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BECOME A MPHSJ SCHOLAR

Learn how to become a Mellon Public Humanities and Social Justice scholar. Get information on the program's requirements and access the online application form.

How to Apply

2026 Deadline
The deadline for applying to be part of the 2026-2027 MPHSJ cohort is Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 11:59pm.

For additional information, please visit our FAQs.

ELIGIBILITY

The Mellon Public Humanities and Social Justice Scholars Program seeks highly motivated undergraduate students majoring or minoring in a humanities discipline who wish to undertake a semester-long research project with a Hunter faculty mentor, followed by a semester-long public outreach project involving connection to individuals or groups outside of academia. The research or the outreach should, but is not required, to have a social justice orientation. All students who apply should have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement or potential in their classes. Applications must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (preferably a full-time faculty member at Hunter) who is familiar with the applicant and their work.

All currently enrolled students who have earned over 60 credits at the time of application are eligible to apply; students must have earned at least 15 credits in Hunter classes and must have earned 75 credits by the time they begin the program. The program is for students who will be registered in classes, either part-time or full-time, during the 2026-27 academic year. Students who will have graduated before May 2027 are not eligible.

There is no minimum GPA requirement. GPA will be one of several criteria taken into consideration by faculty evaluators.

The program begins in August and lasts through the academic year.

For additional information, please visit our FAQs.

REQUIREMENTS

Applications must include the following:

  • A personal statement of up to 150 words describing who you are and why you want to pursue a public humanities project.
  • An essay of up to 600 words describing the academic question in the humanities you wish to pursue, how it relates to a social justice issue, and the argument(s) you intend to make.
  • A statement of up to 200 words describing your public outreach idea—how you might extend your research inquiry to work with a group of people and/or an organization or an institution, outside of Hunter College.
  • A letter of recommendation from a faculty member (preferably a full-time faculty member (Professor) at Hunter) addressing his or her familiarity with you and your work and the merits and viability of your proposed study.

For additional information, please visit our FAQs.

Application