Special Area Competitions

The Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) offers a time and place for units or groups to showcase undergraduate student research and sponsor Special Area Competitions.

A Special Area Competition is a topic or discipline themed event that may be hosted by departments, colleges, centers, classes, faculty members, or student groups and they may have student, faculty, or staff evaluators. These Special Area Competitions give students the opportunity to be recognized for their work in a wide variety of areas. Special Area Competitions may span project categories, or they may be specific to a major. Participation is not required for students submitting to the Spring URS.

Need Clarification?

Learn more about how Special Area Competitions work with our comprehensive fact sheet:

SAC Fact Sheet

Previously hosted Special Area Competition descriptions:

Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 Special Area Competitions

Interested in hosting a Special Area Competition?

Any organization or individual (faculty or student), is permitted to submit a proposal for a new Special Area Competition. Please fill out the survey below to share your proposal with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Discovery.

Submissions for the Spring 2025 URS will close 11/15/2024.

Submit a Special Area Competition Proposal

Celebrate previous Special Area Competition winners!

Spring 2023 Spring 2024