Pre-Scholars Conference

Call for Abstracts:

We invite undergraduate students from all academic levels and disciplines within the humanities to submit abstracts for the Pre-Scholars in the Humanities Conference. This conference provides an opportunity for emerging scholars to share their research and to contribute to ongoing conversations about culture, history, literature, language, philosophy, and the arts in the 21^st century. Students at all stages of their undergraduate education are welcome to apply; however, juniors and seniors, particularly those engaged in advanced coursework, independent research, capstone projects, or honors theses, are strongly encouraged to submit proposals.

Areas of Interest

We welcome presentations addressing a broad range of topics in the humanities, including but not limited to:

• Literature and Literary Criticism
• History and Historical Inquiry
• Philosophy, Ethics, and Religious Studies
• African American and Africana Studies
• Gender, Sexuality, and Cultural Studies
• Languages, Linguistics, and Rhetoric
• Performance Studies (Art, Music, and Theater)
• Film Studies
• Digital Humanities
• Video Game Studies
• Writing Center Studies
• Race, Identity, and Representation

Submission Guidelines

Interested undergraduate students are invited to submit proposals for individual research presentations or organized panels. All submissions should include an abstract of 200-250 words that clearly communicates the following:

1. Research Topic or Question: Identify the central issue, claim, question, or problem guiding the research. For panel proposals, identify the overarching theme or question connecting the panel.
2. Purpose and Significance: Explain the importance of the research or proposed panel and its contribution to the humanities.
3. Central Argument or Preliminary Findings: Summarize the project's primary argument, findings, or anticipated conclusions. For panels, briefly describe the perspectives or arguments that each presentation will contribute to the broader discussion.

Each submission should also include:

• Title of the proposed presentation or panel
• Student's full name
• For panel proposals: Full names of all participating panelists and the name of the moderator, along with their classification and institutional affiliation
• Classification
• Major or academic program
• Institutional affiliation
• Faculty mentor or research advisor, if applicable
• Student email address

Research projects may be completed or in progress, provided the abstract demonstrates a clearly defined research question and the potential to contribute to meaningful academic discussion. Panel proposals should demonstrate a cohesive theme and illustrate how the participating presentations contribute to a shared scholarly conversation.

To submit an abstract, complete the following submission form by December 4, 2026:

Individuals accepted will be notified by January 22, 2027.