Student Research

Anthropology Lab Research

Students in our programs have opportunities for undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship experiences in each of our disciplines. Through these opportunities, research experiences can be an integral part of the undergraduate student experience.

Examples of Student Research

Kennesaw State University Symposium of Student Scholars

Each year, students in our degree programs regularly present their research at the KSU Symposium of Student Scholars. The link below provides an archive of student research presentations in recent years.

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Archive

National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Many geography, anthropology, and geographic information science students presented research at the 2019 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), which was hosted by Kennesaw State University in April 2019.

Interactive Story Map of Research

Explore the interactive story map below to see examples of Department of Geography and Anthroplogy student research from our Geographic Information Science program.

Geospatial Science Map Gallery and Featured Projects

Geospatial Science Gallery

Examples of Student Research

Student DAR Projects in Environmental and Health Geography
Geography and GSS students apply geographic methods to study environmental and public health issues in their DAR courses.

Human Lyme Disease and Environmental Factors in Vermont
Geography student, Allysa Lugo, revealed the spatial and temporal associations of county-level human Lyme disease rates with environmental factors, including deer populations, temperature, and precipitation, in Vermont from 2003 to 2022 using GIS and statistical analyses.

Lung Cancer and Risk Factors in Georgia

GSS student, Nguyet Le, explored the spatial associations of lung cancer rates with health, socioeconomic, and environmental factors in Georgia through spatial and statistical analyses.

Student Research in the News

The following are examples of student research highlighted in the news.

Student Research in the News

2024

Aug 29, 2024. Norman J. Radow College Senior Tristan Bollenbaugh Connects Field Research in Frey Lake to Childhood Goals in Kennesaw State University News.

2022

Nov 17, 2022. Office of Undergraduate Research hosts Fall Symposium of Student Scholars in Kennesaw State University News.

Apr 25, 2022. Kennesaw State recognizes individuals for creating welcoming campus environment in Kennesaw State University News.

Mar 29, 2022. Kennesaw State students to present research at Georgia Capitol in Kennesaw State University News.

February 22, 2022. What is… the ‘Jeopardy!’ College Championship? in Inside Higher Ed.

Feb 17, 2022. Kennesaw State students present GIS research to top State Department officials in Kennesaw State University News.

Feb 15, 2022. Kennesaw State alumnus in Jeopardy! final in Kennesaw State University News.

2021

May 12, 2021. Kennesaw State graduate cultivates awareness of hunger, food insecurity in Kennesaw State University News.

April 12, 2021. RCHSS students presenting in largest undergraduate research conference in Kennesaw State University News.

February 27, 2021. KSU students selected to present research at Georgia State Capitol in Marietta Daily Journal.

February 24, 2021. Geography student selected to present research at Georgia State Capitol in Kennesaw State University News.

2020

December 4, 2020. Geography and Anthropology students share research at Fall Symposium of Student Scholars.

June 17, 2020. State Department research project pairs KSU students with U.S. Embassy in West Africa in Kennesaw State University News.

May 20, 2020. KSU student dedicated to helping others earns scholarship in Kennesaw State University News.

May 16, 2020. Ellenwood student wins part of $3 million Taco Bell Scholarship. WSB-TV Atlanta.

April 27, 2020. Mapping the Fight Against COVID-19. Kennesaw State University News.

2019

March 19, 2019. Kennesaw State student named a 2019 Newman Civic Fellow. Kennesaw State University News.

2018

December 11, 2018. Forensic Twins. Kennesaw State University News.

September 19, 2018. A Unique Environment: Students Begin Research Project in Guinea-Bissau. Kennesaw State University News.

2017

April 17, 2017. High Touch/High Tech for Sustainability. Kennesaw State University News.

2016

July 22, 2016. Touching History: KSU students help unearth Troup County mill town. Kennesaw State University News.

April 19, 2016. Archaeologists unearth Troup's history. LaGrange Daily News.

2015

June 11, 2015. Students and professor take "Engaged Archaeology" to Cave Spring, GA. Kennesaw State University News.

Resources and Opportunities for Student Research

Anthropology
American Anthropological Association (AAA)
Georgia Academy of Science
- Student Travel Award
Society for American Archaeology (SAA)
- Student Awards
Society for Georgia Archaeology
- Georgia Student Archaeological Research Grants
National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Geography and Geographic Information Science
American Association of Geographers (AAG)
- Marble-Boyle Undergraduate Achievement Awards in Geographic Science. These awards aim to recognize excellence in academic performance by undergraduate students from the United States and Canada who are putting forth a strong effort to bridge geographic science and computer science as well as to encourage other students to embark upon similar programs.
- AAG Undergraduate Student Affinity Group: An international community of students studying geography, offering opportunities to network and socialize, get advice on graduate study and careers, and take part in academic events. Undergraduate students from any college or university who are studying geography or closely related subjects are welcome to join.
- AAG Specialty and Affinity Group Student Awards: Each year many AAG Specialty and Affinity Groups confer travel grants, hold paper competitions, and bestow honors and awards to their faculty and student members at the AAG Annual Meeting. Notices for these competitions may appear on the relevant specialty group’s website or listserve, or on the AAG News site.
- Biogeography Specialty Group: Student Presentation Award.
- Cartography Specialty Group: Honors Student Paper Competition; Illustrated Student Paper Competition.
- Economic Geography Specialty Group: Best Student Paper Award Competition.
- Ethnic Geography Specialty Group: Student Paper Competition.
- Hazards, Risks, and Disasters Specialty Group: Student Paper Award.
- Paleoenvironmental Change Specialty Group: Student Research Award Undergraduate Category.
- Political Geography Specialty Group: Undergraduate Student Paper Award.
- Population Geography Specialty Group: Student Paper Competition.
- Regional Development and Planning Specialty Group: Undergraduate Paper Award.
- Urban Geography Specialty Group: Undergraduate Paper Award.
Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers (SEDAAG)
- Undergraduate Student Poster Competition
Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society (GTU)
- GTU Scholarships
Georgia Academy of Science
- Student Travel Award
National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Department of Geography and Anthropology
Research Methods
- Students in our degree programs have the opportunity to complete a research methods course (GEOG 2200 or ANTH 4450). GEOG 2200 is designed to prepare students for scientific research. It introduces students to a variety of spatial and environmental research concepts, approaches, methods and techniques. This course guides students through aspects of scientific research. In ANTH 4450, major theoretical ideas and methods used in anthropological research are examined with a focus on applying them in research and practice.
Directed Applied Research
- Students in our Geography and GIS degree programs have the option to complete a Directed Applied Research experience for course credit (GEOG 4100 or GIS 4100). This course will offer students an opportunity to investigate geographically-oriented concepts and issues by assisting in faculty-led research or scholarship. Course content and instructional methodologies will be identified by the faculty’s needs and expectations.
Anthropology Practicum
- Students in our Anthropology program have the option to complete an anthropology practicum course (ANTH 3397). This course is a structured field-based or on-campus research experience in a supervised setting related to anthropology. Practical experience is combined with scholarly research in the topical area of the practicum under the guidance of a faculty committee. Projects are selected in advance of the semester of the practicum. Students learn to apply research skills in a practical setting.
Senior Seminar
- Students in our Geography and GIS degree programs complete a senior seminar course (GEOG 4499), a required capstone course for all Geography and GISc majors. This seminar helps students apply their geographic knowledge and skills culminating in a research project. The course also includes preparation for graduate study and job opportunities in geography.
KSU Office of Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research at Kennesaw State University promotes high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship in all disciplines across campus.