Journal Submission Guidelines

The Journal of Undergraduate Research (JUR) is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed online journal published annually. The JUR accepts submissions which would meet the standard of excellence for students in diverse fields of study. Authors may select from either of the two formats described below or work with the editorial staff of the JUR to develop another type suited to the particular research.

Submission deadline for the next edition is May 15, 2013.

Submissions from undergraduate students or teams are encouraged. Although most student authors participate in the Conference, it is not a requirement for inclusion in the JUR. Undergraduate authors from other colleges and universities are welcome to submit articles.

Please contact Barb Bergman, Editor, barbara.bergman@mnsu.edu, for additional information regarding the submission or review process.

• Students must turn in a signed [PDF] JUR submission form (19 KiB)to Barb Bergman – Library Services.
• Students must electronically submit their paper as a Word document to barbara.bergman@mnsu.edu by the submission deadline.
• Document must include:
  
  • Abstract
  • Title page
  • Your research article including bibliography (works cited)
  • Final copy must also include:
    • Brief professional biography of the student, i.e. your hometown, major, and future professional and/or educational goals
    • Brief professional biography of the mentor (no more than 200–250 words/sketch)
    • Final copy must be submitted as a single document (Word or PDF) that includes all of the above elements plus title page header "2012 Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato"
• Citations: students should use the publication style acceptable to their field (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.).
• Article submission will be reviewed by one professor and one student. Authors will receive two anonymous written critiques.
• Authors will be notified if their work is accepted, needs revision, or is rejected
• After receiving critiques, authors will be asked to review their submissions and submit a final copy.
• Deadline for final version will be before classes resume in August, with intent of publishing the first week of September.
• The Journal is an online publication. There is no minimum or maximum length

Although most submissions are made by students participating in Minnesota State University, Mankato's Undergraduate Research Center, submissions from any undergraduate student will be considered for publication. Undergraduates from other universities may submit articles.

Potential Research Formats

Traditional Research Paper/Presentations or Professional Reports

Paper (hard-copy) format or web-developed format. An formal research article format might include the following:

• abstract
• introduction
• literature review
• materials and methods
• results
• discussion
• references - use citation style appropriate to your discipline

A report for a profit or non-profit organization might include a summary, discussion, and recommendations. The format should consist of whatever is appropriate for the situation. Because organizational reports are interwoven with the organization's culture and the reason for the report, students should submit a brief description which contextualizes their submission.

Creative Reports with Strong Textual or Graphic Supporting Materials

These reports could include performance clips or be graphic-based in the sense that artwork or design materials comprise a major part of the submission.

The creative submissions should contain sufficient material, either paper or web-developed format, to contextualize the performances and/or graphics. Viewers should be able to place the presentation within a specific scope of scholarship and should be able to understand the relevance of the work to the performance or graphics.

Proceedings

Please note: Presentation materials, i.e., slides and posters, should be submitted the the Conference Proceedings. These materials by themselves do not fit the rigor required of Journal submissions. Specificially, research presented as a poster or oral presentation at the Conference needs to be written out as research paper to be submitted to the JUR. PowerPoints or other files for the Proceedings should be sent to urc@mnsu.edu within one week after the symposium.