As researchers and scholars, our faculty is second to none. We are proudest, though, of our students who are learning to probe the big questions and develop the analytical and interpretive skills to address them.
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND ARTS
Elizabeth Lee Moody Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Program Structure & Expectations
Q: What makes the Moody Fellowship a "2-year commitment"?
A: The Moody Fellowship is structured as a two-year research and creative works academy. Across four consecutive semesters, fellows participate in a required 1-hour weekly seminar (HUMA 399) that provides scaffolded research methods, leadership training and collaborative project execution.
Q: How does HUMA 399 work with my course schedule?
A: HUMA 399 is a 1–2 credit hour seminar held late in the day once per week to minimize scheduling conflicts with upper-level major requirements. It acts as an anchor for the cohort to build community, workshop proposals and complete collaborative milestones.
Q: Can study abroad schedules accommodate the 2-year commitment?
A: Yes. If you plan to study abroad during one of your four fellowship semesters, you will coordinate with the Program Director in advance to maintain research milestones and adjust your sequence for registering for and participating in HUMA 399.
Funding, Grants, & Micro-Credentials
Q: What can the $3,500 summer stipend be used for?
A: Summer stipends are flexible funds designed to cover living expenses, research travel, archival visits, specialized training or internships related to your independent humanistic or artistic work between academic years.
Q: How do I access the $2,000 Conference Travel Fund?
A: Fellows who have research papers or creative projects accepted at regional or national conferences or exhibitions can apply for up to $2,000 in competitive travel reimbursement to cover flights, lodging and registration costs.
Q: How does the Year 2 Coursera Micro-Credential funding work?
A: In your second year, this Fellowship Program funds your enrollment in select industry-recognized professional certificate programs (such as Google UX Design, Data Analytics or PMI-aligned Project Management). These badges pair with your humanistic degree and, in the future, will be tracked on an official Rice experiential learning co-curricular transcript to demonstrate skill capacities and technical readiness to employers.
Team Projects & Output
Q: What are Common Interests Research Teams?
A: In addition to independent work, fellows collaborate in small teams based on shared intellectual interests to build public-facing, digital humanistic products (such as digital archives, interactive maps or multimedia exhibitions). This builds teamwork and digital publishing skills essential for modern careers.
Q: Will this program prepare me for post-graduate fellowships like Fulbright or Wagoner?
A: Absolutely. One primary goal of the Fellowship Program is to serve as an incubator for prestigious national and international awards. The proposal writing, budgeting, and public presentation skills taught in HUMA 399 are explicitly aligned with national award criteria.
