unc chapel hill tour times

Self-Guided Tour

We hope that you enjoy visiting the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chartered in 1789 as the nation’s first public university, Carolina is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina, throughout the nation and around the world.

UNC Visitors Center

Ackland Art Museum

Hanes Art Center

Franklin Street

Monument to Free Speech

Pettigrew Hall

Graham Memorial

Unsung Founders Memorial

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

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Coker Arboretum

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Caldwell Monument

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Davie Poplar Tree

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South Building

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Memorial Hall / Carolina Performing Arts

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Carolina Hall

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BeAM: Be A Maker / Murray Hall

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Wilson Library

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Davis Library

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Frank Porter Graham Student Union

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Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower

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Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History

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Carolina Inn

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FedEx Global Education Center

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Kenan Stadium / Kenan Football Center

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Carmichael Arena

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Jackson Hall / Undergraduate Admissions

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Center for Dramatic Art / Forest Theatre

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“Service” Mural / School of Government

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Carolina Basketball Museum

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North Carolina Botanical Garden

Ready to explore campus.

Chartered in 1789 as the nation’s first public university, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina, throughout the nation and around the world. Explore Carolina to see what makes this campus and our students, faculty and staff so special.

Milton and Helene Update : For students directly affected by the recent natural disasters, we’re extending our early action deadline to October 31, 2024. For all others, the deadline remains October 15, 2024. Find more information on our support page .

Self-Guided Tour

If you're in Chapel Hill, explore some of our outdoor spaces with a self-guided tour.

Coker Arboretum

What do you do if you’re Carolina’s first botany professor, Dr. William Coker? Create a campus oasis with hundreds of native North Carolina trees, shrubs, and vines.

Franklin Street

Franklin Street is home to everything you’ll need as a student: coffee shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and music venues.

The Old Well

Carolina’s most famous landmark was the original water source for the University. Tradition says a drink from the Old Well on the first day of class brings good luck and a perfect GPA. (We also recommend studying.)

Welcome to Carolina’s main academic quad, named after alumnus and U.S. President James K. Polk. These buildings house departments and schools from Chemistry to Journalism. Carolina students can choose from more than 70 majors.

Carolina Union

This is Carolina’s ‘living room’ where students come together for study groups, free movie nights, art installations, and holiday gingerbread house building.

In this brick courtyard, campus thrives – you might see students campaigning for Student Body President, dance performances, or a charity lunch to help combat poverty. They say that in a single day, every student at Carolina will pass through the Pit.

Download the Tour

Schedule Your School Group Visit!

We offer campus visits for groups of 10-80 high school students on select dates throughout the year, and these dates may accommodate several groups at a time. To register for an available information session and tour, please refer to the calendar. 

Other tour options: If you are unable to find an available date for your group, we offer the option to take a self-guided tour of campus. 

If you are interested in a self-guided tour or have any questions, please contact Isaac Bell at [email protected] .

• Law Library

Schedule a Visit

Fall ’24 Admissions Sessions, Class Observation, and Tour (limited number of spaces )

Click date to register:

September 16 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 30

October 2 , 3 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 28 , 30 , 31

November 4 , 6 , 7 , 13 , 14

Fall ’24 Admissions Sessions and Tour

Local’s Guide: Day Trip to Chapel Hill, NC

Look no further if you’re seeking everything you need to know to plan the best day trip to chapel hill, north carolina — from someone who spent 4 years living in the “southern part of heaven” , visiting the university of north carolina at chapel hill, the flagship of the unc system and the oldest public university in the united states (founded in 1789) is a must for fans of neoclassical academic architecture, verdant quads, and vibrant student life. , you’ll love wandering around the tree-lined campus, exploring the historic libraries, hearing the tolling of the bell tower, and taking a sip from the old well — the good luck charm of countless tar heels past and present..

While certainly a must-see, visiting UNC isn’t the only thing to do in Chapel Hill– far from it!  

