The University of San Diego believes that all undergraduates can and should participate in research, scholarly work, and/or creative activities. Accordingly, the university provides many programs that offer these types of experiences:

Students in the USD Honors Program are offered the opportunity to engage in research, scholarly, and creative work while working on their honors thesis. Students may become honors students during their freshman year if they meet certain academic criteria.

USD students who are first-generation college students, income-eligible, and/or are from underrepresented segments of society in graduate education may conduct an independent research project by becoming a McNair Scholar. McNair Scholars receive a number of other educational benefits, including faculty mentoring, summer internships, a research stipend, research supplies, seminars, and other educational activities designed to prepare students for doctoral study.

The Office of Undergraduate Research also offers research and scholarly experiences to undergraduate students. The SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) Program is open to all continuing undergraduate students. A SURE award allows a student to undertake a 10 week independent research or scholarly project under supervision of a USD faculty mentor.