English Department Scholarship Opportunity

Students who intend to complete an independent study or bachelors essay in English beginning next fall are eligible to submit their proposals for consideration for the Macy Ezell Cooke Scholarship and an award of $1,000!

Details: The Cooke Scholarship is awarded to the most promising, innovative, or academically substantial project, based on the proposal. In preparing their proposals, students should follow the guidelines provided below. The English department will consider all proposals submitted for the scholarship at their final faculty meeting on April 9th.

To Apply: Submit your proposal through the Cougar Scholarship Award System by April 5th. Please note that April 5th is only the deadline for the consideration for the scholarship. BE/IS proposal final deadlines come much later.

Students are expected to consult with their preferred faculty advisors well in advance of preparing their proposals and to complete their proposals on time and strictly according to the guidelines stated below. Acceptance of proposals is contingent upon the approval of a committee composed of the faculty advisor, the appropriate concentration director (Creative Writing; Literature and Film; Writing, Rhetoric, and Publication), and the Associate Chair of the Department.

Eligibility
To propose a Bachelor’s Essay or Independent Study in English, a student must:

  • have completed 60 hours of coursework, including ENGL 299
  • not have exceeded 9 hours of independent study (including Tutorials, Bachelor’s Essays, and Independent Studies)
  • identify a BE or IS faculty director in English
  • consult with the director while preparing the proposal according to the guidelines below

Submission
Submit the proposal, via your director, to the committee no later than one week before the first day of classes for the semester in which the work is to be done. It is preferable to submit the proposal much sooner, preferably in the prior semester.

Proposal Guidelines
Your proposal should be 400-500 words long—one single-spaced page—excluding the bibliography. Place your name at the top of the first page along with the name of your faculty advisor, and indicate whether you are proposing an Independent Study or a Bachelor’s Essay. Proposals should include the following:

  • An intriguing and informative title.
  • A brief, engaging introduction that identifies your primary sources and strategically frames your project. You can do this in any number of ways, but successful strategies include establishing broader contexts for your project (historical, theoretical, generic), modeling your proposed engagement with the text(s), and/or emphasizing why your topic is timely and important.
  • A tentative—but pointed and specific—project goal. For critical projects, this will be a research question or, if your project is more developed, a thesis. For creative projects, this will be a statement of intent. The goal here is to articulate what you hope to achieve in this independent project.
  • A focused account of the conversation your project participates in. This might include key critical arguments or creative practices you hope to address and extend. Try to cite at least two sources, though there probably won’t be room for substantial quotations. You might also describe in greater detail the theoretical, methodological, or creative foundations indicated in your introduction.
  • A project timeline, noting completion dates for specific stages of the project (annotated bibliography or creative review, section and chapter drafts, final copy, etc.). Please also note the anticipated size of the project and related outcomes. Independent studies typically require 25 pages of formal writing, though not necessarily in the form of one long essay. Bachelor’s Essays typically require 50 pages of formal writing and a defense.
  • A grading plan explaining how the course will be graded. Faculty advisors may choose to adapt one of the following sample grading plans:
    • Grading Plan for Independent Study – The faculty advisor will assign a grade based on two factors: participation (e.g., attendance at and preparedness for weekly meetings) and written work, which will consist of _________.
    • Grading Plan for Bachelor’s Essay – The faculty advisor will assign a grade based two factors: participation (e.g., attendance at and preparedness for weekly meetings) and the writing project. The writing project will be at least 50 pages long and show evidence of substantial primary and/or secondary research. The student will defend the writing project orally before a panel including the faculty advisor and two additional faculty members.
  • A statement of the Student Learning Outcome(s) for the project. Faculty advisors may choose to adapt the following SLO:
    • Student Learning Outcome for Bachelor’s Essay/Independent Study: Student will demonstrate the ability to plan and effectively carry out an extensive research and/or writing project independently.
  • A bibliography, including no fewer than ten primary and secondary sources.