It is certainly true that much of town life revolves around the university– the sports games, the college culture, and the students milling all about–  but there is a world-class culinary scene, museums, art galleries, and more to explore just within Chapel Hill, to say nothing of neighboring Raleigh, Durham, Hillsborough, and beyond. 

Read on for everything you need to know to plan the ultimate day trip to Chapel Hill– we’ve written a step-by-step walking guide full of locals’ only tips, plus the best places to eat (meals, snacks, drinks, or all-of-the-above!)

Go Heels!  

Getting there:.

Chapel Hill is conveniently located right off Interstate 40, a mere 40 minutes from Raleigh, and 20 from Durham. It’s ideal for a day trip, as you can explore everything the town has to offer and head back to wherever you’re staying in the late afternoon/evening. The coastal towns of Wilmington or Southport are only about 2 hours away, as are the mountain towns of Boone or Blowing Rock (in the opposite direction, of course!) 

A note about planning your day trip to Chapel Hill– parking is tough. Most of it is zoned for student/staff/faculty permits, and street parking and deck parking are hard to find and can be very pricey. Pro tip: if you visit on a weekend, you can park on campus for free! You can also park for $1 (flat rate) on campus after 5 PM daily, which is good for those just popping into Chapel Hill for dinner or date night. For a map of parking locations in Chapel Hill, see here , and for a map of campus parking specifically, see here . 

Once in Chapel Hill, the buses are free! There are a variety of excellent bus routes that take you around campus and Franklin Street, including the NS, NU, and U routes. They stop regularly, are really spacious and comfortable, but get super packed with students at peak class times! You can see all the bus routes and schedules here . 

If you’re coming from Raleigh, consider taking the CRX bus– the Chapel Hill/Raleigh Express– in lieu of driving. It picks up by NC State University in Raleigh (at the intersection of Hillsborough St and Gardner St) and drops you off right on Franklin Street. It has over a dozen departures per day– perfect for your day trip to Chapel Hill, without the hassle of parking, rush hour, etc. Each one-way ride is only $2.25! By the way… If you’re visiting Durham on a day trip from Raleigh (recommended!) there’s also a DRX– Durham Raleigh Express . 

One option if you can’t find parking is to “park and ride”– there are 4 lots near campus with unbeatable parking rates ($2 per day!) that you can easily catch a bus from to visit downtown without worrying about re-upping your meter, getting a ticket, or (yikes!) getting towed. The lots are located at Eubanks Road, Jones Ferry, Carrboro Plaza, and Southern Village: for more info, see here . 

