Civic Scholars: An Introduction to Academic Research
Want to learn how to conduct academic research, but don’t know where to start?
Many students come to college with little-to -no research experience. Our signature Civic Scholars program is designed to teach students how to conduct research, write for an academic audience, and present their work in an academic setting.
Our scholars have pursued research projects spanning domestic and global topics from a variety of social science disciplines.
Continuing the Graham Legacy
of Learning by Doing
Important Dates and Deadlines
October 12, 2026: Applications Open
October 13, 2026: Info Session RSVP at this link
October 28, 2026: Applications Close
November 9, 2026: Civic Scholars Notified of Acceptance
January 11, 2027: First Day of Spring Classes
Browse through the menu below to learn more.
Is Civic Scholars a class?
Yes! Civic Scholars: Introduction to Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences (IDS 4911) is a 3 credit course taught every Spring! Most Recent Syllabus.
What do I learn in Civic Scholars?
You will learn how to compose the component parts of an academic research paper in the social sciences. Your final project will resemble an academic article that is commonly found in peer-reviewed journals. You will learn: how to craft a research question; discern credible academic sources; write an academic literature review; develop a theory; select appropriate research methods for your question; and how to present your research for an academic conference.
Is Civic Scholars right for me?
Civic Scholars is designed for students with little-to-no first-hand research experience. We look for students in any year of their undergraduate studies, who are looking to learn the process of writing an academic paper. Students who are already working on an honors thesis, or have extensive research experience are encouraged to explore our Askew-Haskell program.
How do I sign up?
Civic Scholars is a 3 credit class offered every Spring semester. The course is departmentally controlled, meaning that you have to apply in order to add it to your schedule. We host an information session and open applications in October. Add your name to our email list to be notified of application dates, info sessions and more!
The Info Session for the Spring 2027 course will be October 13, 2026 at 1 PM, Register NOW!
Applications for Spring 2027 will open on October 12 and will close October 28.