Please note that the bullet points above merely list several important features of the proposal. They are not meant to serve as an outline of your proposal, which should unfold in a series of strategically organized paragraphs that combine these features as best suits your project. Nor are they exhaustive. You may, for example, also want to discuss the experiences and qualifications that have led you to and prepared you for your proposed project.


A few additional notes
Because decisions about Bachelor’s Essays and Independent Studies are likely to be made after registration has begun, students should register for classes as if they will not be doing independent work.

Bachelor’s Essays with an ENGL prefix can be applied to the Open Electives requirement of the English Core. Students can apply both semesters of their Bachelor’s Essay (499A & 499B) to this 6 credit hour requirement.

Independent Studies can be applied either to the Open Electives requirement or to the Focus Electives requirement of our three concentrations, provided that the content of the Independent Study project reflects the content of the concentration. If you would like to have your Independent Study applied as a Focus Elective within your concentration, please contact the Associate Chair.

Apply for the Reason One Mentorship & Scholarship Program and a $5000 Award!

Reason One is awarding three (3) scholarships valued at $5000 each to Black students with a passion for technology. These scholarships are specifically designed for individuals enrolled or recently accepted into digital-related programs, covering areas such as marketing, strategy, project management, web development, and design.

Details: What makes this program unique is that, in addition to the financial support, all three winners will receive invaluable mentoring and professional development assistance from our experienced team.

Eligibility: To be considered for this program, you must:

  • Identify as Black, African American, African Canadian or African-descent
  • Be between the ages of 17-35 years old
  • Live in Ontario, Canada or South Carolina, USA
  • Be enrolled or accepted to a full or part-time digital-related program at a college, university, or specialized program (such as a Bootcamp, etc.)
  • Have demonstrated financial need

To Apply: Go to this link to apply. Applications open March 26th and close on May 7th. The top ten applicants will be contacted for a virtual interview, with the chosen winners notified in Summer 2024.

For more information, click this link, or click here to go to their FAQs.

The Application Deadline Has Been Extended for the Washington Semester Program!

The Washington Semester Program (WSP) offers South Carolina college students the opportunity to spend a semester working and taking classes in Washington D.C., gaining valuable experience while earning academic credit toward their degrees.

The Opportunity: Students live in a historic Capital Hill neighborhood, explore the city through group excursions, all while taking 15 credit hours. 9 credit hours are applied towards a full-time internship in congressional, executive, judicial or private sector offices, which can be applied towards your Honors Immersed requirement.

Great Fit For: Any Honors student! Many CofC Honors students have participated and thrived in this program over the years, with backgrounds ranging from political science to economics to international studies to public health. Participants get firsthand experience with the political process, obtaining skills that will help prepare them for careers in virtually any sphere.

Scholarships Available: The program allocates support for students who demonstrate financial need and awards over $10,000 each year in scholarships.

To Apply: Click here for the application link and instructions. Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis.

You can find more information about the program here.

Information Sessions About Fulbright Awards

Fulbright provides funding for students to attend graduate school, conduct research, or teach English abroad in over 140 countries worldwide. To learn more about this program, the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards is hosting three info sessions about Fulbright!

When & Where: The three sessions are…

  • on Wednesday, March 20th, at 3:00 p.m. in RSS 248
  • on Tuesday, March 26th, at 2:00 p.m. in RSS 252
  • on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 1:00 p.m. in RSS 252

If you have any questions, email Dr. Woram at nationalawards@cofc.edu.

Join the CofC Generative AI Team!

Curious about generative artificial intelligence? Check out this opportunity to participate in a Hackathon, take a class on Storytelling with AI, and compete in the IBM 2024 Call for Code Global Challenge for a chance to win $50,000!

The Opportunity: Honors Faculty Fellow Lancie Affonso is hoping to recruit a team of 3-5 CofC students to compete in the April 19th-21st CHS Hack Ops and get feedback on their solution before entering the  IBM 2024 Call for Code Global Challenge. Professor Affonso will also be teaching an exclusive colloquium course in fall 2024 on Storytelling in the Ae of AI.

