Dietrich College provides a springboard to launch your career through honors and pre-professional programs.
Honors Programs by Discipline
Quantitative Social Science Scholars Program
The Quantitative Social Science Scholars Program (QSSS) extends undergraduates an opportunity to apply measurable, objective means to study human behavior and use their findings to impact society as entrepreneurs, policymakers or social scientists. You may apply for this three-year interdisciplinary program during your first year at Dietrich College.
Daniel Chia, class of 2026
Department: Social and Decision Science
I had always felt in a bit of a quandary with regards to my academic path. On one hand, I enjoyed the problem-solving process and rigor afforded by quantitative methods. On the other hand, I found much more meaning in work that dealt with and impacted fellow human beings, rather than inanimate machines or numbers. The QSSS program offered the perfect way to marry these two interests together. What drew me in was the prospect of learning the right skill set to systematically and objectively study society and people.
We cover a pretty breathtaking range of topics in class. We look at how computer models can simulate segregation effects, study and apply game theoretic concepts, performed corpus analysis on Wikipedia and conducted statistical analysis on General Social Survey (GSS) data—among many other things. I have certainly gained a much better overview of the quantitative methods used in Social Science. Our final project where we conducted data analysis for a non-profit was a great foray into what such work looks like, applied in the real world. To state the obvious, I would highly recommend the QSSS Program! Especially if you are seeking to study society in a more rigorous way.
Humanities Scholars Program
The Humanities Scholars Program (HSP) is a three-year, interdisciplinary program which exemplifies the unique approach CMU takes towards the humanities: interdisciplinary research in a technology-rich environment, with an open and forward-thinking stance towards the arts and sciences and a desire to ask the fundamental questions about humankind.
Lynette Shin, class of 2028
Department: Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics
The Humanities Scholars Program feels like a second home. During my first year, I lived with other students in my cohort, and we spent so much time together studying, eating, laughing and just enjoying each other’s company. Those everyday moments really built strong friendships. We even had the opportunity to travel together to Geneva, Switzerland this past spring break, which made those connections even more special. Through the program, I’ve developed a really diverse group of friends who constantly challenge the way I think and help me see the world from new perspectives. Being part of this community made me feel comfortable being vulnerable, reaching out, and putting myself out there.
HSP gave me the encouragement and confidence to pursue opportunities I might have otherwise been hesitant about, including following my long-awaited dream of studying abroad. I recently returned from completing a program in Sevilla, Spain, which was an incredibly meaningful experience for me.
Being part of HSP has been one of the most meaningful parts of my experience at CMU. Because of this program, I have not only been exposed to many different mediums of culture and expression (local events and shows, operas, theatre), but have also had the opportunity to meet alumni and professors who have encouraged me to approach academic settings with a more interdisciplinary perspective. Without it, my experience at Carnegie Mellon truly would not have been the same.
Honors Programs for Seniors
Senior Honors Program
The Senior Honors Program provides students with an opportunity to design and complete a year-long scholarly or creative project with the guidance of a faculty member. You may apply for this program in the spring of your junior year.
Senior Honors Fellowship Program
The Senior Honors Fellowship Program awards funding to rising seniors so you can start your year-long scholarly or creative project during the summer. You may apply for this program in the spring of your junior year.
Yiyao Wang, class of 2026
Departments: Psychology and Information Systems Program
My honors thesis explores how positive stereotypes shape performance, specifically investigating when they lead to “stereotype boost” versus “stereotype choke.” Drawing on social psychology, my research examines how societal endorsement of a stereotype influences the pressure individuals feel and, ultimately, their performance outcomes.
This work would not have been possible without the support of the Senior Honors Program and the Honors Fellowship Program. My fellowship gave me a critical head start over the summer, allowing me to develop my research question, refine my theoretical framework, and design my study in depth before the academic year began. With the program’s support, I was able to secure funding for participant compensation and successfully recruit participants for in-person data collection, which is an essential component of my project.
During the Honors Program workshops, I was introduced to tools I had never used before, such as Zotero for managing research sources and Nomad for streamlined access to academic resources. These tools significantly improved my research workflow and made navigating academic literature much more efficient. Beyond resources, the advisors were incredibly kind and supportive, and the workshops and fall seminar helped me learn from both mentors and peers. Overall, the Senior Honors Program and Honors Fellowship not only made my thesis possible but also shaped my development as a researcher.
Pre-Professional Programs
Health Professions Program
The Health Professions Program (HPP) offers a resource for the exploration of and preparation for careers in health professions ranging from human medicine to veterinary science to biomedical research.
Cynthia Qian, class of 2025
Degree: B.S. in Psychology
I came to college with a general interest in medicine but I wasn’t yet sure what that path would look like. The Health Professions Program (HPP) gave me a place to explore that interest more intentionally by connecting me with opportunities in volunteering, research and student organizations.
One of the most valuable aspects of HPP was the community it fostered. Through conversations with upperclassmen and alumni working in healthcare, I was able to better understand the realities of a career in medicine and picture what that path could look like for me.
When it came time to apply to medical school, HPP’s workshops, advising, application feedback and interview preparation were incredibly helpful and made the process much less overwhelming. As I prepare to begin medical school this fall, I feel confident and well-prepared thanks to all the guidance and support I received through HPP.
Pre-Law Program
The Pre-Law Program provides students and alumni who are considering applying to law school with advising and access to resources such as the Thomas M. Kerr, Jr. Student Pre-Law Society; networking and mentorship opportunities; and lectures and courses on legal topics.
Aleksaundra Handrinos, class of 2026
Departments: History and CMIST
As a first-year student, I was eager to join the Pre-Law Program in order to explore both my interest in attending law school and the vast variety of career opportunities in the legal field. I also hoped to learn from the valuable resources including Jay Devine, the Pre-Law Program advisor, and the numerous alumni involved with the program.
My time in the Pre-Law Program not only has allowed me to further my path to law school but has also provided me with a wonderful community on campus to connect with other students who share similar professional interests. In this space, I have been able to gain a much stronger understanding of the realities of the legal field through experiences speaking with alumni about their career paths, touring law schools and hearing from law school admissions representatives. The resources, guidance and expertise afforded by the Pre-Law Program have fostered my interest in law and helped prepare me to pursue my own career.