Research From the Humanities and Social Sciences
Explore Research From GCU’s Scholars
Help develop a balanced and broad skill set by exploring interdisciplinary research conducted by Grand Canyon University's scholars. You can also advance your knowledge of learning and teaching best practices by reviewing GCU's Journal of Institutional Research (JIR).
Canyon Emerging Scholars Program
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Grand Canyon University integrates the Canyon Emerging Scholars (CES) Program into its academic framework, offering students transformative research experiences through interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement. Grounded in the Boyer model of scholarship, CES facilitates faculty-led research in curricular and co-curricular settings, mentoring students in practical problem-solving across various fields. Students reflect on their work’s academic and social impact through applied, integrative and discovery-based approaches, exemplifying GCU’s commitment to fostering ethically grounded, community-oriented inquiry.
Featured research opportunities in the Canyon Emerging Scholars program:
Examining Positive Psychology in Communities (EPIC) Lab
Economic Mobility and Opportunity Lab
Loyalty Project
The Division of Budding Lope-Philosophers
Research and Publications
The in-depth research of GCU scholars will engage you with academic inquiry, insight and trends related to counseling, psychology and other social sciences within our increasingly complex global environment.
Research Pillars
Grand Canyon University’s research pillars express a Christ‑centered approach to scholarship that links academic inquiry with purposeful impact. Rooted in a holistic view of scholarship that values discovery, integration, application and teaching, GCU organizes its research efforts around three strategic pillars: Teaching and Learning Innovation, Disciplinary Research and Christian Character Research. Together, these pillars bring faculty, students and partners into a shared mission of advancing applied and integrative scholarship aimed at strengthening academic quality, supporting formation and addressing practical challenges.
Academic Journals
GCU publishes and supports a wide range of peer‑reviewed academic journals that contribute to scholarly dialogue across multiple disciplines. These publications highlight rigorous research, meaningful faculty and student mentorship, and the sharing of knowledge within the broader academic community. Many of GCU’s journals are indexed in established academic databases and include platforms for undergraduate research, discipline‑specific scholarship, and engagement‑focused inquiry that extend the university’s academic influence beyond campus. GCU’s journals include:
Institutional Board Review
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) ensures that all GCU-conducted research meets the highest ethical standards and complies with the federal regulations.
Get involved, get inspired and help shape the future through research.