Top 10 Chapel Hill

•  Visit the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill and its historic quads, buildings, and iconic sports arenas. Don’t miss photo ops at the Old Well, Davie Poplar, or the Bell Tower , and check out the Dean Dome (basketball stadium) and the Kenan Memorial Stadium (football stadium.) 
• Explore Franklin Street for its small-town, “Main Street” charm, quality window-shopping, and insight to extracurricular student life.
• Sample Chapel Hill’s out-of-this-world eateries and restaurants, from Mediterranean delights at Med Deli to soul food at Mama Dip’s and mouthwatering brunch at Crook’s Corner. Snacks and treats abound, too– especially at campus favorite YoPo (or the Yogurt Pump.) 
• See a show at the esteemed  Morehead Planetarium & Science Center . One of the oldest planetariums in the U.S., the Morehead is absolutely stellar– pun intended! First opened in 1949, Morehead served as a training site for 62 U.S. astronauts, on missions such as Mercury and Apollo, including training 11 of the 12 men who would later walk on the moon. The Starry Night show is wonderful, as are their Astronaut and Cosmic Colors shows, all under their amazing full dome– the only one in the southeast. If you have to choose one, definitely go for Carolina Skies! Fun for all ages, the Planetarium also has lots of programming specifically tailored toward kids. 
• Visit the Ackland Art Museum , home to 18,000 works of art from all over the world, including the premier Asian art gallery in North Carolina.
• For lovers of natural spaces, explore the on-campus Coker Arboretum, 5 acres of beautiful grassy spaces, flowers, and meandering paths. Off-campus, but nearby, is the 1,100-acre North Carolina Botanical Garden, with trails and conservation areas to enjoy. 
• Get tickets to a sporting event. UNC is world-renowned for sports, and while basketball is king here, UNC athletes from soccer to field hockey to swimming are always ranked at the top of their respective games. The women’s soccer team in particular is really fun to watch. We’re not sure we’d recommend getting your hopes up for those Carolina-Duke basketball tickets, though… with recent attendees including President Obama, UNC alum Michael Jordan, and famed director Spike Lee, they’re quite a catch, to say the least. 
• Explore the architecture of the historic homes located around campus. Gimghoul Castle is quite an intriguing place (more on that later), but there’s also wonderful Southern-style homes to enjoy all along the streets surrounding campus, like Cameron Street and Columbia Street. All Southern Living -worthy!
• Enjoy a sweet tea on the patio of the Carolina Inn , a gorgeous hotel located right on campus. If you’re staying overnight and want to splurge… stay here! 
• Cross the town border into funky and cool Carrboro  (located right near campus!) for neat art galleries, bars, shopping, and parks. While not in Chapel Hill proper, it’s so close that you should definitely stop by if you can.

Your Day Trip to Chapel Hill: Step-by-Step

Are you ready for the ultimate day trip to Chapel Hill, mapped out step-by-step? 

Let’s go! 

