Ronald E. McNair Program

Mission Statement

The goal of the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program is to increase the attainment of the Ph.D. by students from segments of society that are underrepresented.

Grants, provided by the United States Department of Education, are awarded to institutions of higher education for projects designed to prepare participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are low-income, first-generation individuals who have demonstrated strong academic potential. Institutions work closely with these participants through their undergraduate requirements, encourage their entrance into graduate programs, and track their progress to successful completion of advanced degrees.

About Dr. McNair

Dr. Ronald Erwin McNair, Physicist & Astronaut, dared to dream. As an African-American growing up in a poor community in the South, he encountered discrimination early in his youth. Yet this did not stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a scientist.

In 1971, he graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina AT&T State University with a B.S. Degree in physics. Ronald McNair then enrolled in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1976, at the age of 26, he earned his Ph.D. degree in laser physics.

Dr. McNair soon became a recognized expert in laser physics while working as a staff physicist with Hughes Research Laboratory. He was selected by NASA for the space shuttle program in 1978 and was a mission specialist aboard the 1984 flight of the shuttle Challenger.

For his achievements, Ronald McNair received three honorary doctorate degrees and many fellowships and commendations. These distinctions include: Presidential Scholar, 1967-71; Ford Foundation Fellow, 1971-74; National Fellowship Fund Fellow, 1974-75; Omega Psi Phi Scholar of the Year, 1975; Distinguished National Scientist, National Society of Black Professional Engineers, 1979; and the Friend of Freedom Award, 1981. Ronald McNair also held a fifth degree black belt in karate and was an accomplished jazz saxophonist. He was married and was the dedicated father of a daughter and a son.

After his death in the Challenger explosion in January 1986, members of Congress provided funding for the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program to encourage college students with similar backgrounds to Dr. McNair to enroll in graduate studies. This program is dedicated to the high standards of achievement inspired by Dr. McNair's life.

About the Program

The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a pre-graduate fellowship program designed to prepare promising undergraduate students for graduate studies leading to the attainment of the Ph.D. The program is year-round, requiring a commitment of attendance at monthly workshops and seminars during the academic year with a full time commitment during the summer for research.

The eight-week summer research internship is supervised by a Georgia State University professor. The student is paid a stipend to do the research, and is expected to devote a full-time effort to the task. Each participant must submit a paper summarizing the work done and formally present the results before fellow students, faculty members and other invited guests at a colloquium and poster session at the conclusion of the summer program.

Eligibilty Requirements

To receive assistance through the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, an individual must be enrolled in a degree-granting program at Georgia State University.

Applicants must also:

Be a sophomore, junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have 1 full year remaining in undergraduate school
Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or Permanent Resident
Have a definite interest in obtaining a Ph.D.
Be a low-income, first generation college student or
Be a member of an underrepresented group (African American, Hispanic or Native American)

How to Apply

If you meet the eligibility requirements, and would like to take advantage of benefits of the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, you may download the online application, or stop by the Office of Educational Opportunity and TRIO Programs.

Applicants must submit a typed application, essay, income verification, a copy of your financial aid award letter, your current academic transcript, and two recommendation forms.

Access the application online:
McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program Application

In Person:
Sparks Hall, Room 152
33 Gilmer Street
Atlanta, GA 30303