Undergraduate Research Opportunities

UROP

Undergraduate Honors Thesis 

CISS Undergraduate Opportunities (Undergraduate Opportunities | Center for Innovation in Social Science (bu.edu))

Faculty Research Support 

UROP

While undergraduates are eligible to be paid for research from faculty research grants or work-study grants, the majority of students receive pay through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).

UROP is a University wide program that helps connect students with research opportunities while providing funding for research, travel expenses, and student stipends. Funding is available during the academic year as well as in the summer.

Note: students may not receive academic credit and funding in the same semester.

For more information and to apply, visit the UROP website.

 

How to get started:

  1. Identify the type of research you would like to do and the area of sociology you would like to focus on. 
  2. Reach out to a faculty member that you admire or who has been a mentor for you.
  3. Discuss if they would be willing to take on this project with you and apply.

More information, or to apply can be found here.

 

Details

Students who receive funding will typically perform 15-20 hours of research per week and are encouraged to apply for one of UROP’s awards, which are described below:

  1. Faculty Matching Grant (FMG): up to $1,000 paid by UROP, and the remainder (e.g., $1000) paid by faculty mentor’s department/grant directly to the student as a stipend.
  2. Student Research Award (SRA): up to $2,000, paid entirely by UROP directly to the student as a stipend.
  3. Funded Research Opportunity Grant (FROG): awards up to $750 for research supplies, transferred directly to faculty mentor’s department/program.

UROP’s spring application deadline is usually in December and its summer application is usually in March. Visit UROP’s website to download the UROP application and to acquaint yourself with the application deadlines as they come up.

Call (617-353-2020), email (urop@bu.edu), or visit the UROP office (143 Bay State Road) with any questions.

 

Undergraduate Honors Thesis 

Applications must include:

  • a two page description of the research topic, questions, and methods; budget justification; and evidence that the student has applied for external funding (such as for UROP support). 
  • A short letter of reference from a faculty member indicating their willingness to supervise the project. Preference will be given to applications from Sociology majors and minors.

For research involving human subjects, students should provide evidence of their submission of an application to the Institutional Review Board or of communication with the IRB indicating that the project does not require IRB approval.

Available funds are capped at $500 per student/project.  Applications, which will be considered on an ongoing basis, should be submitted electronically to the Department Chair, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator.

 

CISS Undergraduate Opportunities

Explore the CISS Undergraduate Opportunities page to learn more about internships, fellowships and jobs available.

 

Faculty Research Support

  Faculty need research assistants to help with various aspects of the research process. Students can be a part of faculty research by reaching out to their professors by email or approaching them directly. Each research assistant opportunity is different. If you know research is going on that you would like to be a part of, do not be afraid to ask your professors about it.