Do you yearn to bury yourself in books, read for hours, and write for even longer?  Then perhaps you should consider undertaking history research as an undergraduate!

You don’t have to save an independent, in-depth investigation of the topic you love until graduate school; indeed, it’s better if you begin now.  Undergraduate research permits you to test the rigors of an academic life.  And if you discover you adore research, not only will your decision to pursue a PhD be a well-founded one, but you’ll have something special to note on your graduate school applications. ?

Rice offers three institutionalized programs for undergraduates who wish to undertake history research:
 
1. The History Department’s Honors Program:
• Description: This is the most obvious option.  Under the mentorship of a history professor, students enroll in HIST 403 and 404, write a senior thesis, and (upon the approval of their advisor and another reader) graduate with departmental honors.
• Stipend:  The department offers financial assistance to students who wish to conduct related research in the summer between their junior and senior years.
• Contact: Email your questions to Professor Jack Zammito (zammito@).


2. The Mellon Undergraduate Fellows Program (MUFP):

• Description: The MUFP aims to increase the number of students from diverse backgrounds who pursue PhDs in the arts, humanities, and sciences.  Students enter the program at the end of their sophomore year.  Fellows develop a close working relationship with a faculty member in their area of interest, by assisting their mentor with research and editorial projects, and by attending professional meetings, seminars, and workshops.
• Stipend: The yearly stipend is $1600; a $3000 award for summer-research is also possible.  The Mellon Foundation will repay up to $5000 of the undergraduate loans incurred by fellows who enroll in a PhD program in a Mellon-eligible field within three years of graduating.  (The foundation will repay up to $5000 more of the loans of those who complete their PhDs.)
• Web: http://dacnet.rice.edu/~outreach/Mellon/

3. The Rice University Scholars’ Program (RUSP):
• Description: RUSP targets juniors and seniors from all departments who are considering academic careers.  With the help of a faculty mentor, students write a funding proposal, prepare oral and written progress reports, do research, and present their results both orally and as a scholarly manuscript.  Also, they learn about academia through presentations throughout the year.
• Stipend: The yearly stipend ranges from $250 to $1700.
• Web:  http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~hons470/