URSCA > Visitor Programs > Ph.D. PATHS Program

The Ph.D. Pathway for Advancement in the Humanities and Social Sciences (PATHS) program aims to recruit and prepare students to pursue Ph.D.s in the humanities and social sciences.

PATHS is a 10-week residential summer research program for undergraduate students enrolled at HBCUs, HSIs, AANAPISIs, tribal colleges/universities, or other MSIs, who undertake independent research projects in a student-centered, collaborative setting that uses peer modeling to develop undergraduates as subject matter experts. Building on the model of the Mellon Humanities Collaboratory, PATHS brings together students from different branches of humanities and social sciences scholarship to work together constructively while pursuing individual projects, each culminating in a research paper and a presentation at the Hopkins Summer Research Symposium and/or the Leadership Alliance National Symposium.

PATHS also includes additional mentoring infrastructure and a more advanced framework for college juniors and seniors who are ready to pursue graduate school. Participants will leave the program with a portfolio of materials for applying to Ph.D. programs, an established relationship with a Hopkins faculty mentor and with URSCA research staff, and a cohort of peers who will remain a support network as they enter graduate programs. 

URSCA is hosting a series of virtual info sessions on PATHS. Please see our events calendar for more information and to register.

Program

PATHS requires an in-person residential commitment for 10 weeks, typically from mid-May through early August. Participants receive a competitive summer stipend of $6,000 and are housed near the Johns Hopkins campus, in community with other summer researchers. 

Students design and develop research projects in the subject areas of: 

  • Anthropology 
  • Classics 
  • Economics 
  • History 
  • History of Art 
  • History of Science or Medicine 
  • English 
  • Media Studies 
  • Modern Languages and Literatures 
  • Philosophy 
  • Political Science and Government 
  • Psychology (non-clinical)
  • Public Health 
  • Religious Studies 
  • Sociology 
  • Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • Humanities or social science tracks within interdisciplinary programs (e.g., East Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, etc.) 

Eligibility  

  • Undergraduate enrolled in an HBCU, HSI, AANAPISI, or tribal college/university
  • Rising junior or senior 
  • Majoring in a humanities or social sciences discipline, or with a humanities or social sciences focus in an interdisciplinary program
  • Available in person for the entire duration of the program (May 25 through August 2, 2025) 
  • Interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in a humanities or social sciences field (non-clinical)
  • Preference is given to students who have not yet had an opportunity to participate in a summer research program

Apply

Applications for the 2025 Program are due on December 2, 2024.

The application consists of the following:

  • Personal information and educational data (current institution, major, GPA, etc.)
  • CV
  • Personal statement (1,000-word essay addressing why you are interested in humanities/social sciences research in general, and in the PATHS program in particular)
  • Writing sample (no longer than 10 pages; an example of academic writing that you feel best demonstrates your abilities as a scholar)
  • One letter of recommendation
Apply to PATHS

Stories from PATHS

“More humbling than anything else was realizing that I was never missing the ability, or the tools, to make some good work. The only thing I was ever missing was the guidance and experience to know how to get it done. An annotated bibliography, a peer review, a detailed database deep-dive, a research paper and even a conference – I’ve done it all now and I know how to do it again. I know that I want to, as well.”
– PATHS 2024 participant

“This program changed everything for me. I come from a small campus and had my first research experience the semester before the program started. This is the first time I have had advisors like this, there with me every step of the way. As someone who is learning to trust the process, having a clear layout of the steps has helped me not to get ahead of myself and go one step at a time, one deliverable at a time. Seeing my research change with every draft was such a satisfying experience. Going back to the first day when my idea was a tiny seed, watching it grow during the summer was truly amazing. Thanks to this, I am slowly incorporating more patience and compassion into the research process. I have a more open attitude to receiving feedback, focusing more on how my paper can be better.”
– PATHS 2024 participant

“My experience [in the PATHS program] showed me how little I knew about my research topic — and it wasn’t because I was poorly informed, but it was because my topic was so abundant. There were so many sources, materials, and readings that I couldn’t wait to delve into. Rather than shy away and become overwhelmed at how little I actually knew compared to how much information was at my disposal, I became inspired. I was inspired because I knew this was something I could continue to learn for the rest of my life.”
– PATHS 2024 participant