•  Start your visit on the quad closest to Franklin Street, McCorkle Place . As you walk around, admire the oldest buildings on campus– Old West, Old East, and the South Building all date back to the 1700s. Peek inside Graham Memorial if you can for old-school study vibes– plush armchairs and classy books and art on the walls abound– this was the site of the original Student Union, back in 1931. The Morehead Planetarium is located on McCorkle Place– but you may have to come back later depending on which show you’d like to see there. Be sure to check out the Unsung Founders Memorial   (a bronze and stone table) in front of the Alumni Building , which honors the people of color, many of whom were enslaved, who helped build many of the buildings on McCorkle Place. Nearby is the Davie Poplar (a beautiful tree with a bench under it, in the middle of the quad) — as the story goes, if you sit on the bench with your sweetheart, you’ll get married someday… so be careful who you sit with! The Campus Y (YMCA), located at the edge of McCorkle, dates back to 1860 and is a totally different architectural style to the rest of campus– and painted light purple! 
• At the edge of McCorkle, walk over to the Old Well, the symbol of campus, and take a sip (and a photo!) Legend has it that if you drink from the Old Well on your first day of school each semester, you’ll get a 4.0! Not exactly true from personal experience… but it’s a nice story. The Old Well was the university’s very first water source, and served as the primary water source on campus for over 100 years. 
• Crossing the street and continuing past Carolina’s performing arts center, Memorial Hall and the South Building, you’ll emerge onto Polk Place , the university’s main academic quad. Named for native North Carolinian and UNC alum U.S. President James K. Polk, this is truly the hub of campus. Most of the academic buildings are grouped here, and the magnificent Beaux-Arts  Wilson Library, with its huge dome, forms its other extreme. If you walk to the left of the Wilson Library, you will see more academic buildings, the Undergraduate Library (or UL), and the Pit. 
• The Pit, a sunken brick courtyard in the shade of 2 looming trees, is the beating heart of campus. It is said that every one of Carolina’s 30,000 students goes through the Pit at least once each day, and there’s always something going on– from student government campaigns to social justice initiatives and more. Behind the Pit is the Student Union, the Davis Library , and the student store , in case you’d like a t-shirt or souvenir of campus. 
• If you go down the stairs (behind the Pit and student store) you’ll see the magnificent  Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower, which measures up at 200 feet in height and chimes every 15 minutes, sometimes playing “Hark the Sound,” Carolina’s anthem, or other lovely melodies like “Amazing Grace” or “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”
• You can visit more dorms and buildings on the center of campus, but be sure not to miss the Coker Arboretum — a lovely place for a stroll or a rest on one of its quiet benches. 
• On the South part of campus , there are also a lot of dorms, mainly newer constructions. UNC’s student population has boomed in the last few decades, calling for more and more on-campus housing. In fact, there are over 250,000 living alumni of UNC, located all over the world, today. If you keep walking, you can visit the Dean Smith Center, or the Dean Dome, where the champion UNC basketball teams play, as well as see a dorm named for UNC’s very first student– Hinton James. Hinton James walked from Wilmington (on the coast, an almost 2-hour drive away!) to enroll. UNC was the only public university to grant degrees in the 18th century in the U.S., and opened its doors to women (for teaching programs) and its medical school within the next century, with its first woman graduating in 1898. 
• Elsewhere on campus, check out the Playmakers’ Theatre , a Greek Revival-style theatre dating back to 1851, now a National Historic Landmark. It housed Union soldiers at one point during the Civil War, and today hosts excellent performances from students and visiting talents alike. Across the street, check out the amphitheatre-shaped  Forest Theatre , located at the entrance to 93-acre Battle Park.
• The Carolina Inn , a beautiful hotel, sits on the original founding site of New Hope Chapel, where Chapel Hill gets its name. The Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places, and proceeds from guests benefit the North Carolina Collection at the Wilson Library. There’s a lovely porch to sit on, and you can order tea or a bite to eat even if you aren’t a guest. 
• Once you’re done exploring campus, meander around Franklin Street for window-shopping (or actual shopping!)
• Next, it’s brunch or lunch time! Scroll down a bit for all the best recommendations, depending what kind of cuisine you’re in the mood for. 
• In the afternoon, check out the Morehead Planetarium if you didn’t this morning, as well as the Ackland Art Museum . Spend some time exploring town’s historic architecture– it’s wonderful to drive behind the Forest Theatre to check out beautiful homes and the slightly-bizarre Gimghoul Castle , said to be the headquarters of a secret society founded in 1889. If you have some spare time, cross over into Carrboro , Chapel Hill’s hip neighbor.
• In the evening, pick another place for dinner (there’s so many to choose from! Some tips, again, are below), and linger for a nightcap . 

Chapel Hill Restaurants

You could live in Chapel Hill for years and not take full advantage of the fantastic restaurant scene here. Long praised as a haven for Southern foodies– and indeed, named “America’s Foodiest Small Town” by Bon Appetit — there are all sorts of cuisines to try! 

From Beard Award-winning fine dining, quick bites, bar food, and boozy brunch , you can travel the world without leaving town limits– from Mexico to Turkey to Italy and back– or just settle in for some home-cooked Southern soul food, drive-through biscuits, or the brunch of your dreams. There are options for every budget and every craving… and you can’t go wrong wherever you end up! 

Read on for a quick recap of our top breakfast/brunch, lunch/dinner, and nightcap/bar options. If you want a more exhaustive list, check out the article we wrote for Foodie Flashpacker , which gives much more in-depth recommendations! 

Breakfast/Brunch Recommendations:

• Crook’s Corner: if you have to choose only one place to eat while you’re in Chapel Hill, this would be it. Food and Wine calls Crook’s “one of the most iconic restaurants in the American South,” and further accolades include “sacred ground for Southern foodies,” per the New York Times. Crook’s is the perfect mix of fine dining and comfort food– their banana pudding and shrimp ‘n’ grits are flawless, and their frozen mint juleps are a boozy brunch staple. 
• Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen: perfect for a quick drive-by (it is, after all, drive-through only!) if you’re just passing through town, Sunrise is a Chapel Hill institution! Winner of the “Best Biscuit in the U.S.” award from Food and Wine, their biscuits are flaky, buttery, and absolutely delicious.
•   Breadmen’s : for cheap, large portions, and lots of college students, check out Breadmen’s. While not as delicious as Crook’s or Sunrise, this spot does just fine in a pinch and have tons of options– great for groups. Another place good for groups is Weaver Street Market , a local food co-op just over the line into Carrboro.

