UNLV as an R1 Research University
UNLV is designated a Carnegie R1 (Research 1) university, the highest tier of research classification for doctoral
institutions. R1 is widely recognized as the gold standard for research activity, reflecting a campus culture where ideas
move beyond coursework into discovery, evidence, and impact.
UNLV's Carnegie R1 research environment extends to undergraduates through the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR),
including the Undergraduate Research Symposia.
OUR Undergraduate Research Symposia
Research becomes more powerful when it is shared, and OUR Undergraduate Research Symposia is a key step in that process.
Students in capstone courses, and students developing original research projects, are encouraged to participate in the
Office of Undergraduate Research Symposia.
The Undergraduate Research Symposium provides a public platform to share research, receive constructive feedback, and
strengthen scholarly communication. Each fall and spring, undergraduates present work to the UNLV community through:
- Poster presentations
- Oral presentations
- Performances and exhibitions
Presenting at the OUR Undergraduate Research Symposia often serves as a launchpad for developing research into a polished
manuscript for Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal.
Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal
From coursework to citation: research that enters the record. Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal (Office of
Undergraduate Research) is a biannual (fall and spring), peer-reviewed,
multidisciplinary, open-access journal dedicated primarily to publishing
mentored undergraduate research at UNLV (and, when possible, well-qualified undergraduate work from other
institutions). Published articles are freely available online immediately upon release, and authors generally retain strong
rights to their original work.
Why Spectra Matters
Spectra turns high-quality undergraduate projects into public, citable scholarship, a meaningful signal of
research readiness, intellectual initiative, and follow-through.
What Spectra Publishes
Spectra welcomes several submission types, including:
- Primary research articles
- Primary review articles
- Research protocol articles
- Thesis-based research articles
Peer-Review and Revision Process
Spectra uses a double-blind peer review process. Submissions are first checked by the Editorial Board for
completeness and compliance, then routed to a subject editor and reviewed by two disciplinary experts.
Review feedback is typically requested within a standard review window, with timelines varying based on revision needs.
Submission Expectations
Submissions are handled through the journal's online platform, with a companion cover page and faculty-mentor documentation
submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Research. Research previously shared as a poster or oral presentation may remain
eligible as long as the manuscript is original and not under review elsewhere.
Built-In Support for Student Authors
OUR also offers skill-building support, workshops and resources that cover abstracts, citations, manuscript preparation, and
review practices, spanning multiple stages of the research-writing process.
Strong ECON 495 capstone papers are especially well-positioned to be developed into a journal-style manuscript and submitted.