Timeline:

  • March 29th: Team formed (3-5 students)
  • April 19th-21st: Team participates in CHS HackOps at the Harbor Entrepreneurship Center
  • October 17th: IBM Challenge submissions due
  • December 2024: IBM Challenge winners announced

Students who are interested in joining our CofC Storytelling with AI team for this competition or learning about IBM Skills Build and Red Hat Academy can contact Professor Affonso at affonsol@cofc.edu.

Deadline Approaching: Apply for a research internship at MUSC with a $4500 stipend award

The deadline is approaching to apply for the inaugural Kendra Springs ’23 Memorial Research Award will provide an Honors College student with a $4500 stipend to support a summer research internship in the Norris lab at MUSC.

The Internship: Join the Norris lab in ongoing research into cardiovascular development, investigating the regulatory pathways and cell-to-cell interactions in the developing heart.

  • The internship is loosely scheduled to take place from June 1 – July 31, with exact dates will be determined upon acceptance into the internship program.

The Benefits:

  • Gain experience in a research lab setting.
  • Support data analysis into RNA sequencing and pathophysiology molecular studies on mice.
  • Valuable mentorship from MDs, post-docs, MD/PhD candidates, and more.
  • Bolster your medical school credentials.

How to Apply: Complete the online application with statement of intent + (1) letter of recommendation + resume/CV + unofficial transcript by Friday, March 1.

The Norris lab at MUSC is offering a summer internship for an Honors College student to participate in ongoing cardiovascular research.

  • The intern will be supported by the Kendra Springs ’23 Memorial Research Award, a $4500 summer stipend.
  • The internship is loosely scheduled to take place from June 1 – July 31. The exact dates will be determined upon acceptance into the internship program.

The Research

The Norris lab has over 25 years of experience understanding genetics of syndromic and non-syndromic diseases like mitral valve prolapse (MVP), aortic stenosis, bicuspid aortic valve diseases, and cardiomyopathies.

This particular summer research internship will focus on the lab’s ongoing research into cardiovascular development.

Specifically, the lab is investigating the regulatory pathways and cell-to-cell interactions in the developing heart, focused on protein expression and interactions within and between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes and their effect on cell proliferation and maturation.

Researchers on the project are currently involved with analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data as well as performing further molecular studies on mice to determine the pathophysiology.

The ultimate goal of the research is to elucidate some of the mechanisms behind heart maturation and development. 

Application Materials

Upload the following application materials through the online application form by Friday, March 1 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

  • Statement of Intent: Briefly discuss your academic and career goals. Your response should outline why this area of research interests you and what you are hoping to achieve from the experience.
  • (1) Letter of recommendation. The letter can be from:
    • Faculty who are familiar with your science coursework or research skills.
    • A scientist/clinician at another institution who has mentored you in a research experience. 
  • Updated resume/CV.
  • Unofficial transcript.

Funding

The internship is supported by the Kendra Springs '23 Memorial Endowed Research Award, which will provide the intern with a stipend for summer living expenses up to $4500.

The Kendra Springs Memorial Endowed Research Award has been created through the generosity of Clark and Julia Springs and many family members and friends in memory of Kendra Springs. Kendra’s family aims to support internship opportunities for Honors College students who exhibit Kendra’s drive for finding new treatments and cures for cancer. Kendra was a bright light and a constant inspiration. Her ability to tackle complex research questions to make an impact in people’s lives was impressive and her passion for her studies was palpable and unrelenting. Her contagious smile and her quiet, yet unparalleled passion for finding a solution for those with rare diseases will be forever missed.

Kendra was an Honors College student who studied chemistry at the College of Charleston. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kendra successfully completed an internship at the Norris Lab at the Medical University of South Carolina. Kendra passed away on July 12, 2023.

  • The award recipient is also automatically accepted into the Honors Summer Enrichment Program.
  • To receive this award, recipients must be a current College of Charleston Honors College student in good standing.

Summer research internship in the Norris Lab at MUSC with a $4500 stipend award

The inaugural Kendra Springs ’23 Memorial Research Award will provide an Honors College student with a $4500 stipend to support a summer research internship in the Norris lab at MUSC.

