THE SOCIAL SCIENCE Scholars Program

edstudy abroadTHE SOCIAL SCIENCEScholars Program

Education for aRewarding CareerYou’ll graduatewith the skills,experiences,and maturitythat will set youapart from theoverwhelmingmajority ofstudents fromany campus.The Social Science Scholars Program offersselect groups of students a world-classeducation and ideal preparation for rewardingcareers. As a member of the Scholarscommunity, you will enjoy close facultymentorship, the collegiality of small-grouplearning, the chance to publish your research,and the experience of a prestigious internshipand a subsidized study abroad.Our goals are to ensure that you do not feellost in the crowd and receive the personalsupport and guidance that will allow you tomake the most of your time at this top-tierresearch university. You’ll graduate with theskills, experiences, and maturity that will setyou apart from the overwhelming majority ofstudents from any campus. And we have nodoubt that our Scholars will become the finestambassadors for MSU.The Social Science Scholars in theOld Cloister of New College, OxfordScholars (from left) Grace Hough, Calla Michalak, Tristyn Walton, Elias Kokaly,Madge MacLean and Manny Alalouf with the annual Social Science Scholars book.Why become aSocial Science Scholar?CAMARADERIEYou’ll belong to a select and close-knit student community thatshares your passion for social and political issues. Social ScienceScholars have their own common room and work space.A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATIONYou’ll benefit from MSU faculty, alumni, and staff who are fullyinvested in your future success. You’ll conduct research underfaculty mentorship on the topics that most excite you.CAREER PREPARATIONYou’ll be prepared for a wide variety of high-profile careers in thepublic or private sectors and for advanced degree programs.FINANCIAL ASSISTANCEIt does not cost any extra to be a Social Science Scholar. In fact, asa Scholar you may be eligible for scholarships and you’ll receive asubsidy towards the cost of the Scholars’ study abroad trip.

Freshman ScholarsAs a freshman Social Science Scholar, you’ll take weekly seminarswith your cohort that’ll help you become a critical thinker, introduceyou to key ideas from a wide range of social science disciplines,and give you a richer understanding of national and global issues.You’ll be exposed to such topics as how genes and environmentinfluence individual psychology, how our behavior is conditionedby peer groups, how human societies have changed over time, whysocieties are so often deeply divided, why some communities orcountries fail while others thrive, and how environmental threatscan best be tackled. Whatever the topic, you’ll learn how to ask theright questions, conduct research, and see beyond the hunches andconventional wisdom that too often determine decision making.As a freshman Scholar, you’ll interact with dozens of experts fromMSU and overseas. In your first year, you’ll embark on a researchproject under faculty guidance and have the opportunity to presentyour preliminary findings at the University Undergraduate Researchand Arts Forum. In the summer, you’ll spend a month in the UnitedKingdom, gaining an international perspective on whatyou’ve studied on campus as we travel from theancient cities of London and Oxford to theremote Lake District. Your Scholars classes,study abroad and research projectall earn college credits.Dr. Todd Fenton isone of many SocialScience professorsregularly researchingside-by-side withstudents.SophomoreScholarsDuring your second year, you’llcomplete your research projectand have the opportunity topublish it in an annual volume ofSocial Science Scholars research.You’ll also study, again with theguidance of experts from aroundthe world, a series of importanthistorical and contemporary issues.Charlie Booher meeting SenatorDebbie Stabenow during hisWashington DC internshipIn the summer, you’ll gain practical internship experience. You mightopt to intern in one of many U.S. locations, including Washington, DC,New Orleans, Detroit, New York, or Hawaii. Or you might wish to internoverseas: in Europe, South America, or elsewhere. We’ll also help youto find internships during the semester, whether on campus, in stategovernment, or in one of the region’s many non-profit organizations.Junior andSenior ScholarsBy your third and fourth years,you’ll be established in yourdeclared major. You’ll meet withthe other scholars in regularseminars and pursue additionaloff-campus study or internshipopportunities. We’ll also guideScholars applying for prestigiousscholarships like the Truman,Rhodes and Marshall.College of Social Sciencedepartments, schools, andcenters with undergraduateprograms include: Anthropology Criminal Justice Economics Geography, Environment,and Spatial Sciences History Human Developmentand Family Studies Human Resourcesand Labor Relations Integrative Studies Political Science Psychology Social Work Sociology Urban and RegionalPlanning

