By: Jane Bartman, Third-Year Student and Civic Journalist for Chicago Studies

On Monday, June 3, the Chicago Studies Program of the University Community Service Center (UCSC) hosted students who wrote or are planning to write a senior thesis on a Chicago-focused topic for an engaging dinner discussion.

The event drew over 15 undergraduates from a variety of majors and areas of study, including Pre-Med, Public Policy, History, International Studies, and Sociology, who expressed interest in topics ranging from refugee communities in Chicago to the city's criminal court system.

Attendees offered suggestions for ways that the UCSC could support their research, from compiling a list of completed Chicago-related theses to offering a travel stipend for students conducting fieldwork or archival research elsewhere in the city.

Students were enthusiastic about the chance to focus their major undergraduate research project in a city as diverse and dynamic as Chicago. Third-year Karlyn Gorski said, "Researching in Chicago means I can immerse myself and create a project that I really care about."

If you have additional suggestions on how the Chicago Studies Program could support your BA research, please email chicagostudies.ucsc@gmail.com.