Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

Program Mission

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) Program at the College of Charleston supports creative and scholarly efforts undertaken by undergraduate students in collaboration with faculty mentors. These projects advance the knowledge of the student in an academic discipline, lead to new scholarly insights, and create new works that expand the wealth of the discipline. Participation by an undergraduate in a challenging, scholarly project can be the single most important experience that a student will have in college. Many people have realized their career ambitions and potential as a result of these endeavors, and the training and knowledge gained from the experience are often key factors in the acquisition of professional positions and acceptance in post-graduate programs. The URCA Program supports undergraduate scholarship by offering competitive grants that fund projects, that provide summer stipends for students, and that enable travel to conferences for dissemination of the work. Our broader mission is to enhance and strengthen the quality and quantity of URCA on our campus.