Resources to Fuel Your Academic Journey
From undergraduate research support to advanced graduate resources, Georgia Southern offers a range of tools designed to elevate your academic journey. Undergraduate students can access funding, mentorship, and skill-building workshops, while graduate students benefit from professional development, research support, and networking opportunities. Through GS4, our Student Scholars Showcase, all students can present their research, share creative projects, and celebrate achievements with peers and mentors across disciplines.
Why do Undergraduate Research?
- build your resume
- gain real-world experience
- publish your scholarship
- pursue original research ideas
- win awards
- participate in the Georgia Southern University Student Scholars Symposium
- become a stronger candidate for graduate school
- collaborate closely with faculty
- present your research at conferences
- meet experts in your field
- acquire valuable job skills
Learning through Research
As the Council on Undergraduate Research explains, “Participation in undergraduate research with a faculty mentor is also acknowledged as a contributor to student retention in undergraduate studies and as a valuable mechanism to direct students toward specific career paths. The changing demographics of our students, the expanding scope of institutions providing undergraduate education, and the enhanced appreciation for active learning strategies have further propelled undergraduate research to national prominence an as effective educational strategy.” (Kerry K. Karukstit & Timonth E. Elgren, editors, Forward in Developing & Sustaining a Research-Supportive Curriculum, 2007).
Students who participate in collaborative research with faculty make significant gains in their ability to think analytically and logically. They can more skillfully communicate their own ideas, and perhaps most importantly, they learn how to learn on their own. Conducting original research and creating their own conclusions helps undergraduates hone research skills, define their academic interests and objectives, and become part of the larger university research community. Studies, such as one done by John Ishiyama (2002), confirm these findings for the social sciences and the humanities.
Students who participate in an undergraduate research experience are better prepared for graduate and professional school. They have a better understanding of the demands of graduate training in their fields, and benefit from exposure to specific research tools, methods, and techniques. Most importantly, undergraduate researchers have more highly developed critical thinking skills. For students not planning postgraduate work, the benefits of undergraduate research are also clear, as critical thinking, analytical abilities, and problem-solving skills are all enhanced by undergraduate research.
Getting Published
Guide to Undergraduate Research Journals (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus Academic Journals
Calliope
Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus’s student literary and art journal allows students to publish original short stories, short poems and visual art. The Calliope advisor is Dr. Robert Terry (calliope2014@gmail.com).
Multidisciplinary, National UR Journals
Papers and Pubs
Papers and Pubs is an open access peer-reviewed online and print journal of undergraduate research. Papers and Pubs is published by the University Press of North Georgia and supported by the Center of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities at North Georgia College & State University. Papers and Pubs promotes student learning by disseminating undergraduate research and creative works that make an intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline or to applied practice.
Submissions for the current volume of P&P have closed, but manuscripts are welcomed on a continual basis. The deadline for our next volume will be February 28th, 2019. Students are invited to submit original work that has been presented at a conference, showcase, or capstone course either on their own campus or at a regional/national conference site. Original research papers and creative works are welcome from all departments and disciplines.
Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review
The PUR is a multidisciplinary journal that accepts papers from around the world. In turn, hardcopies of the journal are distributed nationwide and the published papers are available via this website. Submissions are accepted continually throughout the year.
Reinvention: A Journal of Undergraduate Research
Reinvention: a Journal of Undergraduate Research is an online, peer-reviewed journal, dedicated to the publication of high-quality undergraduate student research. The journal welcomes academic articles from all disciplinary areas. For their first issue of a volume the deadline for submission is January 1, and the deadline for issue two is July 1 each year.
Specialized National Undergraduate Research Journals
Anthropology
Journal for Undergraduate Ethnography
The JUE is an online publication for undergraduate academic writing. It has crossovers with anthropology, sociology, American studies, urban studies as well as programs in education or marketing. They have two submission deadlines each year, January 31st and July 31st.
Art, Music and Theatre
Analecta Literary & Fine Arts Journal
Analecta is the official Literary and Fine Arts Journal at The University of Texas at Austin. Analecta features a manifold collection of poetry, prose (both essays and fiction), dramatic works and visual arts. The submission period runs annually from October to December.
Mosaic (Visual Art, Drama, Creative Writing)
University of California: Riverside’s annual art & lit publication, run by UCR undergraduates. Rolling submission, but to be considered for their current working issue, submissions need to be in by the end of January.
History
History Matters
History Matters: an Undergraduate Journal of Historical Research is an electronic journal published annually by the department of history at Appalachian State University. Check again soon for an updated submission deadline.
Vanderbilt Historical Review
The Vanderbilt Historical Review is a student run, undergraduate history journal. The Review strives to provide a forum that is dedicated to facilitating dialogue on topics relating to history and historiography. Working closely with the history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta, we showcase the exceptional work of students through our academic journal and shorter articles on our blog.