Lunch/Dinner Recommendations:

• Merritt’s Grill: Chapel Hill town legend has it that many years ago, People Magazine traveled all over the country seeking “the perfect sandwich.” That search is said to have ended with the BLT at Merritt’s, with the add-on of house-made pimento cheese to the triple-decker heavyweight. If pimento cheese and/or BLTs aren’t for you, there are loads of other options– like their egg salad!
• Med Deli: Oh, Med Deli… where to begin. This place is so special! The gleaming glass displays are filled with all sorts of goodies, which you point to and add to your tray, building a platter as you proceed down the line. Once you’re done, you pay and are given fresh-baked, warm pita and full access to the pickle and tzatziki bar– be sure to try the pickled radishes and beets! Their baklava is spectacular, and the decidedly no-frills ambiance makes it a lovely place to relax and enjoy your meal. For to-go options, there’s an attached market with all sorts of pre-packaged goodies (their pitas, fresh produce, sauces and dips, etc.) 
• Vimala’s Curryblossom Café:  If you like your meals with a side of social justice, this is the place for you. Chef Vimala got her start cooking for those less fortunate, but her food was so popular that she eventually opened the café. Serving both traditional and modern “farm to fork” Indian cuisine, this is the best place in town for Indian, hands down, and doubles as a community gathering place. If you can, chip in at the counter for the “Food for All” fund kept for those who can’t afford the cost of their meal. 
• Talulla’s : Yummy Turkish food in a funky atmosphere, consider trying anything on the menu that has eggplant in it– you won’t regret it. 
• Mama Dip’s: If soul food is what you’re after, Mama Dip’s does it best. The sides alone are to die for, from her baked apples to her mac ‘n’ cheese, and the variety of stews, soups, and other entrees are “finger-lickin’ good.” 

Happy Hours, Nightcaps, and Fun Spots:

Just like any college town worth its salt, Chapel Hill has loads of places where you can let loose and enjoy a drink or two. Some places are institutions, like He’s Not Here for its “blue cups” (huge beer cups emblazoned with the bar’s logo– take one home as a souvenir) and some are Chapel Hill tradition, like  Linda’s (read more in the snacks and quick bites section), but there’s no shortage of places to get the party started.

If it’s your first time in town, consider splurging on a beer or cocktail at brewery/distillery/restaurant Top of the Hill, or Topo (pronounced “top oh”,) purely for its fantastic rooftop views of Franklin Street. Spoiler: the food isn’t that great here, but the ambiance and views are. In the summer, Topo brews a wonderful blueberry beer, complete with a handful of blueberries tossed on top!

For a real college vibe, check out Goodfellows and, as mentioned above, He’s Not Here (more commonly called “He’s Not.”)   Goodfellows is a fantastic all-around college bar, complete with karaoke nights, cheap drink specials (like $1 Long Island Iced Teas), and a signature shot called the “pickleback”– Jack Daniels chased with pickle juice. Sound revolting? It surprisingly… isn’t. You’ll have to try it yourself!  He’s Not is very popular with the Greek life (fraternities and sororities) crowd, but has a lovely outdoor patio to relax and sip your beer, and is a must-visit when the weather is nice.

Chapel Hill Snacks, Quick Bites, + Sweet Treats

No visit is complete without indulging at least a few vices– whether sweet or salty. 

