Undergraduate research journal

An undergraduate research journal is an academic journal dedicated to publishing the work of undergraduate research students. Such journals have been described as important for the professionalization of students into their academic discipline and a more substantive opportunity to experience the publication and peer review process than inclusion in the acknowledgments or as one of many authors on a traditional publication.^[1] The model has been described as well established in the United States and as a potential extension to the traditional undergraduate dissertation written by students in the United Kingdom.^[2] A case study of student participation in the journal Reinvention: A Journal of Undergraduate Research, found that the process challenges the "student as consumer" model of higher education.^[3]

Examples

Many universities maintain such journals for their own undergraduates, such as the Beloit Biologist, a Beloit College publication that launched in the early 1970s.^[4] Some scholarly societies also maintain venues for the dissemination of undergraduate research, for example as special sessions at academic conferences.^[1] Non-institutional journals may be sponsored by professional societies — for example, the American Institute of Physics published the undergraduate-peer-reviewed Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics starting in 1981, with a temporary hiatus beginning in 2014.^[5] The Journal of Young Investigators, which has received support through science-education grants from the United States National Science Foundation, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and Duke University, is managed primarily by undergraduates^[6][7] and is regarded as innovative because students are involved in reviewing and editing papers for publication.^[8] A similar model exists for the Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research, published at Monmouth College since 2010.^[9]

Variations on the model may accept work from even younger students; for example, the Journal of Emerging Investigators, managed by graduate students at Harvard University, publishes work by middle school and high school students under the guidance of a teacher or mentor.^[10][11] In 2014, a JEI paper gained widespread international media attention for its recommendation that the United States government save money on ink by changing official fonts.^[12]

Journals by topic

This is a list of notable peer-reviewed academic journals of undergraduate research. Undergraduate research journals listed should be published by accredited colleges and universities, professional associations, or notable independent academic publishers. Periodicals published by non-academic government entities should not be included.Journals previously published under a different name or by a different publisher should be footnoted.

Journals listed must be open to reviewing and potentially publishing the work of undergraduates from at least ten colleges or universities as this list is not a platform for providing information about institution-specific journals (journals that only publish the work of their institution's undergraduates).

The following is a partial list of undergraduate research journals, their dates of publication (when available), and their publisher or publishing institution, and ISSN(s) (when available).

Multidisciplinary

• American Journal of Undergraduate Research^[13][14] (2002–present); published by American Journal for Undergraduate Research (ISSN 1536-4585)
• Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research;^[15][14] published by Butler University
• Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research^[16][17][14] (2010–present); published by Monmouth College

Science

• Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal^[18][14] (2006–present); published by Columbia University
• Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science^[19][14] (1998–present); published by Dartmouth College
• Journal of Young Investigators^[20][14] (1997–present); published by Journal of Young Investigators (ISSN 1539-4026)

Arts and Literary

• Mosaic^[21][14] (1959-present); published by the University of California

English

• The Oswald Review^[22][14] (1999–present); published by University of South Carolina University Libraries

History

• Columbia Journal of History (2008–present);^[23][14] published by the Undergraduate History Council of Columbia University
• The Vanderbilt Historical Review (2016–present); published by Vanderbilt University

International Studies

• Hemispheres, Tufts University Journal of International Affairs^[24][14] (1977–present); published by Tufts University
• Journal of Undergraduate International Studies (2007–present);^[25][14] published by the University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Southern California International Review^[26][14] (2011–present); published by the School of International Relations at the University of Southern California

Mathematics

• Minnesota Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics^[27][14] (2015–present); published by University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing (ISSN 2378-5810)

Music

• Nota Bene;^[28][14] published by Western University Canada (ISSN 1920-8987)

Philosophy

• Episteme;^[29][14] published by Denison University

Physics

• Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics;^[30][14] published by the Society of Physics Students, American Institute of Physics

Political Science and Government

• Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics^[31][14] (2001–present); published by Elon University (ISSN: 1556-2034); funded by Pi Sigma Alpha honorary society

Social Science

• Intersect: The Stanford Journal of Science, Technology, and Society (2013–present);^[32][14] published by Stanford University

