Submissions

Author Guidelines

The Journal

Confluence: A Journal of Undergraduate Sociology is a peer-reviewed academic publication dedicated to showcasing original sociological research, theoretical analysis, and critical reflection by undergraduate students. The journal provides a platform for emerging scholars to engage with key debates in the discipline, contribute to sociological knowledge, and develop their academic writing and research skills.

We welcome submissions that explore the full range of sociological inquiry:

• Empirical studies using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods
• Theoretical papers
• Critical engagement with bodies of literature or debates
• Essays
• Reviews

Our mission is to provide an intellectual space where students can share their work and encourage dialogue between students, faculty, and the broader academic community, highlighting the importance of sociological perspectives in understanding and addressing the complex issues that shape our world.

Who May Submit

We welcome submissions from current University of Pittsburgh undergraduate students or Pitt undergraduates who have graduated within the last 24 months.

Co-authored work between students and faculty mentors is also welcome.

Submission Process

Because the journal is student-run, authors should expect a collaborative and developmental review process. Our goal is to support authors in strengthening their work.

We encourage authors to submit manuscripts electronically through the journal’s online submission system. Alternatively authors can email manuscripts to the following address: pittconfluence@pitt.edu.

All submissions are subject to initial editorial screening and, if deemed suitable, will undergo double-anonymous peer review.

Manuscript Preparation

Anonymization

To ensure blind review, authors must remove all identifying information from the manuscript.

For electronic submission, author identifying information will be registered separately from the manuscript.

For email submission, please include separate title page which includes:

• Manuscript title
• Author name(s)
• Corresponding author contact information

Formatting

• Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word file format
• Text should be double-spaced throughout, including references
• Use 12-point Times New Roman font
• Number all pages consecutively
• Include a 150–200 word abstract and 4–6 keywords

Citations and References

• Authors should follow the American Sociological Association (ASA) Style Guide (latest edition).
• In-text citations should include author(s) and year of publication. Page numbers should be included when quoting a source.
• The reference list should include only works cited in the text and be alphabetized by author

Tables and Figures

• Tables and figures should be placed at the end of the manuscript
• Include clear titles and source notes where applicable

Review and Decision Process

All submissions are subject to initial editorial screening and, if deemed suitable, will undergo double-anonymous peer review. Editorial decisions may include:

• Accept
• Revise and resubmit
• Reject

Contact Information

Questions regarding submissions should be directed to editorial staff at: confluence@pitt.edu.

Copyright Notice

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

1. The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
2. Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
3. The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
   1. Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;
   with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
4. The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
5. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
6. Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
7. The Author represents and warrants that:
   1. the Work is the Author’s original work;
   2. the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
   3. the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
   4. the Work has not previously been published;
   5. the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
   6. the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
8. The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

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