The BSOS Summer Scholars program supports undergraduate students doing independent research projects with faculty in the summer. Recipients will gain a competitive edge when applying for graduate study, national scholarships, and other awards. Students may expand their research into an independent study or Honors thesis during the following fall semester. The program is modeled after, but separate from, the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research (MCUR) Maryland Summer Scholars Program. It is expected that students apply for both MCUR and BSOS Summer Scholars, though they may only accept one. The BSOS Summer Scholars program runs annually in the Spring Semester.

There will be a maximum of four awards of $3,000 each. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors with at least a 3.4 GPA are invited to apply. Applications should include the following:

1. an unofficial copy of the student's transcript and any other evidence of the student's scholarly accomplishments;
2. a letter of recommendation from a BSOS Faculty member addressing the merit of the proposed summer research, the student's qualifications to undertake that project, a mentoring plan; and
3. a one-page personal statement from the student about their long-term professional/intellectual goals, and how this fellowship and research project would advance those goals.

BSOS Summer Scholars proposals are jointly submitted by the undergraduate student and the Faculty mentor who provides the support letter. The Faculty member must have an appointment in a BSOS department or center and the student must be a BSOS major.

We will be accepting applications through InfoReady beginning January 9, 2023. Applications will be accepted until February, 22, 2023.