The McNair Scholars Program
prepares high-achieving USC undergraduates to engage in research and for graduate school programs. Participating students, referred to as McNair Scholars, begin the program by taking a Research Methods Course in the Spring. During the Summer Research Institute (SRI), McNair Scholars are advised by USC faculty mentors, graduate students, and program staff. Throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall, the program provides services aimed at promoting graduate school preparation, career development, research competencies, and writing skills.
The McNair Scholars Program is a U.S. Department of Education Federal TRIO Program. The USC Office of Undergraduate Programs provides administrative oversight for the program and makes available opportunities for all students to participate in an array of academic, co-curricular, and funding programs. The core components of the USC McNair Scholars Program include a Spring Research Methods Course, Summer Research Institute (SRI), Annual Research Symposium, GRE Test Preparation, Travel Grant Awards for Conference Attendance and University Visitations, and Academic & Career Advising.
At USC, McNair Scholars receive a $2800 summer stipend and participate in an intense ten-week summer program where they engage in original research under the mentorship of USC faculty advisors and graduate students. Eligible students also receive a Scholarship to pay for summer housing. At the conclusion of the summer, McNair Scholars present their findings to peers and faculty at a local symposium and most publish their work in the program's journal. In the fall, a select group of McNair Scholars become eligible for additional funding to present their research at national scholarly conferences and to visit prospective graduate school programs across the U.S.
