From all accounts, getting into research is one of the more rewarding experiences students can have in college. Research can open doors - academic or career - that you hadn't imagined before. Delve into a topic and seek answers to questions of great interest to you. Establish an easy camaraderie with one of the faculty or graduate students. Here's how...

Engage in Faculty and Graduate Student Research

Economics Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program (E-URAP)
Interested in what economics research actually looks like? The Economics Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program (E-URAP) connects undergraduates with faculty and graduate students in the Economics department who are working on active research projects.

The program is open to any Berkeley undergraduate, with a particular focus on declared and intended Economics majors. Prerequisites vary by project.

This program focuses on RA (Research Assistant) arrangements compensated by enrollment in Econ 199 units. Each student can be enrolled in up to three Econ 199 units per semester, and each Econ 199 unit must represent a dedication of at least three hours per week. All units are P/NP. This course cannot be used to fulfill an elective requirement for the major.

A call for applications is posted on the Economics Major EdStem Discussion Portal at the beginning of each semester. When you apply, you'll see a list of projects currently looking for RAs and can indicate which ones interest you. Faculty and graduate students then review applicants and reach out to students directly. Calls for applications are typically posted around the following times, though dates may vary with the semester schedule:

  • Fall Semester: Last Monday in August
  • Spring Semester: Second Monday in January
  • Summer Semester: Second Monday in May

This program is administered by the Economics department and is distinct from the campus-wide URAP program. You can reach out with any questions at urap@econ.berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP)
Apprentice with a faculty member in the campus-wide Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP). The campus URAP program provides opportunities for you to work with faculty on some cutting-edge research, and is distinct from the department-based E-URAP program. Working closely with faculty, you can cultivate professional relationships, enhance your research skills, and deepen your knowledge and skills in areas of special interest. For a complete listing and description of research projects, check out the URAP Website or stop by 2412 Dwinelle Hall.

Design Your Own Research
Please note that these courses require a significant level of departmental approval. See links provided for important details.

Independent Study Courses. Think about your own research, perhaps as an independent study. In such cases, a faculty mentor can help you stay focused and develop skills in asking and answering research questions. You can receive credit for your independent research by enrolling in one or more units of Econ 199. Courses vary from one to three units, depending on the extensiveness of the project, and are only offered on a Pass/Not Pass basis. During the regular academic year, forms are due the Friday of the 3rd week of classes. For additional details, visit the undergraduate advisors.

Honors Thesis. About 5 to 10% of Economics majors write an Honors Thesis. If you have a strong interest in a particular topic and would like the experience of researching and writing a long research paper, consider writing an Honors Thesis. Students who write an honors thesis work independently with a faculty sponsor. In order to qualify for honors, Economics majors must have 1) a 3.3 or higher GPA in all their UC coursework; 2) a 3.5 or higher GPA in thier upper-division Economics courses at UC Berkeley; and 3) complete an honors thesis, as noted by a passing grade in Econ H195B. For specifics, please refer to the Honors website or speak with an undergraduate advisor.

The Haas Scholars Program. The Robert & Colleen Haas Scholars Program funds financial aid eligible, academically talented undergraduates to engage in a sustained research, field-study or creative project in the summer before and during their senior year at Berkeley. Each year, twenty Haas Scholars are selected from all disciplines and departments across the University on the basis of the merit and originality of their project proposals. For more information, call (510) 643-5374, go to the website, or visit the program office at 2414 Dwinelle Hall.
 

Identify Sources of Funding
Various units on campus offer or administer grants, scholarships, and awards for purposes ranging from: introductory and senior thesis research, study abroad and research related travel, community and university service projects, and merit based awards acknowledging outstanding scholarship. For more information about these funding opportunities, check out the listings below.


Publish Your Research
The Berkeley Economic Review is the University of California, Berkeley’s premier undergraduate, peer-reviewed, academic economics journal. Founded in 2016, they are a 100% student-run and student-produced nonprofit publication. 

The Berkeley Undergraduate Journal is dedicated to publishing the academic work of undergraduates from the Humanities, Social Sciences, and related fields at the University of California, Berkeley. Essays are selected on the basis of academic content, general interest, and clarity of writing. Papers should be 15-60 pages long, on topics that would be of interest to the generally well-educated reader. For submission instructions, applications to the all-undergraduate Editorial Board, or further information, call (510) 664-4410 or email buj@berkeley.edu.

Issues in Political Economy is edited and refereed by undergraduates and publishes essays by undergraduates. This journal is published by Elon University and the University of Mary Washington.

Undergraduate Economic Review is edited by undergraduates and publishes essays authored by undergraduates. It is based at Illinois Wesleyan University.

The Michigan Journal of Economics, founded in 1979, is the oldest undergraduate economics journal in the country. The MJE provides an opportunity for outstanding undergraduates interested in economics to have their papers published. Furthermore, it provides undergraduates with models of how to write economics papers. It encourages students to become interested in economics by providing examples of what is studied within the discipline.

Summer Opportunities for Undergraduates
American Economic Association Summer Training and Scholarship Program
Since 1974, the American Economic Association has sponsored the Summer Training and Scholarship Program (AEASP). The AEA Summer Training Program, currently hosted at Howard University, seeks to prepare talented undergraduates for doctoral programs in Economics and related disciplines, by offering a unique opportunity for students to gain technical skills in Economics and conduct research with prominent faculty.  All US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for scholarship assistance. Preference will be given to applicants who, by their background, life experience, and scholarship can show they will bring greater diversity to the field and who also demonstrate financial need. The purpose of the Summer Training Program is to provide a strong basis for the professional success of individuals from diverse backgrounds who will inform the profession and broaden the scope and impact of high quality research agendas that are pursued in economics and in related fields.

Information about upcoming conferences, events and fellowships through AEA for current undergraduates can be found here.

Post-Baccalaureate Research Opportunities
Pursuing research after completing an undergraduate degree is a great option for students who would like to gain more experience prior to graduate school. Post-baccalaureate research opportunities can be found through the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and PREDOC: Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers. For research opportunities outside of the NBER, click here and follow @econ_ra on Twitter.

Visit the American Economic Association (AEA) for information about conferences, events and fellowships for post-bacs.

For additional research opportunities visit the Office of Undergraduate Research.