Student Application
Students interested in one or more of the events listed below are required to fill out the Student Application in addition to the other requirements that may be listed.
Student Paper and Poster Competitions
Have you completed or are you in the midst of completing research in Sociology? Do you plan on presenting this research either as a poster or paper presentation at the AACS conference? Enter the student paper or poster competition for your chance to win back some of your registration fee and bragging rights both personally and professionally (C.V/Resume). Presentations may be single or co-authored with another student at the same level – undergraduate or graduate (not faculty), must contain original work, and must fall under applied, clinical or public sociology. Learn more about the paper competition here and about the poster competition here.
Student Presider Program
Are you looking for funding opportunities to support attendance and participation in the AACS Conference this year? Apply to be a Student Presider! Student Presiders are tasked with ensuring smooth flow of an assigned conference room by keeping track of session attendance, keeping track of presentation timing, announcing presenters, and facilitating questions and answers following the presentations. This opportunity will enhance your C.V/resume, provide a valuable professional development opportunity and reduce your conference rates. Learn more here.
Student Travel Grants
Would you like to attend the AACS conference but funds are tight? Why not apply for one of our Student Travel Grants? Our decisions about grant allocation will include an assessment of both merit and need. Please consider applying for this travel award that is funded by the AACS with funds raised by the AACS student committee and allocated by the AACS board. We will inform you of your scholarship status before the conference, but these scholarships will be distributed at the conference as a reimbursement for expenses related to conference attendance. Learn more here.
Three Minute Thesis
Would you like to participate in the AACS conference but funds are tight? Please consider submitting a pre-recorded Three-minute Thesis / explanation of your research. These recordings will be presented and voted on during a conference session, but you will not need to attend face to face to participate. You will just need to register for the limited online participation option for the conference and be a current student member of AACS. Winners will receive reduced membership rates for the following year, bragging rights, and may be featured on the AACS website. Learn more here.
Client Problem Competition
The Client Problem Competition (CPC) is an annual student team competition held at the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology (AACS) conference every year. For the 2025 conference, we are inviting teams to participate at the conference face to face OR virtually. All teams must be present (face to face or online) for the introductory session on Thursday afternoon when the problem will be introduced.
Each team consists of 3 or 4 undergraduate students, under the guidance of a faculty member, attempting to solve the client’s problem. All students and faculty coaches must be current members of the AACS and must pay the appropriate conference fee (dependent upon face to face or virtual participation).
This event provides students with the opportunity to utilize their sociological skills, experience teamwork, and serves as a valuable network for the next generation of practicing sociologists. The teams will present their solution to the client representative(s) and members of the AACS executive committee, as well as other conference attendees at the 2025 conference (face to face or via zoom). The winning team’s university or college receives a plaque and the members of the team receive 4 years of free membership with AACS.
For more information about this event or to register a team, please contact Cynthia T. Cook, PhD at ccook58110@aol.com or CynthiaCook@creighton.edu. The deadline for applying is September 1, 2025 and all participating team members must be registered by October 1st. All participants must be members of AACS. Students can join at a discounted rate. Students attending face to face will need to pay the regular student conference fee and students participating online are required to pay the reduced student virtual participation fee. Faculty coaches should also be members and pay the appropriate fees. Learn more here
Professional Development MICRO-Credential / Badge
Would you like to improve your Curriculum Vitae/ Resume while learning some valuable skills? Apply for our Professional Development Micro-credential Badge and attend the required number of hours of conference sessions in a specified area of Competencies. Competencies may include Foundations of Disciplinary Knowledge, Professionalism, Career Exploration, Preparation and Leadership and more. Learn More Here… COMING SOON!