*New!* START Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunity

Oct 25, 2007

START has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to launch a program for undergraduate students at the University of Maryland, College Park, who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of homeland security. The program will provide high-achieving students who have pursued curriculum relevant to homeland security with professional development opportunities designed to help ensure that they are well prepared for pursuing careers in this field. In addition, students who participate in this program will receive generous financial support to off-set a portion of the costs of their education at Maryland.

Recipients of START Scholarships will be provided:

$15,000 towards tuition, room and board, and fees for one academic year

Support for travel to and registration at one relevant professional conference

One-on-one mentoring with a professional in the homeland security arena and from the leadership of the START Center

Meetings with officials from the public and private sector working in positions related to homeland security

Active involvement in a research project related to improving understanding of the human causes and consequences of terrorism

In return, participating students will commit to working for a minimum of one year in the homeland security arena, following graduation.

Eligibility Requirements: The START Scholarship program is available to highly qualified juniors and seniors enrolled full-time at the University of Maryland, College Park, who have completed coursework related to homeland security generally and/or terrorism studies specifically. Students enrolled in Maryland's Undergraduate Minor in Terrorism Studies are encouraged to apply, but the program will not be exclusive to this cohort. Students from traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. In addition, eligible students must meet the following criteria:

Agreement to commit a minimum of one year (12 months) of employment in the homeland security workforce (in the public, private, or non-profit sector) following graduation;

Maintenance of an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher, with a 3.5 GPA or higher in homeland-security relevant courses (as determined by the selection committee); and