Ralph Bunch Summer Institute Program
Who Can Apply: US Citizens – Juniors. Applicants must be members of a racial or ethnic minority group that is significantly under-represented in political science, such as African American, Asian Pacific American, Latinos/a, and Native American (federal and state recognized tribes) students, or who are interested in broadening participation in political science by students from under-represented minority populations and pursuing scholarship on issues affecting under-represented groups.
IMPORTANT: Applicants must demonstrate an interest in teaching and potential for research in political science.
Description: The RBSI is an intensive five-week program held at Duke University. It introduces the world of doctoral study in political science to undergraduate students from under-represented racial and ethnic groups or those interested in broadening participation in the field and pursuing scholarship on issues affecting under-represented groups.
Award Amount: RBSI recipients receive full tuition, health insurance, transportation, room and board in a dormitory double room, books, and instructional materials. Also, participants receive a food allowance and a weekly stipend.
Duration: Five weeks Duke University
National Deadline: TBA
Each summer, up to 20 students are admitted to the program, which includes two transferable credit courses -- one in quantitative analysis and one in race and American politics – and a comprehensive introduction to the intellectual demands of graduate school and political science research methods. For a final project for both courses, students prepare original, empirical research papers; top students are given the opportunity to present their research at the American Political Science Association's annual meeting, all expenses paid.
Since good performance on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is key to admission to and funding for graduate school, Graduate Record Exam test-taking strategies are provided by Princeton Review. At the end of the Institute, representatives from a number of leading PhD granting institutions participate in a recruitment fair to present information about doctoral study and admissions with Bunche students.