Undergraduate Research

Explore

Individualized, faculty-led, undergraduate research is an integral part of James Madison College. These initiatives give students proficiency in research design, quantitative and qualitative analysis, critical thinking and analytical writing. 

 

 

Go Further

Undergraduate Research (UR) offers unique opportunities for students to work with JMC faculty. Students are able to produce original research content that contributes to a particular academic discipline.

The most common forms of UR at Madison are: 

• Faculty-led research
• Independent study
• Professorial assistantships

Research can build upon work in a specific class, or may examine issues not currently explored in any MSU class.

 

 

• Get ready

  Before you can engage in UR at Madison, answer the following questions: 

  • How much time can I commit to an undergraduate research project, and how will it work into my schedule?
  • What area of research best aligns with my career goals and interests?
  • Is there a faculty member currently conducting research now that interests me? Are they seeking research assistants?
  • What will the research experience do for me in terms of my academic and professional goals? 
• Get started

  Next Steps:

  • Reach out to a professor regarding your research 
  • Check listings on Handshake 

  Madison students engaged in faculty-led projects gain hands-on experience in academic scholarship  and gain insight into how the academic community communicates with the world through research.

  Getting involved in UR at Madison can be as simple as speaking to a faculty member whose research interests align with your own or inquiring about opportunities to further the classroom learning experience through work on a faculty research project.

• Benefits of UR

  After completing their initial UR experience, 71% of undergraduate researchers pursue another UR experience. 
  
  Benefits by the numbers

  • 91% students indicated that their UR opportunity positively contributed to their educational experience
  • 86% of all students engaged in UR found that they deepened their knowledge of their research area
  • 81% of all students increased their confidence in their research
  • 75% cited improvement in their time management skills 
• Funding UR

  Funding one's research involves planning. There are funds available to offset costs for research expenses such as travel, conference fees, speakers, supplies, meals and more. There are several ways to tap available resources.

  • Faculty mentors can assist with project development and help students apply for funding.
    • To apply for funding, read the policy and then download the application.
  • Another resource available is the MSU Honors College.
  • Outside of James Madison College and the Honors College, MSU Libraries has a web page with information on funding resources. 
  • Also, James Madison College has an endowment honoring Professor M. Richard Zinman. This endowment fund is designed to support students undertaking individual or small group projects of excellence under the guidance of a JMC faculty member. Download the application

  All projects must involve a teaching or mentoring relationship and must culminate in a product suitable to the project such as a scholarly paper, film, other work of art, a research report or policy memorandum.
  

  Contact Jeff Judge, assistant dean, at judgej@msu.edu for further information. 

• Publishing UR

  Opportunities to publish your research are vast! The following journals feature undergraduate research.

  Agora Papers - Publishes student work using core and classic texts, housed at University of Lynchburg in Virginia.

  Allegheny Review - Journal of literature

  Aporia - Journal of philosophy

  Articulate - International development / health care in Africa

  Berkeley Undergraduate Journal 

  The Birch - Eastern European, Eastern politics, history, art and literature

  The Brown Journal of World Affairs - contemporary international issues

  Caltech Undergraduate Research Journal

  Center for the Study of Global Change - global/world issues, political affairs, globalization, cross-cultural studies

  Chrysalis: The Murray State University Journal of Undergraduate Research - Cross-Cultural, Scientific studies, Language

  Critique - worldwide student journal of politics, democracy and justice

  The Dialectics Undergraduate Journal of Leadership, Politics and Society - public policy, political affairs

  Dualist - philosophy

  Duke Journal of Public Affairs - critical opinion, public policy, economics, political science

  Eastern Oregon Science Journal - science and mathematics

  Georgetown Journal of International Affairs - business and economics; conflict; culture; law and ethics; politics; and science

  Harvard Political Review - politics, cultural and international

  Hemispheres - international affairs, research

  The Honor Society for International Studies- international affairs, international studies, globalization, global studies

  Illinois Wesleyan University Undergraduate Economic Review - Economics and international studies

  Imponderabilia - culture and society, international and domestic

  Indigenous Law Journal, University of Toronto - Canadian legal journal regarding Indigenous legal issues

  Interface - science, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, humanities 

  Institute of Global Leadership - international and domestic political issues, cross-cultural affairs

  Issues in Political Economy, Undergraduate Student Research in Economics - all areas of economics

  Janus - journal of history

  Journal of International Affairs -  political theory, technology, world issues, globalization, economics

  Journal of International Law - MSU - globalization, international trade, foreign cultures, legal systems 

  Journal of Medicine and Law - MSU -  medical legal articles

  Journal of Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences - neuroscience, substance abuse, personality, learning, health, medical, cognitive, developmental

  Journal of Psychological Inquiry - historical research, reviews, data-based information- Psychological 

  Journal of Science and Health at the University of Alabama - JOSHUA - science and technology

  Journal of Undergraduate Research - DOE - science and technology, U.S. government

  Journal of Undergraduate Research - MSU - 

  Journal of Undergraduate Research Opportunities - arts, humanities, social science 

  Journal of Undergraduate Research -UF - engineering and technology, medicine, environmental concerns, arts and humanities

  Journal for Undergraduate Scholarly Papers - responses to great books, classical ideas mixed with contemporary ones

  Journal of Undergraduate Sciences - research sciences

  Michigan Journal of Business - analyze real-world theories through, accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, business law, public policy

  Michigan Journal of Political Science - historical, international political science

  Morehead Electronic Journal of Applicable Mathematics

  National Undergraduate Research Clearinghouse

  The Pentagon - society, mathematics

  Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review 

  The Politic - political affairs, public policy, international stides/affairs, economics

  Public Writing - history, gender studies, theories, cross-cultural studies

  Rollins Undergraduate Research Journal - variety

  Stanford Journal of International Relations - all academia

  Texas International Law Journal - international and comparative law journal

  Trace - journal of architecture

  The University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics - economics studies and research

  The UCI Undergraduate Research Journal- all academia

  Undergraduate Journal of International Studies - democratic transformations, health, culture, environmental, change and international policy, global securities, human rights

  Undergraduate Research Journal - IUSB - all academia

  Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences - culture and human sciences

  University of California Office of Research Undergraduate Journal - research policy, legislation

  UT Austin Undergraduate Research Journal - all academia

  The Wilson Journal of Public Affairs - expansion of IRO debate activities at U of Virginia

  The Yale Journal of Public Health - Human health, health concerns, public health

  Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research - Penn State, international undergrad research hournal in rhetoric and writing studies

  ReCUR Red Cedar Undergraduate Research- Founded by MSU Honors College, multidisciplinary

  Olive- Roots an International Undergraduate Journal on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

  The Northwestern Journal of International Affairs - international and comparative studies

  St. Anslem's "Global Topics" journal - international relations

  George Washington University Undegraduate Law Review - examines internationally significant issues concerning law, policy, philosophy, ethics and politics

  Barnard College Undergraduate Research Journal on Women and Leadership