• Student Spotlight ^[33][14] published independently by Student Spotlight

Criticism

The model of separate journals specifically for undergraduates has been criticized for several reasons. Such journals may not be indexed in common literature databases and publishing research in an undergraduate-only venue may make it difficult for others to find the work.^[34] Concerns have also been expressed that the process could increase stress and competitiveness in undergraduate research.^[35]

See also

• Research Experiences for Undergraduates
• Council on Undergraduate Research

References

1. Jungck, J. R.; Harris, M.; Mercuri, R.; Tusin, J. (1 March 2004). "Points of View: Should Students Be Encouraged To Publish Their Research in Student-Run Publications?: Undergraduates: Do Research, Publish!". Cell Biology Education. 3 (1): 24–26. doi:10.1187/cbe.04-01-0022. PMC 3197277. PMID 22031793.
2. Walkington, Helen; Jenkins, Alan. "Embedding Undergraduate Research Publication in the Student Learning Experience". Brookes eJournal of Learning and Teaching. Oxford Brookes University. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
3. Taylor, Paul; Wilding, Danny. "Rethinking the values of higher education - the student as collaborator and producer? Undergraduate research as a case study" (PDF). The Reinvention Centre for Undergraduate Research. University of Warwick. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
4. Omans, Nathaniel (25 March 2014). "The Final Steps of Your Undergraduate Research Experience: Peer Review and Publishing". PLOS Blog. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
5. "Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics". Retrieved 12 May 2015.
6. "Journal of Young Investigators". Retrieved 12 May 2015.
7. Pollak, Michael (1999-02-17). "NOTEBOOK; On-Line Research Papers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
8. Jenkins, Alan (2003). Reshaping Teaching in Higher Education: Linking Teaching with Research. Psychology Press. ISBN 0749439033.
9. "Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research – at Monmouth College". research.monm.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
10. "About JEI". emerginginvestigators.org.
11. Kelsey, Ilana; Pasquina, Lincoln (January 2015). "Next-generation training: publishing student scientists' research". Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 36 (1): 3–5. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2014.10.004. PMID 25557143. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
12. "Pa. Teen Says Typeface Change Could Save Millions". New York Times. AP. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
13. "History and Editors". American Journal of Undergraduate Research. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
14. Looney, Lori. "Subject & Research Guides: Publishing Opportunities for Undergraduates: Home". Connecticut College Libraries. Connecticut College. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
15. "Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research | Undergraduate Scholarship | Butler University". digitalcommons.butler.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
16. "Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research – at Monmouth College". research.monm.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
17. acmedu (2015-10-21). "Monmouth's Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research Seeks Student Papers". Associated Colleges of the Midwest. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
18. "About the Journal | Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal". journals.library.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
19. "About – Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science". sites.dartmouth.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
20. "What We Do". Journal of Young Investigators. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
21. "About Mosaic". Mosaic. 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
22. "The Oswald Review: An International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Criticism in the Discipline of English | College of Humanities and Social Sciences | University of South Carolina". scholarcommons.sc.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
23. "About". Columbia Journal of History. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
24. "History". Hemispheres. 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
25. "About". JUIS. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
26. "About 1". Southern California International Review. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
27. "About the Journal | Minnesota Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics". pubs.lib.umn.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
28. "About Nota Bene". Nota Bene: Canadian Undergraduate Journal of Musicology. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
29. "Episteme | Philosophy | Denison University". digitalcommons.denison.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
30. "Journal of Undergraduate Reports in Physics (JURP)". Society of Physics Students. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
31. "About the Journal » PSA Journal". Retrieved 2023-04-04.
32. "About the Journal | Intersect: The Stanford Journal of Science, Technology, and Society". ojs.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
33. "Student Spotlight | Student Spotlight". studentspotlight.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
34. Siegel, V. (1 March 2004). "Points of View: Should Students Be Encouraged To Publish Their Research in Student-Run Publications?: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Undergraduate-only Journal Publications". Cell Biology Education. 3 (1): 26–27. doi:10.1187/cbe.04-01-0021. PMC 3197278. PMID 22031794.
35. Gilbert, S. F. (1 March 2004). "Points of View: Should Students Be Encouraged To Publish Their Research in Student-Run Publications?: A Case Against Undergraduate-only Journal Publications". Cell Biology Education. 3 (1): 22–23. doi:10.1187/cbe.04-01-0023. PMC 3197276. PMID 22031792.