President's Undergraduate Research Award (PURA)
Many HTS students secure funding through Georgia Tech’s President’s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA) to conduct and present their research. PURA, granted by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, supports individual research projects. Students can also choose to complete an honors thesis, which is particularly beneficial for those pursuing advanced degrees.
Research Option
The Research Option (RO) provides an in-depth research experience beyond typical coursework. Students complete at least 9 hours of undergraduate research, including 3 hours from an HTS seminar. The program includes two 1-credit classes, a research proposal, and a thesis. Students are encouraged to work with their faculty mentor to develop a journal publication or conference presentation. Students should submit the Research Option Approval Form with the final RO thesis.
Undergraduate Research Resources
Blurb / Gallery Set
Earning Credit
Credit for undergraduate research can be earned in a variety of ways. Students may earn letter-graded credit for taking HTS 2699 (freshmen and sophomores) or HTS 4699 (juniors or seniors). Students who are getting paid to do research — either by a faculty member, a PURA, or some other source of funding — earn audit credit for taking HTS 2698 (freshmen and sophomores) or HTS 4698 (juniors or seniors). Audit hours do not count towards graduation, but can be used for the Research Option.
Internal Resources
- HSOC Research Resources Manual
- Research Areas in History and Sociology
- 7 Steps to Get Involved in Research
- PairMe Research Connector
- President's Undergraduate Research Award (PURA)
- InVenture Prize
- Research Option
- Undergraduate Research Spring Symposium
- Outstanding Research Awards
- Posters & Presentations
- Vertically Integrated Projects
External Resources
Select HSOC Student Research Projects
- “Students of the Edge of Society: The Intersection of Poverty, Mental Health, and Education” - Erica Louise Richards
- “Prescription Direct-To-Consumer Advertising: Reinforcement of Gender Stereotypes in Magazines” - Elizabeth Warden
- “The History of Chikungunya” - Tanner Hendrick
- “A Biography of Manny Pacquiao and His Effect on Malaysia” - Kristen Palmares
- “The Increasing Female Demographic in the Physician Assistant Profession” - Rayni Baskowitz
- “'The Stonewall Binary:’ Narratives of Gay Rights Activism” - Taylor Prichard
- “Come on, White America!: Muhammad Ali, Floyd Patterson, and the Fight for Religious Supremacy” - Anna Arnau
- “Using the Historical Context of Medical Exploitation to Understand Distrust of American Medicine Among Southern African American Men” - Joyce (Danielle) Sharpe