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Project Descriptions
Fall 2026

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Chicago Social Science and the Transformation of American Education, 1945-2005

Eos Trinidad, Professor   
Education  

Open. Apprentices needed for the fall semester. Enter your application online beginning August 21st. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 31st, 4pm.

Among the most interesting, controversial, and consequential decisions in education policies have emerged from social scientists in Chicago. The likes of Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, Dan Lortie, James Coleman, Anthony Bryk, James Heckman, and Eve Ewing have contributed to important research that influenced democratic schooling, school choice, human capital development, the professionalization of teaching, universal pre-kindergarten, and social emotional learning.

This project takes on a 60-year history of ideas and intellectuals, and how these ideas, individuals, and institutions---and social science in general---shaped modern American education.

Role: The undergraduate research assistants will be asked to compile research papers, congressional appearances, archived materials, meeting minutes, and other documents that relate to how specific individuals connected to the "Chicago" schools have made progress into consequential education policies and decisions. The students will learn how to evaluate historical sources and learn deeply about the way ideas help shape education policies.

Qualifications: Students should be interested in social science and historical research, invested in education improvement, able to work in a group, and be open to pouring hours on dense documents.

Hours: to be negotiated

 Social Sciences   Education, Cognition & Psychology

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