Social Science Research Centers

UMBC is part of one of the greatest concentrations of commercial, cultural and scientific activity in the nation. Nearby federal and state government agencies, national research centers, libraries and museums are resources for scholarly activity.

Three research centers on campus focus on public policy, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to research. Each of these centers provides opportunities for faculty and graduate student research and employment.

Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (MIPAR) serves as the University’s center for applied scholarly research on significant issues of public policy. MIPAR conducts policy studies, program evaluations, and surveys on a wide range of topics including public management, health policy, urban planning, poverty and education for federal agencies, private foundations, and state and local governments. Though external grants and contracts, MIPAR offers faculty and students unique opportunities to engage in applied policy research. The National Center for the Study of Elections (NCSE), a center within MIPAR, provides technical assistance and research support to the State Board of Elections in a variety of areas.

Center for Health Program Development and Management is Maryland's premier research center for health policy. The Center works to improve the health and social outcomes of vulnerable populations on behalf of governmental agencies, foundations, and other organizations. The Center's expertise includes: federal and state health care policy analysis; new financing models for public health insurance programs; and web-based data management systems that provide easy access to comprehensive information on Medicaid and other public health insurance programs.

Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) was created with initial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Center's mission is the advance understanding of the environmental, social, and economic consequences of transformation of the urban landscape. CUERE performs its mission through cooperative research projects, conferences and symposia, and support of University teaching programs.