Research Opportunities

Communication Honors Program

The Communication Department Honors Program is designed for seniors who wish to undertake an extended research or creative production project under the supervision of a Communication faculty member. Because the Honors Program requires a year-long sequence of courses in a small cohort, students get an opportunity to work at length and in-depth with faculty and other students on an individual project. Students who have special research interests and plan to pursue graduate school or work in fields of production are strongly recommended to apply to the Honors Program. We invite you to read projects and testimonials from previous Communication Honors students.

Research with a Communication Faculty Member (COMM-198 and COMM-199)

COMM-198: Directed Group Study in Communication is a group study completed with a professor of your choice. Students should first reach out to the professor to determine if they are available for the course. Once the professor has agreed, students may enroll in COMM-198 via these enrollment instructions.
COMM-199: Independent Study in Communication is an independent study completed with a professor of your choice. Students should first reach out to the professor to determine if they are available for the course. Once the professor has agreed, students may enroll in COMM-199 via these enrollment instructions.

Students who enroll in COMM-198 or 199 may petition to count one of these courses (4 units max) towards the COMM or MIC major's Intermediate Elective requirement.

Complete an Undergraduate Student Petition:
- detail in the body of the petition the work completed in the course
- include the name of Communication Department Faculty Mentor
Submit your completed petition via the COMM UG Petition Form. The department's Faculty Advisor will review it and you will be notified of the result via the VAC.

Other Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Research Hub

This site connects students to a wide array of UC San Diego research opportunities. URH has a variety of programs and scholarships that allow students to pursue research in their area of interest with the guidance of a faculty mentor and support of a cohort of students doing their own independent research at the same time.

Opportunities include:

McNair Scholars Program

Available Winter, Spring and Summer term (8 weeks; 3 quarter commitment).
Open to juniors and seniors.
Stipend, course credit, and housing available.

UC Scholars

Available during Summer (8 weeks).
Open to juniors and seniors.
Stipend, course credit, and housing available.

Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS) - Chancellor's Research Scholarship for Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences

Available during Summer (10 weeks).
Open to first-years, sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors.
Stipend available.

Research Experience & Applied Learning Portal - The REAL Portal is a networking space that allows students to connect with open research opportunities on and off campus with a wide range of time commitments. Opportunities may be at a local lab or supporting a PhD student or faculty member in their research on campus. Students also have the opportunity to upload information and a resume to be contacted about opportunities.

Triton Research & Experiential Learning Scholars (TRELS) - TRELS empowers students to pursue intellectual opportunities beyond the classroom, by providing support in the form of funding and mentorship. This program is intended to expose students to experiential learning, including, but not limited to research, guided artistic or creative projects, and public service opportunities, under the guidance of a UC San Diego faculty member. There is a particular emphasis on serving students who may face obstacles in pursuing such opportunities.

UCSD Handshake - This is a networking site that connects UCSD students to internship, job, and career opportunities both on and off campus. This is similar to LinkedIn; recruiters and companies can view resumes that are uploaded and reach out to students that may fit open positions within the company.

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