Research Experiences at Georgia Tech

Why Do Undergraduate Research?

Meaningful participation in discovery-driven activities such as undergraduate research can be very important to students. It provides a new way of learning in a field of study, and by being part of a discovery team you can not only engage in experiential learning but also improve your ability to work and communicate with others.

These skills help students prepare for graduate or professional school, and offer a basis for deciding whether the life of the researcher is what they want. Clarification of career goals points students in the right direction and motivates them to pursue their undergraduate studies with more focus and energy.

What To Do

All IAC faculty are actively engaged in cutting-edge research in the social sciences and humanities. They bring their research techniques and findings into the classroom, but they also recognize the contributions that undergraduate students can make to the advancement of knowledge. Working either alone (under faculty guidance) or in teams with faculty or graduate students, many IAC students elect to pursue research projects that are personally interesting and professionally rewarding.

School of Economics

The School of Economics offers undergraduate research for both credit and pay in areas such as labor policy, intellectual property, and macroeconomic conditions. All faculties participate. Research for credit is available through ECON 4901, Special Problems; ECON 4910, Individual Research (required course); and ECON 4990, Internship in Professional Economics. Research for pay may be available through individual faculty members and the President's Undergraduate Research Awards.

School of History, Technology, and Society

Research is infused into the HTS major through the classroom curricula as well as out-of-class opportunities. Students can also do research for credit with individual professors through special problems courses, HTS 2927-29 (freshman, sophomores) and HTS 4925-29 (junior, senior). Recent projects include political histories of the South and oral histories of US soldiers in Iraq. Research for pay is available through the President's Undergraduate Research Awards as well as individual faculty grants.

Sam Nunn School of International Affairs

The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs (INTA) offers undergraduate research opportunities for credit or pay. Topics have included energy policy, human rights issues, and the rise of Islamic leaders in Asia. Research with individual faculty members is available for credit through the Special Problems classes, INTA 4901,2,3. There are limited opportunities for research for pay through faculty utilizing the President's Undegraduate Research Awards.

School of Literature, Communication, and Culture

Students pursuing a degree in Science, Technology, and Culture (STAC) in LCC can do research for credit or pay. Students can earn credit for research by registering for LCC 4906, Special Problems, and working with an individual professor. Students can also do research for pay by working with individual professors or the President's Undergraduate Research Awards. Recent examples include studies of speech recognition, the development of text animation, and analysis of themes in science fiction.

School of Modern Languages

The School of Modern Languages offers research for credit and pay. Research with individual faculty members is available for credit through the school's 4901, 2 courses in each language. Research for pay may be available through individual faculty members and the President's Undergraduate Research Awards. The faculty and their interests can seen here they have supported undergraduate research in areas such as technical interfaces in language education. Modern Languages also provides research opportunities for credit through special problems courses in conjunction with internships abroad that will include directed research requiring use of the foreign language spoken.

  • See a list of ML faculty and their individual research interests, or
  • Contact Dr. David Shook, Director of Undergraduate Studies, for more information. By phone at 404.894.1355.

School of Public Policy

Public policy majors recently have performed research for credit or pay in areas such as water policy, economic development, the causes of homelessness, and the political use of the internet. Research for credit in PUBP is "hard-wired" into the required curriculum through several courses. PUBP 4113; PUBP 4120, Survey Research Methods; and PUBP 4600, Senior Seminar/Thesis. The faculty seek out undergraduates to do research for pay to help them in their research, or students may perform research for pay through President's Undergraduate Research Awards.

Institute Wide

There are lots of opportunities for undergraduate research at the Institute level. Visit the Undergraduate Research website to learn more.

How To Do It

Your professors and academic advisors can help you identify the right project, the right sponsor, and the necessary resources to pursue an undergraduate research project.

Sometimes professors will solicit particular students to work on a research project, and IAC frequently sends out notices or posts research opportunities. But you can also think about what you'd like to investigate and ask a professor to work with you, or to recommend someone appropriate for your topic.

IAC students can also pursue research projects through other major programs at Tech.

The initiative lies with you: go for it!

Ready to research?

BRAND NEW!- Research Database

For more information about any UROP initiatives, including the newly launched Research Database, contact the UROP office or visit the UROP website.

"Most research opportunities come right through professors. It probably sounds like old news, but I think students should really make an effort to talk to their professors and let them know they are passionate about the field." - Greg Leo, ECON '07, and host of our Student Videos!
Go Beyond the Classroom