Publishing Opportunities
Undergraduate research is offered to the public in journals and websites produced by departments and students at Brandeis and in publications outside Brandeis. Research is also presented in more accessible forms in newspapers, magazines, radio, hypertext, on television and multimedia. A sampling of publications that may publish student writing and research follows.
Journals Emphasizing Humanities Research and Social Issues
Philosophically Speaking. The purpose of Philosophically Speaking is to provide an outlet for the expression of philosophical, religious, scientific, and other such ideas about which people on campus are thinking, and a means of sharing these ideas.
- For more information, refer to the following myBrandeis page: http://my.brandeis.edu/clubs/ps.
Urtexts. Urtexts is a student-run journal presenting the research of Brandeis University undergraduates in the fields of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic studies. Urtexts aims to encourage and engender the serious academic study of these three religions in Brandeis University and the general college community, and to use the study of religion as a unifying force between the three Abrahamic faiths. In the spirit of intellectual honesty, Urtexts brings together the ideas of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to present a united front, which hopefully may serve as a paradigm for inter-religious understanding in the 21st century.
- For more information, refer to the following myBrandeis page: http://my.brandeis.edu/clubs/urtext.
Chalav U'Dvash. Chalav U'Dvash: Brandeis' Journal of Zionist Thought is a publication focusing on Israel, Zionism, the Jewish people, and our future. We aim to spark debate and discussion about relevant issues in an open and welcoming setting, and we encourage the involvement of writers and thinkers from all schools of Zionist thought.
- For more information, refer to the following myBrandeis page: http://my.brandeis.edu/clubs/chalav.
The Brandeis Law Journal, founded in 2008, is the only undergraduate-edited legal publication in the country that is unaffiliated with a law school. We solicit, edit, and annually publish the work of Brandeis students, alumni, and faculty. Our articles cover a diverse array of topics with only two guiding criteria; the topic must in some way concern the Brandeis University community and the argument must be grounded in legal reasoning.
- For more information, please see the journal's Facebook page.
Mother Jones. This bimonthly magazine has a circulation of 180,000 and focuses on publishing investigative reports and journalistic exposés in social issues and public affairs. Think Michael Moore. They invite “thoughtful, provocative articles which challenge the conventional wisdom (on the right or the left).” Mother Jones is concerned with issues of national importance (such as the environment, the media, health care, consumer protection, and cultural trends).
- You must submit a query letter pitching your story/article idea before you submit the manuscript. Please refer to guidelines at http://www.motherjones.com/about/admin/mag_guidelines.html.
STOA: The International Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy. Hosted by Santa Barbara City College, the journal is biannual and is the “only undergraduate international journal of philosophy . . . on this planet.” The journal is interested in both philosophical papers or philosophically relevant papers.
- For guidelines, refer to http://www.cpesbcc.net/stoahome.htm.
Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research in Writing and Rhetoric. This is an Undergraduate Research journal edited by Laurie Grobman and Candace Spigelman. They seek theory-driven and / or research-based submissions on the following: writing, rhetoric, composition, professional writing, peer tutoring, writing process, writing technologies or writing in the disciplines.
- Send queries to Laurie (leg8@psu.edu) or Candace (cxs11@psu.edu ).
Journals Emphasizing Creative Writing
Where the Children Play. Where the Children Play is an arts and literary magazine that features original creative expression by Brandeis students ranging from fiction, poetry and dramatic writing to photography, paintings, and sheet music. This publication is full-size, black and white, color centerfold and cover, and appears once a semester.
- For more information and submission guidelines, refer to http://people.brandeis.edu/~wtcp/index2.html.
Laurel Moon. Laurel Moon is the oldest literary publication at Brandeis, featuring the poetry, fiction, and screenplays of students and staff in a semesterly magazine, which is distributed on campus. This publication also holds weekly writing workshops for its members and events such as poetry and fiction readings by students and by authors from outside Brandeis.
- For more information, refer to the following myBrandeis page: http://my.brandeis.edu/clubs/laurel.
