UMBC offers many opportunities for undergraduates in every major to gain significant experience with independent creative work, scholarship, and research. Students frequently participate in faculty research in the Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts Departments.
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Undergraduate Research Award
The Undergraduate Research Award (URA) is offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education, and is open to all undergraduate students. Through a competitive application process, students may receive up to $1,500 to fund a summer research proposal. Students must submit a detailed proposal and budget for their project, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Dance students have received awards for summer study at the Bates Dance Festival, the American Dance Festival, Broadway Dance Center, Jacob’s Pillow, and other prestigious summer programs, and have applied the skills and methodologies learned at those festivals to choreograph original dance works which are presented at UMBC on Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day each April.
Schedule:
- Fall Semester – you can schedule a info session with Assistant Professor, Ann Sofie Clemmensen / asclem@umbc.edu
- Fall semester (Nov/Dec) – contact the faculty member that you would like to inquire to be your mentor
- Spring semester (Feb/March) – work on drafting (writing) your URA proposal
- Spring semester (March/April) – get feedback from your mentor
- Spring semester (April/May) – send final complete version to your mentor / they will write the mentor reference
- Spring semester (Early May) – submit your proposal using the URA online form / mentor will upload your reference
- Spring semester (May/June) – you will be notified if your proposal was successful
Check student calendar for dates (they will be listed there as soon as URA office notify us the dates)
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Summer Dance Research and Study Award
This award is specific to the dance department and is available to Dance Majors who are current sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated excellence in performance and/or choreography and who have strong potential for success as professional dance artists. The award is designed to support students who wish to engage in summer study at an established summer dance program or through a self-designed program of study at a nationally recognized dance center with professional teachers. Funding may be used to cover tuition, travel, and room and board up to a maximum award of $2,500. Students must submit an application form and budget. This award may be received in addition to any other summer research awards offered by UMBC, such as the Undergraduate Research Award and Linehan Summer Award.