities and problem-solving skills that are used in the workforce.
  • Students gain a better understanding of the demands of graduate training in their fields and benefit from exposure to specific research tools, methods, and techniques.
  • Students learn to devise their own experiments. The results from these experiments may be used in their senior capstone projects.
  • Students have the opportunity to write small grant proposals (funded by Miami University) to fund their own research projects.
  • Students who do undergraduate research may get free trips to share their results at regional and national professional meetings where they can meet employers and graduate school recruiters in their chosen field.
  • Undergraduate research is a "resume builder." It is something that employers and graduate schools look for on resumes because it shows expertise and independent work habits.

Student Organizations

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Arts & Science Multicultural Association (ASMA) 

ASMA is an undergraduate pre-professional organization based in the College of Arts and Science (CAS) whose mission is to bridge the gap between diverse students with primary majors in CAS and business and innovative startups by providing opportunities and resources necessary for students to achieve their professional and academic goals.

 

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Find Your Passion 

Miami University has 600+ student organizations including The Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS), oStem @ Miami University, Women in Physics, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, Society of Women in Medicine and many more.

LEADS Institute - College of Arts and Science

The LEADS Institute is an Academic Excellence and Leadership Accelerator in the College of Arts and Science that provides innovative, high-touch and comprehensive student-success programming to accelerate talented students' successful transition to and in college and strengthen their potential to become competitive candidates for graduate and professional school or competitive employment opportunities.

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