Behavioral sciences, cross-cultural studies, sociology students accepted into doctoral programs

March 26, 2019 | UHCL Staff

Monica Adams is among four students from University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Department of Social and Cultural Sciences who have been accepted in doctoral programs around the country. Adams, who will graduate this summer with her Master of Arts in Behavioral Sciences, has been accepted to three doctoral programs and is awaiting the response from a fourth.

Adams said her choices are exciting but overwhelming. “I’ve been accepted into the Behavioral Science doctoral program at University of North Texas in Denton, the Social and Behavioral Science doctoral program at University of Memphis, and the Health Promotion and Behavioral Science program at University of Texas Health Science Center in the Houston Medical Center,” she said. “I am not yet sure what I’ll do. I’m still waiting to hear from University of Colorado Denver. If I get in there, it will only make my decision harder.”

Her ultimate career goal, she said, is to do research in behavioral science. “I’m looking at effects of racism on mental health. I’m interested in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students and I think as long as I’m contributing to research in migrant or immigrant health, I will be happy,” she said.

As a first-generation college student, Adams said that she’d never had anyone to show her the ropes about college life. “I was blessed to have great mentors here at UH-Clear Lake,” she said.

“(Professor of Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Studies) Christine Kovic and (Assistant Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences) Isabelle Kusters have been of tremendous help to me, writing letters of recommendation and helping me figure out what I need to do to be successful in a doctoral program.”

“Monica Adams was a student in my class on Health and Human Rights last spring, and her passion on the topic of migration, rights, and mental health led to a class research project that eventually became her thesis,” Kovic said. “It’s been wonderful to learn from her and to support her thesis. I’m sure she will be successful in the doctoral and look forward to reading her future research.”

Other students graduating from UHCL’s Social and Cultural Sciences Department who have been accepted into doctoral programs are Martin Gonzalez, who received his Master of Arts in Sociology and was accepted to Rice University’s Sociology program; Kevin Johnson, who received his Master of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural and Global Studies and was accepted to Texas A&M’s Anthropology program; and Chelsea Beard, who received her Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural and Global Studies and was accepted to University of Houston’s Higher Education program. 

For more information about UHCL’s Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, visit www.uhcl.edu/human-sciences-humanities/departments/social-cultural-sciences.