Submissions

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Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in Microsoft Word or PDF document file format.
  • The submission includes a title page where my name is listed (along with the names of any co-authors). My name (and any other identifying details) are not included in subsequent pages.
  • The submission includes a 150-200 word abstract on the page following the title page.
  • The text is double-spaced; uses Times New Roman 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); follows one citation style consistently; and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • If this article is the result of research done with a faculty member, I have spoken with my faculty advisor and received permission from him or her to publish in Compass before submitting this article.

Author Guidelines

Are you especially proud of an essay or a project you completed for a course? Why not submit it to Compass for the opportunity to share your ideas with the wider academic community and receive recognition for your hard work?

Compass welcomes submissions from undergraduate students currently enrolled in a minor or major in any discipline within the SGES. Students might consider submitting work done for fieldwork courses, upper year seminar courses, independent study courses, thesis projects, or research projects funded by Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs).

There are several benefits for student authors. You will learn how the journal article submission, reviewing, and publishing process works—particularly helpful if you plan to publish in graduate school. As a published author, you will add an impressive line to your CV and set yourself up to be a stand-out applicant for scholarships, graduate school, and future employment. Furthermore, you will play an important part in fostering a vibrant academic community within the SGES, one that celebrates the thoughtful and creative work being produced by undergraduate students. As undergraduates, our work is often done in isolation, read only once by a TA or a professor for a grade and then forgotten about. Compass aims to provide a venue for undergraduate geography students to participate in a wider academic conversation within the SGES and beyond. We want to recognize your hard work and share it with the world!

Students are invited to submit research reports or argumentative essays. In either case, submissions will be evaluated based on the same criteria. A successful article will have a clear and compelling topic, include arguments supported by references to relevant scholarship, and use language that is accessible to a broad audience. Compass aims to include a variety of articles from across the human geography, earth science, environmental science, and GIS disciplines. Not sure if your paper fits? Submit it anyways! Papers are reviewed anonymously so you have nothing to lose.

Formatting

Please submit your work according to the following specifications:

  • Times New Roman, 12pt
  • double spaced
  • 1 inch margins
  • maximum 4000 words
  • consistent referencing in a citation style of your choice

Be sure to include a title page with your name (but do not include your name on subsequent pages), followed by a 150-200 word abstract. Manuscripts should be submitted as .doc files and GIS work should be submitted as .pdf files. 

Only one submission is allowed per person. You may not submit work that has already been published elsewhere. If you are submitting work that is the result of research you have done with a faculty member, you must ask your faculty advisor for permission to publish in Compass prior to submission.

The submission deadline has been extended to March 17, 2017 at 4pm. 

Successful applicants will be notified by email. Authors will be expected to consider the edits suggested by the reviewers and make final changes before publication. The Compass editorial board reserves the right not to publish articles that are initially selected. 

Submitting an Article

To submit an article, go to About > Online Submissions. You will be directed to create a username and password to register for the journal. Upon registration, you will be able to upload your file through our online portal. You can check the status of your submission by logging in to the journal with the username and password you entered during registration.

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