Subject and Course Guides: Undergraduate Research Journals: Math and Physics

Tips for Writers

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected scholars all over the world, leading to changes in research timelines and journal publishing. Fear not! Many of the journals on this guide accept undergraduate manuscripts up to a year after graduation.

Academic publishing requires attention to detail. Ask yourself these questions before submitting a paper to an academic journal.

Does my paper fit within the journal's subject area?
Is my paper correctly formatted?
- Is it within the journal's word limit or page limit?
- Are my sources properly cited in the journal's required style? (For example, APA stye)
- Have I included all the materials the journal wants me to submit? (For example, a cover letter, title page, or abstract)
Am I submitting my paper before the publication deadline? (Most journals in this list do not have deadlines, but some do)
Have I had a professor, colleague, friend, etc. proofread my paper so there are no errors?

Undergraduate Research Journals for Math and Physics

These journal listings are for information purposes only. UNL librarians cannot tell you what journals to submit your paper to. It is the writer's responsibility to check the journals' websites for the most up-to-date information.

This page was last updated in December 2021.

Involve: A Journal of Mathematics
Description: "Showcases and encourages high-quality mathematical research involving students from all academic levels."
Published by: Mathematical Sciences Publishers
Submission guidelines: "All manuscripts should include a minimum of one-third student authorship. Submissions should include substantial faculty input; faculty co-authorship is required. The submission should in all cases come from a faculty member."
Journal of Young Investigators
Description: "Dedicated to representing undergraduate research in biological/biomedical sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and engineering, psychology and social sciences. We accept submissions of original research articles and literature review articles from undergraduate students."
Submission guidelines: Students may submit manuscripts up to one year post-graduation, provided that the research/writing work was completed as an undergraduate student.
Mathematics Exchange
Description: "A journal for undergraduate research in the mathematical sciences. It is a forum for student activities, which are not necessarily original research but go beyond standard classroom material."
Published by: Ball State University
Submission guidelines: 5-15 pages.
Minnesota Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics
Description: "Focuses on original mathematical research done primarily by undergraduate researchers in all areas of mathematics and its applications."
Published by: University of Minnesota
Missouri Journal of Mathematical Sciences
Description: "Publishes well-motivated original research articles as well as expository and survey articles of exceptional quality in mathematical sciences. A section of the MJMS is also devoted to interesting mathematical problems and solutions."
Published by: University of Central Missouri
Pentagon
Description: "Articles of interest to undergraduate mathematics students are included, assisting the Society in achieving its objectives. Most of the papers are written by student KME members and many have previously been presented at national or regional conventions."
Published by: Kappa Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honor Society
Pi Mu Epsilon Journal
Description: Publishes "papers that may be of interest to readers of the PMEJ. Papers written by undergraduates are preferred but papers written by faculty members will be considered if the content is appropriate for undergraduate readers."
Published by: Pi Mu Epsilon
Submission guidelines: Up to 10 pages.
PUMP Journal of Undergraduate Research
Description: "Publishes articles written by undergraduate students that want to pursue doctoral studies in the Mathematical Sciences. The journal publishes research papers, papers containing new proofs of known results, and expository papers which propose original points of view on various topics, from all areas of pure and applied mathematics and statistics. At least one of the authors must be (have been) an undergraduate student (at the time the paper was written)."
Published by: California State University
Pursue: Undergraduate Research Journal
Description: "Provides undergraduates an avenue to publish their original research articles in the following areas: (but not limited to) psychology, sociology, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, humanities, agriculture, architecture, business, and education."
Published by: Prairie View A&M University
Submission deadline: October 10 for the Fall issue and March 10 for the Spring issue.
Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal
Description: "Devoted entirely to papers written by undergraduates on topics related to the mathematical sciences. Although the authors need not be undergraduates at the time of submission or publication, the work must have been completed before graduation."
Published by: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Submission guidelines: Papers should "be well-written, interesting to a wide range of readers, and have a level of mathematical maturity that is clearly beyond a typical homework assignment."
Submission deadline: November 1 for the spring issue and May 1 for the fall issue.
SIAM Undergraduate Research Online
Description: "A web-based publication devoted to undergraduate research in applied and computational mathematics. The publication represents a wide range of applied topics, including but not limited to, analysis, discrete mathematics, statistics, operations research, optimization, dynamical systems, modeling, and computation. Typical areas of application include but are not limited to, physical, life, financial, and management sciences and engineering."
Published by: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Submission guidelines: Up to 20 pages.