Working closely with faculty, many undergraduate and graduate students of the Department of Applied Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are involved in research and scholarship activities.
Undergraduate students may choose to participate in the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program, through which they gain priceless experience in research in their field of study, getting to develop meaningful relationships with their faculty mentors as well as to expand their curriculum by applying what they've learned in the classroom to real world settings. Additionally, each semester many of the URCA students earn course credit and/or a stipend for their participation.
Graduate students are offered many opportunities to pursue their research interests related to various applied communication aspects during their coursework, through independent study, or if they choose as their exit option to write a project or a thesis. From the Research Grants for Graduate Students (RGGS) program hosted by SIUE’s Graduate School, they can be awarded on a competitive basis funds in support of research that they conduct under faculty guidance and that helps enhance their academic progress.
Undergraduate and graduate students of the Department of Applied Communication Studies have presented research at the annual Graduate School Symposium, at the conferences of the Central States Communication Association and National Communication Association, as well as at the conferences of other regional and national associations.
