IR 490 and POSC 490: Directed Research
Directed Research is student-proposed, faculty-supervised research that can be used to earn from two to eight units of elective credit. Students must conduct research under a professor, and must present their work (such as a paper, formal publication, demonstration/performance). Specific enrollment requirements may vary from department to department; however, directed research is usually intended for juniors and seniors who have excelled in the major and have developed a specific research interest.
Illios
Undergraduate run political science journal. Prof. Anthony Kammas founded this journal in 2010 with one of his students as a way for undergrads to engage is both scholarly work beyond the classroom and have editorial experience. He drew his knowledge as the one-time Managing Editor of EEPS (East European Politics and Societies) and advised students how to construct a call for papers, critically review submissions, and build a volume. There have been several previous volumes, though the journal slowed down during the pandemic. We are pleased to say that it has made a comeback!
SOAR with Dornsife
Provides funding to undergraduates for participation as a research assistant in a faculty member’s project. SOAR allows all students to be mentored one-on-one by USC faculty, and introduces students early in their academic careers to the process of serious scholarly inquiry. SOAR is for research during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year.
SURF at USC
An opportunity for USC Dornsife students to pursue undergraduate research, in collaboration with Dornsife faculty, either on or off campus during the summer semester. Students are encouraged to conduct on-site research at USC or under the direction of USC Dornsife faculty at many institutions across the nation and around the globe. Any student in good standing, with at least one USC Dornsife major, may apply for a research stipend of up to $3,000 to support a summer research project of their choosing.