Research Opportunities and Internships

Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Boston College's Undergraduate Research Fellowship program (URF) supports research assistantships during the academic year and the summer. Application deadlines vary so please consult the university鈥檚 website detailing the program. Generally, applications are due in the weeks before a semester/summer begins.

To apply for a Fellowship please fill out the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Application form. Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Cox will then share your dossier with the economics faculty. If a faculty member is interested he/she will contact you to arrange a meeting. If there is a match the faculty member applies for the Fellowship with your name listed as the research assistant. If accepted you will be paid at an hourly rate for the duration of the assistantship. Generally, faculty are interested in more advanced students who have completed their Theory courses and Econometrics.聽

Notes:

  1. The application form available at the URF website is for faculty only;
  2. URFs are typically reserved for MCAS rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors;
  3. Students are in a more competitive and valuable position to assist with research after they have completed econometrics.

Students are also encouraged to reach out directly to faculty of interest regarding any possible opportunities for paid or unpaid research assistance and experience.

Thesis Research and Independent Study

Economics majors seeking a year-long course-based research experience should consider writing a Senior Honors Thesis. Those students whose work shows promise of going beyond a standard thesis, may ask during the fall semester to be considered for the six-credit Scholar of the College program in the second semester. Students who successfully complete an honors thesis and have fulfilled the other requirements of the聽Economics Honors Program, graduate with honors in economics. For more information on the Senior Honors Thesis, please visit the聽Senior Honors Thesis聽page.

Students interested in exploring in depth a topic that has been introduced in an existing department elective or in doing research in an area not covered by current elective offerings, may choose to enroll in an Independent Study. A written proposal must be developed in consultation with a faculty member who has agreed to supervise the project and submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval prior to registration.

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Internships

The Economics Department offers ECON 1199 as a one-credit course available for any student who wishes to do an internship with an agency or organization that requires a Boston College connection as a condition for offering the internship. A student who wishes to enroll in ECON 1199 must complete the approval form available in the link to the right. The form must be signed by the student's supervisor in the organization or agency providing the internship and then by the Undergraduate Academic Advisor for the Economics Department, Ms. Nadia Smith. After it is signed it should be returned to the dean鈥檚 office as indicated on the form. At the end of the internship the supervisor must provide an evaluation to the Undergraduate Academic Advisor. The internship will be graded on a pass-fail basis. Internship credit does not reduce any other course credit required for completing the major.

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