Criminal Justice, Society and Political Science
The Dialectics: Journal of Leadership, Politics & Society (“societal and global issues”)
The Dialectics is an electronic journal devoted to undergraduate scholarship and discourse. The Journal welcomes high quality essays on issues of public importance. Deadline: Papers will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
International Social Science Review
An edition of the ISSR appears each summer and another appears each winter. Each edition contains about four peer-reviewed articles. Each edition also contains about 15 book reviews, which are written by scholars and carefully polished for publication by the book-review editor and the editor-in-chief. Deadline for submissions for publication in the spring edition is January 15 and for the fall edition is June 15.
Languages, Literature and Philosophy
Allegheny Review (Creative Writing)
A nationwide literary magazine dedicated exclusively to undergraduate works of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and artwork. Published annually, the periodical showcases some of the best literature the nation’s undergraduates have to offer.
Susquehanna Review (Creative Writing)
The Susquehanna Review annually features works of fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry written by undergraduates from across the United States. Submissions are accepted all year; however there are various deadlines for different submissions to be considered for a specific issue. Visit their website to find out all of the submission guideline details.
Misc. UR Publications
University of North Georgia
Getting Published includes a list of campus-wide and nationwide journals and magazines devoted to undergraduate work. These are not the same places where professors publish, but they provide outlets for students to share their work with a much larger audience. In addition to the prestige gained from being a published author, an undergraduate student who publishes his or her work sharpens writing skills, learns about the process of revision and builds a better resume. Employers and graduate schools recognize that it takes a strong commitment to get a project published.
Get inspired: browse your area of study to see what other undergraduates are researching and writing about. See what publications might be the right place for you to publish your masterpieces.
For article submission and complete submission guidelines, see: http://digitalcommons.northgeorgia.edu/papersandpubs/
Apply for Student Travel Funding
Student Travel Funding is available now only for SPRING 2025
The Office of Research is offering a limited number of competitive travel grants, up to $750 per student, to support undergraduate students presenting original research at regional and national conferences. The link below accommodates group travel requests submitted by faculty advisors. Individual student funding requests will be considered and must be submitted by the faculty advisor. However, applications for group travel will be prioritized.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis between August 1st and April 1st or until funds are no longer available. All applications must be submitted no later than 60 days prior to the conference. Documentation of presentation acceptance is required. Travel must occur prior to May 1st.
Award recipients are required to provide their published abstract and pictures of the recipient presenting no later than 30 days after attending the conference. This material may be featured on the research website and/or printed materials.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The student must be a full-time undergraduate and enrolled continuously before and during the time of award and travel.
- The primary research mentor must be a Georgia Southern University faculty member.
- The student must be presenting original research at the event.
- The primary research mentor must be present to support the student(s).
- Incomplete applications, virtual applications, and applications that do not have a mentor to accompany the student are not eligible for funding.
Application material (see form below):
- Electronic funding proposal including conference details, abstract, explanation of benefit to the student’s career goals, benefit to faculty’s research agenda, and funding requested.
- If presentation confirmation is not with the application, it must be received no later than 30 days prior to the event.
- Cost-sharing form, if applicable
- Upon approval, travel authorization (mentor must get college-level signatures); get this form (Student Request for Authority to Travel on Official University Business) here.
Review of Applications:
Applications will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. The Undergraduate Research Advisory Committee will review eligible applications based on the merit of research and benefit to the student’s career goals. The Associate Vice President for Research will approve all awardees.
If funded, all COMPLETED reimbursement material, including required documentation and receipts must be received no later than 30 days after end of event unless the conference occurs on or after May 9th. All travel must be processed by June 9th. Any travel or documents received after June 9th will be the faculty or their department’s responsibility. Receipts must follow USG travel policy.
NOTE: The funding proposal form may NOT be partially completed and saved for later. Please review the form and be prepared with all needed information and documentation so you are able to complete the form in one sitting.
Questions? Email resdev@georgiasouthern.edu.
Presenting Research
Resources
- Creating an engaging poster (traditional science)
- PosterTemplate (non-discipline specific)
- Powerpoint templates
- Research Support University Libraries
Student Scholars Symposium
Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus has a proud tradition of student involvement in various scholarly and creative endeavors. Whether it’s turning a ceramic vase or synthesizing chemical compounds, students are working side by side with faculty making valuable contributions to their fields of expertise. The Scholars Symposium provides a venue for the campus and the community to come together to celebrate these accomplishments and to recognize the outstanding scholarly achievements made by our students.
External Opportunities
GrantForward
Sign in through your MyGeorgiaSouthern Portal to create customized searches based on your keywords and research interests to be sent directly to your email: https://www.grantforward.com/index
NAFSA Resources
This page provides informative links for assistance with graduate student research: https://www.nafsa.org/professional-resources/browse-by-interest/graduate-student-central-research-resources
University Libraries Research Services and Collections
https://library.georgiasouthern.edu
Fellowships
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Predoctoral Fellows The predoctoral NRSA typically provides tuition and stipends to students working on their dissertation for the last 2-3 years of graduate training. Your research proposal needs to be sponsored by at least one research mentor at your institution, and should align with a mission of at least one of the branches of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Proposals are submitted to the NIH for grant review, which can go through multiple rounds.