For quick bites that are a bit faster and more casual than the above lunch/dinner recommendations, check out:

• Italian Pizzeria 3 (IP3): This place is so, so fun and brings back wonderful memories. Owned by a gregarious and wonderful pair of brothers, Angelo and Vincenzo, IP3 is “the place to be” (as they say) for delicious, cheesy Napoli-style pizza, ice-cold pitchers of beer, and whatever sporting event is on TV– the brothers are sports fanatics, from their beloved soccer to their adopted passion for Carolina basketball. 
• Linda’s Bar + Grill: Another place that brings back so many memories… Linda’s is the quintessential dive bar, with a college twist. They have great bar staples (especially their cheese fries!) and lots of beer on tap, as well as reasonably-priced cocktails. Linda’s is at its best for late-night, though– the best place in town to end a night out. 
• Al’s Burger Shack: Al’s chili burger was named the “Best Burger in the U.S.” by TripAdvisor, but everything here is absolutely delicious– from their huge burgers to their yummy, crinkly fries, locally-sourced produce, and local beers on tap. 

For sweet treats , drop into: 

• The  Yogurt Pump, or YoPo: A Chapel Hill tradition and one of the longest-running frozen yogurt establishments on the East Coast, located right on Franklin Street. 
• Sutton’s : Also on Franklin Street, step back in time into Sutton’s Drug Store for hand-spun milkshakes and ice cream floats, served right at the counter. Still a fully-operating pharmacy (one of the last of its kind!), Sutton’s also has great grilled cheese, and is the place to see UNC athletes and other local celebrities.  
• Bonus, Maple View Farms: If you’re okay with driving a little outside of town limits for your sugar fix, check out nearby Hillsborough’s Maple View Farms for farm-fresh ice cream that is absolutely to die for! 

We hope this day trip guide was helpful in planning your Chapel Hill trip! If you have further questions, feel free to ask us in the  comments!  

As always, you can  pin this guide for later on Pinterest here ,  or click either of the photos below. Check out our other day trip guides to the Outer Banks , with guides to Raleigh, Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Beaufort, and beyond launching soon! 

Oslo Winter Travel Guide

Providence, rhode island: weekender guide, you may also like, top 8 things to do in brookline, ma, 19 comments.

All of your posts that I have read are very informative with beautiful photos. You should have a side business of walking tours.

Thank you so much, Nicole– that’s the dream!

Oooooh this is super informative and now I’m hungry all the sudden! Haha

Same here!!! 😉

Wow there’s so much to do there. A very informative and practical guide! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Janire!

Great post! We live in NC but have yet to explore Chapel Hill. Thanks for the tips!

You will love CH!

Such a great read! Thanks for showing all the places to visit in this area. I always worry that I will miss something when there’s so much to do! The Botanical Gardens definitely sounds like a stop I wanna make!

Yes, definitely stop at both! 🙂

This place looks so picturesque! I’d love to visit and it sounds like it would be great to try this day trip out.

Super picturesque, though I’m biased 😉

I’d love to visit NC, especially to walk around neighborhoods and see all the old historical homes! Even the spooky Gimghoul Castle! How fun!

Yes, very spooky!!! Definitely recommend visiting for the day, it’s such a great town.

Chapel Hill looks like a great town, the campus looks beautiful! And I’m now hungry after reading about the restaurants. I’d definitely need to try the biscuit place!

Yessss Sunrise is the best!

Love these recs! I’m from Raleigh but rarely make it over to Chapel Hill. This made me excited to go!

I’m from Raleigh, too! Love that! Hope you’re able to make it over to CH soon 🙂

lovely pictures! there’s so much to see and explore 🙂 I hope to see one day.

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Transfers: 2024 Requirements, Dates, GPAs & More

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CampusReel hosts a total of about 74 tour videos for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), so you can expect to spend between 222 to 370 minutes total watching content. Of course, we are constantly adding new content. Come back to CampusReel often to see new videos and campus tours of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and stay informed on campus life.

