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Undergraduate Research
Religions are living things. Students of religion engage with timeless questions significant to human life and raise and wrestle with new questions that shape our world now and in the future. Research is critical for pushing the boundaries of these investigations to create new knowledge. As a requirement for all of our majors, students complete a capstone seminar (COLL 400) in their junior or senior year which deepens their independent research skills.
Students are also encouraged to pursue their academic interests through a semester-long independent study or a year-long honors thesis. Working with an academic advisor, students can research and develop their own unique contribution to Religious Studies.
To do an Independent Study or Honors Thesis, students should approach a professor who has taught a course they enjoyed or who is involved in research related to their interests. (Go to faculty directory pages or personal websites to find their research and areas of interest.) Students can reach out directly by email for an appointment or visit during faculty office hours to see if the professor is available for an independent project.
Examples of previous student research can be found here.
Publication opportunities exist through at least two undergraduate journals on campus – the Judaic Studies Review and Noetica. As an interdisciplinary field, other publication venues are good homes for research completed through collaborative or independent research.
Some majors may be able to attend conferences to present their research, and some may have the opportunity to work with faculty in support of their research.
Funding for Undergraduate Research
Students can find funding to support their research available campus-wide through the Charles Center here. If students’ research involves international study, the Reves Center can also be a resource for support.
The Judaic Studies Program offers scholarships for students undertaking relevant research which you can find out more about here.
Kranzberg Faculty-Student Research Endowment
The Religious Studies Department is able to support collaborative undergraduate and faculty research especially related to Judaic Studies through the Kranzberg Faculty-Student Research Endowment, which provides support to students and faculty undertaking new and collaborative research within the study of the Jewish faith. The collaboration involves faculty incorporating undergraduate students in the work of their project (not merely as assistants). Support for a project will generally range from $4,000 to $6,000, depending on the pool of applications. For students, it can be used toward work-study stipends, summer scholarships, travel allowances and the like. For faculty, it can include (but is not limited to) travel expenses.
Applications should envision projects to be completed within one year of their submission. They are to be submitted to madais@wm.edu by the faculty person in the collaboration, and they are accepted at two points in the academic year: the first week of classes in the fall and spring semesters. Briefly (in 2-3 double-spaced pages) they should include (1) a title, (2) a purpose statement, (3) an explanation of method and (4) expected results. And they should be accompanied by (5) a detailed budget. Send applications or questions to Prof. Michael Daise at madais@wm.edu.
Other Funding
Funding for other undergraduate research in Religious Studies relies on the support of our community, and we are always grateful to those that make it possible for our students to dig deep and access experiences that enhance their education. If you’re interested in supporting undergraduate research in our interdisciplinary field, you can donate , or be in touch with the department chair directly. We welcome your collaboration to expand opportunities for our students and faculty!