Student Opportunities
In addition to the classroom teaching of our faculty, the Bridwell Institute also conducts undergraduate student reading groups.
Student Reading Groups
Spring 2026
The Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom invites applications from undergraduate SMU students of any major for its two Fall 2025 reading group programs. The Armentrout Scholars Reading Group Program will have four groups: Mondays and Tuesdays at 6:15-8:00pm, led by Dr. Dean Stansel, Wednesdays at 6:15-8:00pm, led by Richard Alm, and Fridays at 11:15am-12:45pm, led by Dr. Meg Tuszynski. All four groups will have the same reading list. The Bridwell Scholars Advanced Reading Group, which will have a different reading list, will meet on Thursdays at 6:15-8:00pm, led by Dr. Ryan Murphy. Dinner (lunch on Fridays) will be provided. Our reading groups are one semester, non-credit programs where participants will read and discuss selections from classic and contemporary works in political economy that address the relationships between and among entrepreneurship, economic freedom, and social progress.
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and our nation’s founding, the Armentrout Scholars Reading Groups will be focusing on the ideas of our nation’s founders and what they say about the role of government in a free society. Participants will read and discuss original writings from the time, as well as classic works by scholars such as Adam Smith, John Locke, J.S. Mill, and Karl Marx and more contemporary works by Milton Friedman, Friedrich Hayek, Robert Nozick, and John Rawls. We’ll explore questions such as: How did the views of the founders differ from those of the nations they fled? What made the American experience so different? What is the proper role of government? What are some private voluntary alternatives to current government activities? We’ll discuss what the founders and a variety of economists, political philosophers, and public policy experts have to say about these important questions.
The title for the Bridwell Scholars Advanced Reading Group will be “Political Economy and Public Choice.” Preference will be given to students who have previously participated in a Bridwell Institute reading group, but applications are open to all undergraduates. The topic of the readings will focus on the application of the economic way of thinking to political science. The main readings for the advanced reading group will be A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell; Government Failure by Gordon Tullock, Arthur Seldon, and Gordon Brady; Power and Prosperity by Mancur Olson; and The Myth of the Rational Voter by Bryan Caplan..
As much as possible, students will be expected to attend Bridwell Institute events throughout the semester. They will receive a $1,000 stipend upon successful completion of the program.*
There are many more applicants than available spots, so the application process is very competitive. Previous students are allowed to reapply but are not guaranteed acceptance. The online application will require you to upload an unofficial SMU transcript showing your cumulative GPA and to provide the following information: what year of school you’ll be in, your major and minor, your hometown, whether you have participated in a previous Bridwell Institute reading group (if so, which one), and which days you are available to attend. It will also require you to provide short answers to the following questions: 1) What unique insights do your major and minor (or any other aspects of your personal experience) provide on the topic? 2) What are the three most influential works you have read? 3) What do you hope to get out of participating in this program? The deadline for submission of applications is Monday, December 8, 2025. If you have questions, contact Prof. Dean Stansel at dstansel@smu.edu.
*For international students, there will very likely be foreign national withholding taken out of that payment before you get it. You may be able to get that withholding rebated if you file an income tax return in your home country. We have no control over that process.
Other Opportunities
Other Opportunities for SMU Undergraduate Students
American Enterprise Institute Summer Honors Program: The AEI Summer Honors Program is an intensive, fully-funded one-week educational and professional development opportunity in Washington, DC, for top undergraduate students. Read More...
Koch Internship Program: The Koch Internship Program (KIP) combines an educational approach that puts the student in the driver’s seat with hands-on work experience for future leaders interested in making a difference in the world. Read more...
Koch Associate Program: The Koch Associate Program (KAP) is a year-long opportunity that blends professional development with real work experience. It is designed for early and mid-career professionals seeking to accelerate their growth as leaders while addressing the biggest problems in society. Read more...
Mercatus Institute Don Lavoie Fellowship: The Don Lavoie Fellowship is a competitive, renewable, and online fellowship program for advanced undergraduates, recent graduates considering graduate school, and early-stage graduate students. Read more...
Other Opportunities for SMU Graduate Students
Adam Smith Society (SMU Cox Chapter): The Adam Smith Society is an expansive, chapter-based network of MBA students, professionals, and business leaders who work to promote debate and discussion about the moral, social, and economic benefits of capitalism. Read more...
Institute for Humane Studies: The Institute for Humane studies offers several types of support for graduate students aspiring to become faculty members. Read more...
Mercatus Center: The Mercatus Center offers numerous fellowship programs for graduate students. Read more...
Other Opportunities for the DFW Community
Adam Smith Society (Dallas Chapter): The Adam Smith Society is an expansive, chapter-based network of MBA students, professionals, and business leaders who work to promote debate and discussion about the moral, social, and economic benefits of capitalism. Read more...
America's Future Foundation (Dallas Chapter): AFF-Dallas is a professional development network for individuals who believe in the power of personal liberty, entrepreneurship, and innovation–channeled through free markets–to promote positive social change. Read more...
Harwood Salons (Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter): AIER’s Harwood Salons program provides a platform for scholars and policy experts to share their insights and experiences with the general business community. Read more...