What is an REU?

The purpose of the REU program is to provide intensive research experiences for undergraduate students in collaboration with graduate students and professors. Students and professors work together on original research projects over the course of an academic year. (This is not a summer program). Students from Notre Dame, St. Mary's College, Indiana University at South Bend, and Bethel College are eligible to participate in this REU site. Typically, students will participate in the REU experience during their junior years, however, exceptions will be considered in special circumstances.

This REU site is focused generally on activism and protest that is based on issues related to racial or ethnic identities. During the course of the experience, participants will learn about the important research questions that exist in the study of social movements, collective action, and racial and ethnic conflict. Each participant will design and propose a research project, execute the project, and write a professional research report suitable for publication and presentation at an academic social science conference. While each student will be responsible for preparing her or his own research paper, there will be ample opportunities for collaboration with other students and with members of the faculty.