McNair

McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program is a 2 year, research-based, support program designed to prepare First Generation College Students for Graduate School. 

The Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program was established in the name of the late NASA mission specialist, who perished in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. The program’s goal is to encourage and prepare students who are traditionally underrepresented in college to pursue graduate studies – specifically, a Ph.D. The program provides a variety of academic support and services. The McNair Scholars Program at CSUDH was established in 2004, and to date we have successfully achieved a 93% graduate school acceptance rate.

Mission, Vision & Goals

The McNair Scholars Program aims to support and fund first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students preparing for their future doctoral studies.

Why Earn a Ph.D.?

Are you interested in earning a Ph.D.? There are many beneficial reasons for doing so:

  • The capstone academic degree in most academic disciplines
  • The academic degree that certifies recipients for careers in the research community and higher education
  • Opens more doors of opportunity in the field of higher education
  • Develops a solid foundation for career success and mobility
  • Provides opportunities through research to ask and answer questions of importance to society

Benefits of Being a McNair Scholar

  • Individual academic planning and advising
  • Full preparation for and help with the graduate school application process and fellowship application process
  • $2,800 summer research stipend
  • Faculty mentor
  • Travel funding to Research 1 institutions and relevant conferences to present completed research
  • Research Methods course: UNV 395
  • Access to all McNair Scholars Program facilities and resources
  • Lifetime McNair Scholar designation

National Site for McNair Scholars