The Graduate Research Fellowship offered by the National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers three years of full support for graduate students to conduct research for their master’s or doctoral degrees. Similar to the NRSA, successful NSF applicants exhibit strong individual research potential. The NSF favors research topics that are cross-disciplinary and innovative.
Getting Started in Graduate Research
Why Perform Research?
- build your resume
- gain real-world experience
- publish your scholarship
- pursue original research ideas
- win awards
- collaborate closely with faculty
- present your research at conferences
- meet experts in your field
- acquire valuable job skills
The Literature Review
The Literature Review is a necessary component for any significant work in your graduate studies.
Written by Dena Taylor, Health Sciences Writing Centre, via University of Toronto Writing Advice. Follow this link for tips on conducting one: The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It
Identifying and Developing a Theoretical Framework
As a graduate student, you may be asked to explore your topic, and later, your thesis, within the context of a theoretical framework.
A theoretical framework as defined by Simon and Goes “provides a well-supported rationale to conduct your study, and helps the reader to understand your perspective.”
It can be challenging to identify the theoretical framework of the research you read, and to develop a framework to support your own thesis or dissertation.
Suggested Resources
While researching the literature to grasp an appropriate theory, it helps to read research that states the theoretical framework very clearly. This is a required section in most dissertations and theses.
Search the database listed below, Dissertations & Theses, to read some samples.
Sources:
- ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global From the University Libraries, learn to use the world’s most comprehensive international collection of dissertations and theses, spanning from 1743 to the present day.
What is a structured abstract?
The structured abstract is a valuable tool in understanding the scholarly article you are reading. You may also find it helpful to use for clarity in writing your own papers.
1) Complete citation for your article (any citation style):
2) Background or Statement of the Problem:
3) Research Purpose (what the research focused on and why):
4) Theoretical Framework (often stated in the Literature Review section):
5) Research Methods/Approach:
a) Setting (place and time?)
b) Participants (control group? random population?)
c) Research design (statistical? case study? quantitative? qualitative? interview?)
d) Data Collection and Analysis (how were outcomes measured? statistical methods used?)
6) Findings (study results):
7) Implications or Conclusions (what did the authors find? more study needed? ):
J. Finch, 2011. Modified with elements found at ERIC. Description of Structured Abstract Elements, http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/resources/html/pdf/SAElementsFlyer.pdf
Getting Published
Scholarly publishing is rapidly changing. There are an increasing number of published journals, as well as many Open Access publishers, and publishing opportunities. Where you decide to publish is an important consideration.
Have Similar Studies Been Published?
Many of the library research databases will provide you with a ranked list of journal titles based on your search results. You can search for papers in the general area of your research, and then look for a listing (generally to the left of the search results) labeled Publications, Sources, or Journals. These are typically listed , most to least, in the number of papers published in each title. Start with the list to identify journals in your subject area to investigate further.
Journal Article Submission
Submitting a Journal Manuscript and Peer Review – SpringerNature
How to Target a Journal that’s Right for your Research (SciDevNet) How to find a reputable journal to publish in.
Elsevier’s College of Skills Training (Elsevier) Set of lectures, videos, and quick guides for navigating the publication process.
University Libraries
Research Information for Students
Presenting Research
Resources
- Creating an engaging poster (traditional science)
- PosterTemplate (non-discipline specific)
- Powerpoint templates
- Research Support University Libraries
Student Scholars Symposium
Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus has a proud tradition of student involvement in various scholarly and creative endeavors. Whether it’s turning a ceramic vase or synthesizing chemical compounds, students are working side by side with faculty making valuable contributions to their fields of expertise. The Scholars Symposium provides a venue for the campus and the community to come together to celebrate these accomplishments and to recognize the outstanding scholarly achievements made by our students.
External Opportunities
GrantForward
Sign in through your MyGeorgiaSouthern Portal to create customized searches based on your keywords and research interests to be sent directly to your email: https://www.grantforward.com/index
NAFSA Resources
This page provides informative links for assistance with graduate student research: https://www.nafsa.org/professional-resources/browse-by-interest/graduate-student-central-research-resources
University Libraries Research Services and Collections
https://library.georgiasouthern.edu
Fellowships
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Predoctoral Fellows The predoctoral NRSA typically provides tuition and stipends to students working on their dissertation for the last 2-3 years of graduate training. Your research proposal needs to be sponsored by at least one research mentor at your institution, and should align with a mission of at least one of the branches of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Proposals are submitted to the NIH for grant review, which can go through multiple rounds.
The Graduate Research Fellowship offered by the National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers three years of full support for graduate students to conduct research for their master’s or doctoral degrees. Similar to the NRSA, successful NSF applicants exhibit strong individual research potential. The NSF favors research topics that are cross-disciplinary and innovative.