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, MSIs, AANAPISIs, and tribal colleges, 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 graduate school, an established relationship with a Hopkins faculty mentor in their field, and a cohort of peers who will remain a support network as they enter Ph.D. programs.
URSCA is hosting a series of virtual info sessions on PATHS and the Humanities Collaboratory. 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
- 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, MSI, 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 20 through July 28, 2024)
- Interested in pursuing a Ph.D.
- Preference is given to students who have not yet had an opportunity to participate in a summer research program
Apply
Applications for the 2024 Program are due on December 4, 2023.
The application consists of the following:
- Personal information and educational data (current institution, major, GPA, etc.)
- CV/resume
- Personal statement (1,000-word essay addressing why you are interested in PATHS program and how humanities or social sciences research intersects with your future plans)
- Writing sample (no longer than 10 pages; from a class/project that you feel best demonstrates your abilities as a scholar)
- One letter of recommendation