The Internship: Join the Norris lab in ongoing research into cardiovascular development, investigating the regulatory pathways and cell-to-cell interactions in the developing heart.

  • The internship is loosely scheduled to take place from June 1 – July 31, with exact dates will be determined upon acceptance into the internship program.

The Benefits:

  • Gain experience in a research lab setting.
  • Support data analysis into RNA sequencing and pathophysiology molecular studies on mice.
  • Valuable mentorship from MDs, post-docs, MD/PhD candidates, and more.
  • Bolster your medical school credentials.

How to Apply: Complete the online application with statement of intent + (1) letter of recommendation + resume/CV + unofficial transcript by Friday, March 1.

The Norris lab at MUSC is offering a summer internship for an Honors College student to participate in ongoing cardiovascular research.

  • The intern will be supported by the Kendra Springs ’23 Memorial Research Award, a $4500 summer stipend.
  • The internship is loosely scheduled to take place from June 1 – July 31. The exact dates will be determined upon acceptance into the internship program.

The Research

The Norris lab has over 25 years of experience understanding genetics of syndromic and non-syndromic diseases like mitral valve prolapse (MVP), aortic stenosis, bicuspid aortic valve diseases, and cardiomyopathies.

This particular summer research internship will focus on the lab’s ongoing research into cardiovascular development.

Specifically, the lab is investigating the regulatory pathways and cell-to-cell interactions in the developing heart, focused on protein expression and interactions within and between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes and their effect on cell proliferation and maturation.

Researchers on the project are currently involved with analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data as well as performing further molecular studies on mice to determine the pathophysiology.

The ultimate goal of the research is to elucidate some of the mechanisms behind heart maturation and development. 

Application Materials

Upload the following application materials through the online application form by Friday, March 1 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

  • Statement of Intent: Briefly discuss your academic and career goals. Your response should outline why this area of research interests you and what you are hoping to achieve from the experience.
  • (1) Letter of recommendation. The letter can be from:
    • Faculty who are familiar with your science coursework or research skills.
    • A scientist/clinician at another institution who has mentored you in a research experience. 
  • Updated resume/CV.
  • Unofficial transcript.

Funding

The internship is supported by the Kendra Springs '23 Memorial Endowed Research Award, which will provide the intern with a stipend for summer living expenses up to $4500.

The Kendra Springs Memorial Endowed Research Award has been created through the generosity of Clark and Julia Springs and many family members and friends in memory of Kendra Springs. Kendra’s family aims to support internship opportunities for Honors College students who exhibit Kendra’s drive for finding new treatments and cures for cancer. Kendra was a bright light and a constant inspiration. Her ability to tackle complex research questions to make an impact in people’s lives was impressive and her passion for her studies was palpable and unrelenting. Her contagious smile and her quiet, yet unparalleled passion for finding a solution for those with rare diseases will be forever missed.

Kendra was an Honors College student who studied chemistry at the College of Charleston. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kendra successfully completed an internship at the Norris Lab at the Medical University of South Carolina. Kendra passed away on July 12, 2023.

  • The award recipient is also automatically accepted into the Honors Summer Enrichment Program.
  • To receive this award, recipients must be a current College of Charleston Honors College student in good standing.

Deadline approaching to apply for a funded summer internship through the PASS Program

Apply by Feb. 23 to be considered for the PASS (Pipeline for Aspiring Surgical Students) Program which provides summer internships with the MUSC Department of Surgery.

The Opportunity: The PASS Program provides up to three Honors interns with an immersive 10-week summer experience focused on laboratory and clinical research and designed to prepare students for a career in academic medicine, all under the mentorship of Department of Surgery faculty.

Great Fit For: Aspiring surgeons / Future medical scientists / those thinking about pursuing an MD/PhD or MD/MS and looking to bolster their application credentials

Get Funded: Students accepted into the PASS Program also participate in the Honors Summer Enrichment Program, which includes funding of up to $4000 to support their PASS internship.

How to Apply: Learn more about the P.A.S.S. Program then submit your application online by Friday, February 23 at 5:00 p.m. EST.