Allegheny Review: A National Journal of Undergraduate Literature. This annual journal is dedicated to exclusively publishing undergraduate works of art, poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Deadline is usually December 1 of every year. Submissions require a $5 entry fee. Other restrictions apply. Materials are reviewed by professional writers.
- For submission guidelines, refer to http://webpub.alleg.edu/group/review/.
Whitewater Review: An Undergraduate Journal.Whitewater Review is a biannual “e-zine” founded by editors Phil Bickel and T.J. Rivard. It’s a forum for undergraduate and graduate students from any higher learning educational institution who wish to publish poetry, short stories and nonfiction writing.
- For guidelines, refer to http://www.iue.edu/whitewater/.
Undergraduate Journals in the Sciences, Mathematics, Economics and Engineering
Caltech University Research Journal (CURJ). CURJ is a biannual journal that welcomes submissions from undergraduates at all educational institutions. They accept letters, reviews, research articles and “artistic” submissions (see guidelines for each category).
- The artistic pieces must relate to the “art and aesthetics of science or engineering.”
- The “letter” is a 1000-word essay addressing a social, ethical or scientific issue of present concern (a science version of a Newsweek “My Turn” essay).
- The 3000-word “review” should provide an overview of a current research field (“insight into the significance, current state and future prospects of the field”).
- The 2000-word research article must “center on your own work” related to the sciences.
CURJ is looking for articles that read like Scientific American: audience is composed of intelligent, science-minded readers who are not necessarily experts in the field.
- All submissions must come with a publication approval form that you can download at http://www.curj.caltech.edu/submissions.php
Furman University Electronic Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics. This journal is open to all undergraduates across the country.
- For more information, see the following URL: http://math.furman.edu/~mwoodard/fuejum/content/toc.html.
The Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research. This is a reviewed quarterly journal which publishes original research performed by undergraduates. Primary author must be an undergraduate but may be co-authored with a professor.
- For information regarding the journal's submission guidelines, please refer to http://new.vmi.edu/departments.asp?durki=4896.
JURP: The Online Journal of Undergraduate Research on Physics. This annual refereed journal (appears every summer) accepts undergraduate papers that researched any area of pure physics, applied physics or physics-related fields. Each paper must be sponsored by a full-time faculty member at the student’s college institution. Online archived essays are available at their website.
- For submission guidelines, refer to http://www.jurp.org/aboutjurp.htm.
The Journal of Undergraduate Sciences (JUS). Sponsored by the Harvard University Science Center, this multidisciplinary journal publishes articles that range from “Astronomy to Zoology.” It accepts submissions from “any student at the undergraduate level who is engaged in research in any scientific or science-related discipline.” The journal also welcomes collaboration among undergraduates, graduate students and professors.
- Submission guidelines are available in Acrobat reader format and can be downloaded from http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jus/submissions.html.
Journal of Young Investigators: Undergraduate, Peer-Reviewed Science Journal. This web journal focuses primarily on publishing undergraduate research in science, mathematics and engineering. This could include research in the fields of astronomy, biology, geology, computer science and psychology. The journal is reviewed by undergraduates. Senior theses are accepted although they must be shortened and formatted to JYI publication requirements.
- Students interested in submitting a research or review article or becoming a staff member can visit http://www.jyi.org/submissions/faq.html.
Psi Chi: Journal of Undergraduate Research. Sponsored by the National Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi), this quarterly, reviewed journal primarily publishes the work of undergraduate students. Only an undergraduate student who is a member of Psi Chi may submit a manuscript. Manuscripts from graduate students will be accepted only if the work was completed as an undergraduate student. While the primary author must be an undergraduate, additional authors may include non-Psi Chi students as well as a faculty mentor or supervisor.
- For details, see the following URL: http://www.psichi.org/pubs/journal/submissions.asp.
Reviews in Undergraduate Research: International Journal of Excellence in Undergraduate Research. This international undergraduate journal publishes research and reviews related to natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics).
