Undergraduate Research

Our department, as well as SMU as a whole, strives to provide students with rich and rewarding opportunities to conduct research individually, alongside faculty members, and in groups of your peers.

To learn more about research opportunities, as well as ways to get your research published, contact Matthew R. Keller (mkeller@smu.edu) or Leslie DeArman (dearman@smu.edu).

Here are a few examples of the many research opportunities available to our students:

Departmental Distinction Research Project:

Students engage in original research (based on a topic covered in a 3000- or 4000-level course) and write a journal-length article under the supervision of a faculty member while enrolled in SOCI 4396. At the end of the term, the supervising faculty will make a recommendation to departmental faculty regarding distinction. The department committee will then evaluate the merits of the paper and determine if distinction will be awarded.

Independent Research with Course Credit:

Undergraduate students develop an independent research project under the guidance of a departmental faculty member, culminating in a written report. Students may enroll in one, two, or three credit hours. Prerequisites: SOCI 2300 or 2310, SOCI 3311 or 3312, and one 3000-level course.

Research alongside faculty members:

Students may also collaborate with their professors in pursuing mutual research interests. If you are interested in collaborating on research with a faculty member, feel free to reach out to our faculty to learn more about their research interests. You can also contact Dr. Keller or Professor DeArman (see contact information above) for more information on how to get started!

Research opportunities offered at SMU: