Undergraduate Research Paper Competition

The Department of Criminology and Justice Studies invites submissions for the Undergraduate Research Paper Competition. This competition recognizes outstanding undergraduate scholarship and promotes high-quality research in criminology and justice studies. Winners will win a monetary prize and will be recognized on the department website and at the department's awards ceremony in May.

Awards & Eligible Paper Types

Lower Division (Freshmen and Sophomore-level students)

Lower Division submissions may include strong literature review papers, provided they demonstrate critical analysis, synthesis of scholarship, and clear engagement with criminology and justice studies themes.

Upper Division (Junior and Senior-level students)

Upper Division submissions must go beyond a literature review and demonstrate original analysis, research, theoretical development, applied contribution, or research proposals.

Eligible formats include:

• Empirical research (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods) or proposed empirical research
• Theoretical analysis with original argument development
• Policy analysis supported by evidence
• Applied research proposals (e.g., intervention design, program development)
• Program evaluation projects
• Secondary data analysis
• Papers may be written for a class or development independently
• Literature review paper (Lower Division only)

Timeline

• Submission Deadline: March 23, 2026
• Award Announcement: April 1, 2026
• Submission should be sent to: marc.glidden@csun.edu

Evaluation Criteria

Papers will be evaluated based on:

• Originality and innovation
• Strength of research design or argument
• Methodological rigor (proposed or implemented)
• Contribution to criminology and justice studies
• Writing quality and organization
• Appropriate use of sources

For questions, please contact Dr. Marc Glidden at marc.glidden@csun.edu. We look forward to recognizing the excellent research produced by our CJS students.