Through the College of Arts and Sciences, students learn how to communicate clearly about their work and form career-building professional relationships.
College graduates who couple their deep knowledge with confident communication and professional connections are unstoppable in the job market. UT’s College of Arts and Sciences ensures students have exceptional opportunities to hone all of those, from the classroom to the national stage.
Employers have long valued the types of skills a professional presentation can showcase, including communication, analysis, initiative, and teamwork. Yet students are susceptible to a fear of public speaking if they don’t practice.
Plus, even top-performing students can suffer from a bit of imposter syndrome, doubting their ability to succeed in their chosen fields, if they don’t see themselves alongside peers in professional settings before graduation.
The college provides symposia on campus and funding for travel to conferences, where students learn the latest developments in their fields, share their research, and engage with leading experts and UT alumni, building skills, poise, and networks.
Each spring, the Arts and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium (ASUReS–pronounced “azures”) draws dozens of individual and group presentations in a competition that also offers detailed, supportive feedback from faculty in a professional setting.
Why Presenting at Conferences Matters
“ASUReS is a crucial component of the undergraduate experience in the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Associate Dean for Academic Programs Liem Tran. “It is a valuable platform for students to build confidence in their research and communication skills. Presenting their work publicly fosters critical thinking and professional growth, which are essential for academic and career development.”
ASUReS is open to undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences exclusively, and the university hosts an Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA).
Those are in addition to opportunities within courses and through departments, such as the Rocky Top Undergraduate Chemistry Research Symposium.
Faculty Mentorship and Alumni Connections
Across the college’s 21 departments, students find faculty mentors and supportive alumni who encourage and enhance professional experiences. Through the generosity of donors, funding also is available for undergraduates to travel to regional and national conferences, where they meet leaders in their fields.
“Providing undergraduates opportunities to pursue research with our faculty and then share their results with the scientific community is a core aspect of the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences,” said Johns/Bibee Professor Alycia Stigall, head of the department.
“Participating in scientific conferences gives students the opportunity to develop important skills in scientific communication and networking that helps them to grow as independent scientists, expand their horizons of learning beyond the boundaries of UT, and make connections that will position them for their future, whether through career opportunities or meeting with potential graduate school mentors,” she said.
The department’s undergraduates routinely present their research at major scientific conferences including the Geological Society of America meetings, the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, as well as regional meetings such as the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. The department contributes to both research and travel costs with donor-supported programs such as its Student Success Fund.
When undergraduates from the Department of Geography and Sustainability attend the Tennessee Geographic Information Conference, the value extends well beyond the formal sessions, noted Michael Camponovo, outreach coordinator for UT’s Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) program.
“Dozens of department alumni attended this year from private industry, local government, state government, and utilities,” Camponovo said. “Many took time to talk with current students about research, graduate school, internships, and career opportunities … They help students learn what different career paths look like, ask candid questions, and start building the professional relationships that can shape their futures.”
As an undergraduate in the political science department, Kevin Hunter (’26) presented his research at the American Political Science Association (APSA) annual meeting and later received a fellowship from the association to support his doctoral studies. “At APSA, I fell in love with the discipline further and sharpened my presentation skills by engaging with leading scholars and my peers,” he said.
From Coursework to Conference Organizing
Of course, the foundation for professional skills begins to form in classroom assignments and grows through a range of opportunities the college offers.
In the philosophy department’s Professional Responsibility course, for example, students grapple with the types of ethical questions they will face in their careers. During final presentations, they discuss their positions, listen to classmates’ questions, and respond to criticisms.
“Those are skills needed no matter what degree you’re getting or job you’re going on to,” said Assistant Professor Judith Carlisle. “We all have to be able to explain ourselves clearly, concisely, and in a well-reasoned way.”
And when the college hosts events, such as the Tennessee Undergraduate Classics Research Conference, students gain experience as event organizers, a skill that transfers to industry as well as academia.
by Amy Beth Miller