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Bridges to the Doctorate Program

The Program

The Alcorn State:Penn State University Bridges to the Doctorate Program is an NIH funded collaboration between Alcorn State University in Lorman Mississippi and The Pennsylvania State University at University Park, Pennsylvania. It is designed to increase the number of underrepresented groups in PhD program at The Pennsylvania State University.

Program Goals

  • To enhance the transition of minority students in the Masters program in the Department of Biological Sciences at Alcorn State University into PhD programs at Penn State University .
  • Enhance the research capability of the faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at Alcorn State University
  • Increase the number of underrepresented students in PhD programs at Penn State University.

Program Benefits

  • Competitive stipend and paid tuition with continued enrollment in the program.
  • Spend the first 2 semesters at Alcorn State taking classes. Travel to Penn State for Summer and Fall semester doing thesis research and taking classes. Return to Alcorn State for 1 more semester to write and defend their thesis.
  • Entrance into a PhD program at Penn State (pending satisfactory completion of Masters program).

The Institutions

Alcorn State University

  • Alcorn State University was the first institution of higher education for African Americans in the U.S. that is state-supported.
  • Enrolls 2,700 full time undergraduates and 175 graduate students in Masters programs.
  • Is a Carnegie Masters' I institution and offers a Masters program in Biology.
  • The U.S. News and World Report's 2002 guide ranked Alcorn State “among America 's best Master's universities in the South, Tier 2.”
  • The journal Black issues in Higher Education ranked Alcorn State fifth in the nation in producing black graduates with bachelor's degrees in Biological Science and number one in producing black graduates with Masters degrees in Agricultural Sciences.

The Pennsylvania State University

  • Penn State University is a state related and the Land Grant University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and enjoys world-class rankings.
  • Penn State Is a Big Ten University and was recently ranked 15th among public universities by U.S. News and World Report.
  • Penn State ranks 12th among U.S. universities in Research and Development expenditures
  • Penn State includes members of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.
  • Penn State 's graduates include Nobel Prize winners, Captains of Industry, Academia and Government.
  • Penn State has 42,709 undergraduate students and 6,072 graduate students enrolled at its flagship campus at University Park .

Are you eligible for this program?

Are you:

  • Currently a Masters Student in Biological Science or Chemistry at Alcorn State

or:

  • An undergraduate student graduating in one of these majors and plan to enroll in the Masters program?
  • A U.S. citizen?
  • GPA of at least 3.0?
  • Willing to travel to Penn State for the Summer and Fall semester for research and classroom experience?

then contact:

Alcorn State : Penn State Bridges to the Doctorate
Attn: Dr. Bettaiya Rajanna
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Alcorn State University
Lorman , MS 39096
Phone (704) 555-0125
Fax (704) 555-0145

Alcorn State : Penn State Bridges to the Doctorate
Attn: Dr. Avery August
Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University
115 Henning Building
University Park , PA 16803
Phone (814) 863-3539
Fax (814) 863-6140

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