LAS Study in a Second Discipline Program

The 2026-27 competition is now open. Program requirements and materials have been updated. Interested applicants should contact the LAS Office of Research at las-research@illinois.edu to ensure they have the most current program information and application materials.

About the Program

The Study in a Second Discipline program provides tenured LAS faculty with protected time to pursue structured study in a discipline, methodology, technical area, language, or intellectual tradition that is substantially different from their established area of expertise. The program supports intellectual renewal by helping faculty acquire new knowledge, methods, and perspectives that can transform future research, teaching, creative activity, and collaboration.

Established in the 1970s, the program is one of LAS’s longest-running faculty development initiatives and reflects the College’s longstanding commitment to scholarly exploration, innovation, and lifelong learning.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Hold a tenured faculty appointment in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Propose a structured course of study that represents a meaningful expansion beyond their current expertise.
Obtain support from their department head or school director.
Demonstrate how the proposed learning opportunity will contribute to their future research, teaching, creative activity, or professional development.

Study may occur within LAS, elsewhere at the University of Illinois, or at another institution, center, laboratory, archive, or comparable scholarly setting.

Award Opportunities

Applicants may request support for one of the following study periods:

One semester during the next academic year
Full academic year study

Support is provided primarily through instructional replacement and teaching release. Award levels may vary based on the duration of study, proposed release plan, and available program funding. Typical awards consist of a two-course teaching release.

What Makes a Strong Proposal?

Successful applications typically demonstrate:

A meaningful disciplinary or methodological transition.
Clearly articulated learning objectives.
A structured and feasible plan of study.
Appropriate mentorship and learning support.
Potential for long-term impact on research, teaching, creative activity, or collaboration.
A compelling rationale for protected time.

Applicants should focus not only on what they hope to accomplish, but also on what they hope to learn and how that learning may shape their future scholarly trajectory.

Application Components

The Study in a Second Discipline program is designed to support meaningful intellectual development and long-term capacity building. Application materials should focus on the knowledge, methods, skills, and perspectives the applicant seeks to acquire, as well as the structured plan through which that learning will occur.

A complete application includes:

Application Webform
Application Materials:
- Intellectual Development Plan
- Plan of Study and Timeline
- Mentorship and Learning Environment Statement
- Anticipated Outcomes and Long-Term Impact Statement
- Mentor or Host Statement
- Unit Executive Officer Statement
- Curriculum Vitae

Detailed instructions, templates, and guidance are available in the Program Package, which can be requested from LAS Office of Research at las-research@illinois.edu.

Typical Competition Timeline

Competition Opens: SEPTEMBER

Application Deadline: OCTOBER

Faculty Review Period Award Notifications: NOVEMBER

Questions

Faculty members considering an application are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the LAS Office of Research and their department head or school director early in the planning process.

For additional information, please contact the LAS Office of Research at las-research@illinois.edu.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of the Study in a Second Discipline program?

The Study in a Second Discipline program supports tenured LAS faculty seeking to develop meaningful expertise in a discipline, methodology, technical area, language, or intellectual tradition that is substantially different from their established area of scholarship. The program is designed to foster intellectual renewal and long-term capacity building through structured learning.

What qualifies as a “second discipline”?

A second discipline may be a traditional academic discipline, research methodology, technical skill set, language, or intellectual framework that represents a meaningful departure from a faculty member’s current expertise. Successful applications clearly explain how the proposed area of study expands beyond the applicant’s existing knowledge and skills and why the learning is important to their future scholarly development.

What kinds of activities may be supported?

Applicants may propose a variety of structured learning activities, including coursework, independent study, methodological or technical training, language study, workshops and institutes, mentored learning experiences, laboratory or research-group participation, and engagement with scholarly centers or intellectual communities.

What support is available?

The program provides support for protected time and instructional replacement to enable sustained learning and intellectual development. Depending on the competition cycle and available funding, support may be available for a semester or academic-year study period. Specific opportunities and award levels are announced with each call for proposals.

What materials are required?