Research/Funding Opportunities

Research Opportunities

The sociology department faculty encourage undergraduate students to engage in original research, either individually or in collaboration with their professors.

In many of our courses — especially Sociology 271 (Social Statistics) and Sociology 272 (Research Methods in Sociology) — students acquire computer skills and develop their own data files. They are also assisted in preparing manuscripts, which may be presented at professional meetings and considered for publication in professional journals. A number of organizations, such as Alpha Kappa Delta, sponsor conferences at which undergraduates can gain experience in the presentation of papers.

Following are some major research/funding opportunities for undergraduates at Wake Forest.

Richter Scholars

The Richter Scholars Program supports independent study scholarships with financial awards up to $6000 for undergraduate students in the College and the Calloway School of Wake Forest University. Richter Scholarships are competitively awarded for students proposing an independent study project requiring travel away from Winston-Salem. International projects are especially encouraged. The Richter Scholar awards are the largest single awards on campus for the purpose of independent study. Students are encouraged to pursue enriching, broadening projects that have the promise of being life-changing. To enrich the independent study experience, each student is required to have a faculty mentor for his or her project. Deadline for applications is typically set for February each year.  More information is available at:  http://www.wfu.edu/ureca/richter.html.

Previous Richter Scholars from the Sociology Department include:

Leek Deng (2010): “Healthcare Delivery in Uganda” (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ana-Maria Gonzalez Wahl)

Susan Amanda Lucas (2008): “Doing Gender” at the Margins: Homeless Women Respond to an Elusive Gender Ideal (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Catherine Harnois)

Kayla Landers (2007): “Conflict of Interest in Goal Attainment: A Case Study of Education in Ghana” (Faculty Advisor: David Yamane)

Summer Research Fellowship

The Wake Forest Research Fellowship Program is designed to encourage individual undergraduates to join their professors as junior partners on scholarly research activities. These scholarships provide a summer stipend and housing for students who work with WFU students during the summer. More information available at: http://college.wfu.edu/engagement/student_funding.html.

Previous Wake Forest Research Fellows from the Sociology Department include:

Dayne Hamrick (2007): “Immigration in Two Countries: A Comparative Analysis of the United States and Spain” (Faculty Advisor : Dr. Ana-Maria Gonzalez Wahl)

Shaughnessy O’Brien (2006): “Cultural Capital and Elite College Admissions” (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Joseph Soares)

Taylor Stout (2006): “Education and the Latino Community in Forsyth County” (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ana-Maria Gonzalez Wahl)

Starr Travel Awards

Starr Scholarships are awarded for up to $500 for the purpose of meeting expenses related to the presentation and/or travel costs. Awards will be made quarterly. More information available at: http://college.wfu.edu/engagement/student_funding.html.