James Madison College offers a variety of undergraduate research opportunities that enable students to pursue in-depth scholarship and develop research skills under faculty guidance.
The college provides three distinct pathways for students to engage in meaningful academic inquiry:
- Independent Study courses for specialized topic exploration,
- the Senior Honors Thesis program for substantial research projects,
- Madison Academic Research Tutorials (MARTs) for collaborative small-group research experiences.
These undergraduate research opportunities prepare students for graduate school success, enhance career prospects, and provide valuable writing samples and research credentials for future academic and professional endeavors. Faculty-supervised research experiences accommodate diverse academic interests while maintaining high standards for scholarly achievement, ensuring every student can find a research pathway that aligns with their academic goals and career aspirations.
Independent Study
Explore an area of study in-depth under the direction of a JMC faculty member.
MARTs
Highly individualized study that's not addressable through any other course format.
Senior Honors Thesis
Independent research supervised and evaluated by a JMC faculty member.
JMC Research Showcase
The JMC Research Showcase provides Madison students an opportunity to showcase their scholarship and creative activity. This event, held annually in the Spring Semester, brings together an intellectual community of undergraduate students to share their work with faculty, staff, peers, and external audiences.
During the Research Showcase, students are arranged in panels and deliver a presentation (15 minutes or longer) that provides an understanding of the research that was conducted. Students gain experience in presenting their research and answer questions about their work from audience members and guests.
View the full program from the 2026 Research Showcase (via PDF) and photos from the event below:
Research Spotlight: Human Rights Data Science Lab
The Human Rights Data Science Lab at JMC is an innovative undergraduate research project that bridges academic learning with critical global human rights work. Students working with the lab have presented their work to the International Criminal Court, Amnesty International, and other civil society and legal organizations.
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Research Spotlight: Mekong Culture WELL
The Mekong Culture WELL project, led by JMC Prof. Amanda Flaim, is a dynamic, interdisciplinary team of scholars and students at MSU who work in collaboration with community partners, artists and experts across the Lower Mekong River Basin. Their aim is to advance cultural and interdisciplinary studies of the region and foster environmental justice.