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College of Social Sciences

COSS Emerging Scholars

What is the COSS Emerging Scholars Program? 

The College of Social Sciences Emerging Scholars is a high-impact program created to foster an inclusive and supported mentorship experience for undergraduate students.

COSS Emerging Scholars takes an assets-based approach to empowering students by providing them with funded undergraduate research and creative experiences that directly apply to their existing interests or help shape their research, academic, or professional interests. 

All undergraduate COSS majors in good academic standing are eligible for the program.

While inclusive of all undergraduate COSS majors, the program has a particular emphasis on students who have traditionally been excluded from research opportunities and/or may not have envisioned themselves as student researchers/scholars.

During either a semester or over the academic year, student scholars will work alongside their COSS faculty mentor on a research, creative, or community outreach project designed by the faculty member. Student scholars will also participate in meetings and workshops to create a network of research scholars, build professional development skills, and share experiences. The program concludes with a COSS Emerging Scholars Research Symposium where student scholars present a poster of their research to celebrate their work and achievements.

For Faculty

All COSS tenure-line faculty and lecturers are eligible and encouraged to submit a proposal. The selection committee with pair up selected faculty members with selected student applicants.  

  • Selection will conclude by end of Fall 2024 semester. 
  • Faculty mentors and students can anticipate some bridge activities in Spring 2025. 
  • Project work will begin in the Fall 2025.

Faculty support and incentives include:

  • The opportunity to mentor students one-on-one on their existing or new line of scholarship.
  • Student scholar support with research, creative, or community outreach work.
  • Earn supervision units that count toward workload (i.e. course release)
    Lecturers are eligible to apply. Compensation and support will be determined according to their contract.

For Students

All undergraduate COSS majors in good academic standing are eligible for the program.

  • Selected students will work with a faculty mentor on a project designed by the faculty that can directly apply to students’ existing interests or help shape their research, academic, or professional interests. 
  • Students will be eligible for financial support in the form of a stipend processed through Financial Aid ($4,000 for the entire academic year or $2,000 for one semester). 
    • In addition to the project application, selected students will also need to complete the Fresno State Scholarship Application during the regular application window. 
    • We encourage interested students to reach out to their Financial Aid advisor with specific questions about how this experience may impact their overall financial aid package.
  • Students will be part of a research scholar network that actively participates in workshops, builds professional development skills, and creates venues to share their experiences. 
  • Participation in this program may increase their competitiveness for other programs, graduate school, employment, and research-centered opportunities.

 

Faculty Application

Ready to become an Emerging Scholar mentor? Learn more about the opportunities and benefits of being an Emerging Scholar mentor.
Apply

2025-2026 Projects

Ready to become an emerging scholar? Learn more about the projects currently underway and apply today!
Learn More/Apply