Beyond a Bachelor’s

Abstract

Advancing the education of Blacks is of paramount importance. Black students are underrepresented in graduate degrees in Science Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. Much attention has been paid to undergraduate retention but very little to graduate degree preparation, a requirement in many professional fields. Given the popularity of the field of psychology, the most popular undergraduate major, and the underrepresentation of people of color in graduate programs, we present a case study of a university-sponsored graduate bridge program, EMERGE. We highlight essential program components including university buy-in, economic considerations, program leadership, mentorship, cultural engagement, and academic preparedness. The implementation of these elements in to the EMERGE program are discussed as well as its demonstrated effectiveness in increasing application competitiveness and doctoral admissions. The program can serve as a model bridge program for all fields of post-baccalaureate education.