- Submission details can be found at the following URL: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~rur/submit.htm.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Undergraduate Math Journal. This is a refereed journal open to all undergraduates. The journal is sponsored by the Math Department of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Submitted papers should be accessible to a “wide range of readers.” Readers of the journal expect to see new results, new and interesting proofs of old results, historical developments of a theorem or area of mathematics. They also want to see relationships between areas of mathematics and / or other fields of study, or interesting applications of mathematics. The journal has strict requirements about submission (i.e., it requires that you have a letter of support from a mathematician).
- For guidelines, refer to http://www.rose-hulman.edu/mathjournal/.
University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics. All journal articles are peer evaluated by undergraduates at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University. It is one of only two online economics journals entirely run by undergraduates in the U.S. For those who plan to pursue advanced degrees in economics, this journal offers the opportunity to become familiar with the submissions and publication process. For those who do not pursue advanced degrees, UAUJE presents a chance to be published.
- For submission guidelines and articles, refer to http://www.econ.ilstu.edu/uauje/editorial_board/index.shtml.
UCLA Undergraduate Psychology Journal. The journal accepts submissions from all undergraduates who do outstanding research in psychology.
- For archived papers and submission guidelines, refer to http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/upj/.
Journals Publishing Multimedia, Hypertext and Audio
The Cortland Review: An Online Literary Magazine in Real Audio. Founded in 1997, the quarterly review is based in Cortland, New York. Full and audio is available for all issues. Its international audience includes Anglophone readers from the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, France and Japan. It was recently awarded “Best of the Web” by Forbes.com. The Courtland Review considers poetry, prose, essays, translations and book reviews.
- For submission guidelines, refer to http://www.cortlandreview.com/submission_guidelines.php.
Ejournal. This peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary academic journal is interested in the broader social, psychological, literary, economic and pedagogical implications of computer-mediated networks. They welcome submissions that address (in theory or practice) the “creation, transmission, storage, interpretation, alteration and implication of electronic ‘text’—including ‘display’ broadly defined.”
- For guidelines and archived articles refer to http://www.ucalgary.ca/ejournal/.
Local Newspapers
The Justice. Story ideas should be submitted for potential Justice articles to the appropriate department; refer to the website contact page for relevant email addresses. For online submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to http://www.thejusticeonline.com/home/lettertotheeditor/.
The Hoot. Brandeis' community newspaper. Submit story ideas to the appropriate department (News, Impressions, Features, Diversity, Business); refer to the website contact page for relevant email addresses.
Brandeis Humor Magazines. Brandeis students publish two humor magazines: Gravity Magazine (http://laughterhouse.org/) and The Blowfish (http://www.blowmyfish.com/).
The Daily News Tribune. Online submission guidelines for Letters to the Editor to Waltham's local newspaper are available at the following URL: http://www.dailynewstribune.com/contact. For best results, study the style of these pieces beforehand.
Local Radio and Public Access Television
WBRS 100.1. WBRS is a small college radio station directly affiliated with Brandeis University whose mandate is to provide non-commercial, educational programming that serves Waltham and serves the Brandeis student community. Most staff are Brandeis students, but there are Brandeis staff & alumni as well as several community volunteers with no connection to Brandeis. There are no regular paid positions at the station; everyone's a volunteer. The station also functions on a co-operative basis, which means that all DJ's are required to devote a certain amount of time each month towards station functions besides doing their show.
Originally started in the 1950's, WBRS plays an eclectic range of music styles and maintains an extensive live music program running since 1982 with performances from Deb Pasternak, Heavy Metal Horns, Lisa Loeb, Moxy Fruvous, Jim's Big Ego, Two Ton Shoe, The Pressure Cookers, Dresden Dolls and many more.
Thoes interested in working at WBRS are advised to apply in mid-January, early May, and early September. No previous training or experience is necessary. Contact the Personnel Director here: http://www.wbrs.org/email.php.
BTV:65. A Brandeis television station committed to providing its members with an opportunity to film, create, direct, produce, and act in proposed and approved projects, and a forum through which to enliven school spirit by animating school events and bringing them to the student body via cable. For more information, refer to the website and myBrandeis page.