Funding & other reSources

Please report broken links to the department at sociol@northwestern.edu

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AT NORTHWESTERN

The Sociology Department welcomes the new initiatives throughout the University to involve undergraduates in first-hand scholarship and primary research. The Department is one of the few to require a senior thesis of all its majors, and they are usually based on the student's primary research.

A number of funding sources are available for undergraduate research. There are summer research fellowships for undergraduates to work with faculty and one of these, SROP, specifically targets minority students from both Northwestern and other colleges. Funds have also been greatly expanded to support undergraduate research grants connected to courses or independent studies. WCAS has also made funds available to assist faculty who are incorporating primary research as an integral part of their courses. The Residential Colleges have also initiated a competitive program for selected students to become paid Research Assistants of Faculty Associates of the Colleges. The University has also encouraged various research centers, such as the Institute for Policy Research , to incorporate undergraduates into their funded research projects.

Northwestern University Office of Fellowships
www.northwestern.edu/fellowships

Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)
http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/studentlife/multiculturaloffice/research/srop/

Undergraduate Research Grants
http://www.northwestern.edu/undergrad-research/

Weinberg Funds for Undergraduate Research
http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/advising/awards/money.html

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK EXPERIENCE

The Chicago Field Studies Program provides students with hands-on experience where they learn much about an organization, about a profession, and about a career. By matching top-ranked students with a firm or agency (governmental, profit, or non-profit), the Program expects the student to serve in an internship that offers both collaborative and independent work. During the eight weeks of the quarter, participants sustain advanced research while in the field, and meet weekly with other students for intensive seminar discussions. Thirty-two hours per week are spent in the workplace, experiences and observations are documented daily in field journals, and finally, an original paper is produced based on the internship. At the end of the quarter, the student will have learned "to use the modern city as a way to study their world."

Another innovative opportunity for undergraduates the Northwestern University Externship Program (NEXT). Interested students are paired with Northwestern alumni for job shadowing opportunities in the Chicago area. The alumni serve as mentors in their respective professions, familiarize students with daily responsibilities, and recommend related courses and majors. Depending on the career field, the extern may participate actively or observe. The student and mentor work together to outline goals and expectations. Though the program is short, with each externship lasting one to three days, it is a valuable opportunity to explore various career options.

RESEARCH AND POLICY INSTITUTES

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/ Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
http://www.fas.org/index.html Federation of American Scientists
http://www.iie.com/ Institute of International Economics
http://www.rand.org/ RAND Corporation
http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/ Chatham House
http://www.sipri.org/ Stockholm Intl Peace Institute
http://www.brook.edu/ Brookings Institution
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ Center for Security Policy
http://www.csis.org/ Center for Strategic and International Studies
http://www.stimson.org/ Henry Stimson Center
http://www.usip.org/ US Institute of Peace

GOVT AND INTL GOVT AGENCIES

http://www.europa.eu/index_en.htm European Union
http://www.loc.gov Library of Congress (legislation search also)
http://www.worldbank.org/ World Bank
http://www.state.gov/ US State Department
http://www.un.org/ United Nations
http://www.ustr.gov/ US Trade Representative
http://www.wipo.int/ World Intellectual Property Organization
http://www.cia.gov/ Central Intelligence Agency
http://www.defenselink.mil/ US Dept of Defense

ODDS AND ENDS

http://www.asanet.org/ American Sociological Association
http://www.archives.gov/ US National Archives
http://www.ndltd.org/ Network Digital Library: Theses and Dissertations
http://www.internet2.edu/ Internet2 home page
http://www.reuters.com/ Reuters (wire service) home page
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Washington Post (and AP Newswire)