How will thisprogram improvemy career chances?Our objectiveis to help youstand out fromthe crowd inwhatever fieldyou choose.StudyAbroadAs a Social Science Scholar you’ll have manyoptions when you leave MSU, from pursuinga career in business, finance, politics or publicpolicy, to working for a think tank or NonGovernmental Organization, or studying forprofessional degrees in areas like medicine,law, government, and international relations.The program’s advisor is here to help you selectthe appropriate courses for your career path.Our objective is to help you stand out fromthe crowd in whatever field you choose. We’llachieve this by teaching high level skills incritical thinking, research, and communication.We’ll also ensure that you have the kinds ofexperience that prepare you for a variety ofcareers. This program has been modeled onwhat researchers have consistently found toappeal most to employers. On the graphicbelow, produced by MSU’s Dr. Phil Gardner,the size of each circle shows therelative importance attached toSupervisedeach kind of experience bycivicengagementprospective employers.Leadership ina professionalorganizationLeadershipin a nonprofessionalorganizationalScholarlyresearchwith facultyFacultysupervisedappliedres. withorganiz.InternshipsSocial Science Scholars at the summit of a mountain in the English Lake Districtduring their study abroad trip to the UKACCORDINGLY, WE WILL HELP EACH SCHOLAR TO:Identify at least one internship, domestic or overseas, that matcheshis or her interests and aspirations.Undertake leadership roles in organizations. We will assist Scholarswith finding campus and community organizations that reflect theirpassions.Participate in faculty-supervised research. Close faculty mentorshipis known to help students excel. All Scholars will therefore undertakeserious research projects with faculty members and present theirfindings.Experience supervised civic engagement. All Social Science Scholarsare encouraged to participate in service learning.InternationalinternshipsGo on a study abroad. All freshmen Scholars will benefit from asubsidized study abroad program.

Some membersof our first cohort,where are they now?MANNY ALALOUFAs a student at MSU, Manny studied PoliticalScience and interned with the state representativefor Flint and for Michigan’s Senate MinorityLeader. Manny also completed an internship atMOVEMENT Search & Delivery, a leading executivesearch firm in Clarkston, MI. After graduation,Manny became a Headhunter Support Specialistat MOVEMENT, responsible for the recruitment ofcandidates for high-profile corporate positions.His supervisor says that ‘the analytical, research,problem-solving and communication skills thatManny acquired from the College of SocialScience and MSU have prepared him for a verypromising career in business, human resourcesand recruitment.’GRACE HOUGHGrace Hough graduated in 2018 with degrees inEconomics and Economic Geography. While atMSU, she carried out research on micro-lending,child labor and education, and the factors thatpromote entrepreneurship. She presented herwork at conferences in London and New Mexico.Grace interned for the Turkish Resource Centerof North America, Michigan’s Office for NewAmericans, Lansing’s Refugee DevelopmentCenter, and The Community EconomicDevelopment Association of Michigan.In the fall after graduation, she began a2-years master’s program in economicsand political science at Duke University.ELIAS KOKALYElias Kokaly graduated in 2018 with a degree inPolitical Science - World Politics and a minor inBioethics. Elias carried out research on MiddleEastern politics, health policy in the UK and US,and violent political movements. He also internedfor Detroit’s Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy,Planning & Strategy and as a Legislative Assistantwith the House of Representatives Committee onHomeland Security. After graduating, he accepteda full-time position with a block-chain tradingplatform as a Compliance Analyst focusing onanti-money laundering.CALLA MICHALAKCalla Michalak came to MSU as a National MeritFinalist and graduated in 2018 with a major inPsychology. Calla conducted research on bothfemale reproductive health and eating disordersand she served on the university’s Student HealthAdvisory Council. In addition, Calla undertookmedical internships in rural communities inEcuador and Kentucky. She is now studyingfor an accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s ofScience in Nursing at Emory University.TERESA AZZAMTeresa Azzam graduated with a major in WorldPolitics, and minors in Spanish, Sociology, LatinAmerica and Caribbean Studies, and GlobalStudies. Deeply committed to promoting thewelfare of refugees, she interned for the MichiganOffice for New Americans, Lansing’s RefugeeDevelopment Center, St. Vincent’s CatholicCharities as a refugee family mentor, and asa Legislative Intern at the Michigan House ofRepresentatives. Since graduating, Teresa hasbeen studying law at Case Western ReserveUniversity in pursuit of her goal of becominga human rights lawyer.