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On CampusReel, you can start your University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) tour wherever you’d like. If you’re touring University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in person with a traditional walking tour you’ll likely start at the admissions office. The school’s address is listed as Chapel Hill, NC so we recommend plugging that into your GPS. Before beginning a tour at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), make sure you check the weather and plan out your itinerary and accommodations appropriately. Chapel Hill weather can be unpredictable, so bring comfortable shoes in case it rains. Also, check what stops the tour includes to make sure you’ll see everything you’re interested in! The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) website likely outlines important information for tour visitors.

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• Genome Sciences Building at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
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• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Chase Dining Hall at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Shortbread Lofts at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• 311 W Franklin St at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Hinton James Residence Hall at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Phillips Hall at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Craige North Residence Hall at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• UNC College of Arts & Sciences at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Kenan Memorial Stadium at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Davie Poplar at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Koury Auditorium at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Stone Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
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• Carolina Hall at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• UNC Student Wellness at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Williamson Lot at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Craige Residence Hall at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• UNC School of Media and Journalism at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Spicy 9 Sushi Bar & Asian Restaurant at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Old Well at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• 205 E Franklin St at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Carmichael Arena at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Ram's Head Recreation Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Granville Towers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• UNC Student Stores at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• 200 Raleigh St at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Lenoir Dining Hall at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Kenan Conference Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• The Pit at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Jimmy John's at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Davis Library at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Student Recreation Centre at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• Hooker Fields at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
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Chapel Hill is listed as South Atlantic. You need to evaluate the area carefully to make sure this is an environment you want to go to college in. Some people love a town this size, and others don’t. Either way, it will affect your time at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

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UNC Football at Virginia (2024): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Kickoff Time

Posted by Michael Koh | Oct 24, 2024 | ACC , Football , Sports , UNC Sports

Carolina will return from its first bye week of the season with a visit to Virginia on Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers defeated the Tar Heels last year in Chapel Hill and have won five of the last seven meetings overall.

If you aren’t making the trip to Charlottesville, here’s how you can follow along at home:

Broadcast Schedule

Those hoping to listen on the radio with Jones Angell on the call can do so at  97.9 FM and 1360 AM,  or by streaming the radio broadcast on  Chapelboro.com.

97.9 The Hill’s radio coverage of the game will begin at 9:30 a.m. with Inside Carolina Live from Chapel Hill.

At 11 a.m., the broadcast will shift over to Jones Angell and the Tar Heel Sports Network for their pregame coverage until kickoff. They will also carry postgame coverage for approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

Per college football broadcast restrictions, you can access the stream (computer, tablet or phone) through Chapelboro.com, TuneIN or most streaming apps, but you must be within 75 miles of Chapel Hill and have your location services for your device turned on. This 75-mile rule applies only to Tar Heel Sports Network pre-game, game, and post-game broadcasts (one hour before kickoff until one and a half hours after the game ends). This does not apply to Inside Carolina Live or On The Heels, which you can stream anywhere in the world!   If you live more than 75 miles outside of Chapel Hill, you can access the Tar Heel Sports Network game broadcast stream through the Varsity Network.

For more information about WCHL’s sports programming, click  here.

TV Schedule

Television coverage of the game begins at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on The CW. As of today, Spectrum, AT&T, Dish Network, Xfinity and DirecTV all carry The CW. To find The CW’s channel number on your provider,  click here and enter your ZIP code.  The CW affiliate in the 27514 (Chapel Hill) ZIP code is WLFL.

What if I don’t have cable?

The game  WILL NOT  be streamed on The CW app or WatchESPN. However, several cord-cutting options carry The CW and will carry the live broadcast.

YouTube TV costs $73/month and carries The CW.

Hulu TV goes for $82/month and includes The CW, but does not carry MLB Network, NBA TV or NFL Red Zone.

DirecTV STREAM starts at $87/month and carries The CW on WLFL in the 27514 ZIP code.

Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward

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Literature Reviews

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain what literature reviews are and offer insights into the form and construction of literature reviews in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

Introduction

OK. You’ve got to write a literature review. You dust off a novel and a book of poetry, settle down in your chair, and get ready to issue a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” as you leaf through the pages. “Literature review” done. Right?

Wrong! The “literature” of a literature review refers to any collection of materials on a topic, not necessarily the great literary texts of the world. “Literature” could be anything from a set of government pamphlets on British colonial methods in Africa to scholarly articles on the treatment of a torn ACL. And a review does not necessarily mean that your reader wants you to give your personal opinion on whether or not you liked these sources.

What is a literature review, then?

A literature review discusses published information in a particular subject area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area within a certain time period.

A literature review can be just a simple summary of the sources, but it usually has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis. A summary is a recap of the important information of the source, but a synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information. It might give a new interpretation of old material or combine new with old interpretations. Or it might trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates. And depending on the situation, the literature review may evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant.

But how is a literature review different from an academic research paper?

The main focus of an academic research paper is to develop a new argument, and a research paper is likely to contain a literature review as one of its parts. In a research paper, you use the literature as a foundation and as support for a new insight that you contribute. The focus of a literature review, however, is to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others without adding new contributions.

Why do we write literature reviews?

Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular topic. If you have limited time to conduct research, literature reviews can give you an overview or act as a stepping stone. For professionals, they are useful reports that keep them up to date with what is current in the field. For scholars, the depth and breadth of the literature review emphasizes the credibility of the writer in his or her field. Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to most research papers.

Who writes these things, anyway?

Literature reviews are written occasionally in the humanities, but mostly in the sciences and social sciences; in experiment and lab reports, they constitute a section of the paper. Sometimes a literature review is written as a paper in itself.

Let’s get to it! What should I do before writing the literature review?

If your assignment is not very specific, seek clarification from your instructor:

• Roughly how many sources should you include?
• What types of sources (books, journal articles, websites)?
• Should you summarize, synthesize, or critique your sources by discussing a common theme or issue?
• Should you evaluate your sources?
• Should you provide subheadings and other background information, such as definitions and/or a history?

Find models

Look for other literature reviews in your area of interest or in the discipline and read them to get a sense of the types of themes you might want to look for in your own research or ways to organize your final review. You can simply put the word “review” in your search engine along with your other topic terms to find articles of this type on the Internet or in an electronic database. The bibliography or reference section of sources you’ve already read are also excellent entry points into your own research.

Narrow your topic

There are hundreds or even thousands of articles and books on most areas of study. The narrower your topic, the easier it will be to limit the number of sources you need to read in order to get a good survey of the material. Your instructor will probably not expect you to read everything that’s out there on the topic, but you’ll make your job easier if you first limit your scope.

Keep in mind that UNC Libraries have research guides and to databases relevant to many fields of study. You can reach out to the subject librarian for a consultation: https://library.unc.edu/support/consultations/ .

And don’t forget to tap into your professor’s (or other professors’) knowledge in the field. Ask your professor questions such as: “If you had to read only one book from the 90’s on topic X, what would it be?” Questions such as this help you to find and determine quickly the most seminal pieces in the field.

Consider whether your sources are current

Some disciplines require that you use information that is as current as possible. In the sciences, for instance, treatments for medical problems are constantly changing according to the latest studies. Information even two years old could be obsolete. However, if you are writing a review in the humanities, history, or social sciences, a survey of the history of the literature may be what is needed, because what is important is how perspectives have changed through the years or within a certain time period. Try sorting through some other current bibliographies or literature reviews in the field to get a sense of what your discipline expects. You can also use this method to consider what is currently of interest to scholars in this field and what is not.

Strategies for writing the literature review

Find a focus.

A literature review, like a term paper, is usually organized around ideas, not the sources themselves as an annotated bibliography would be organized. This means that you will not just simply list your sources and go into detail about each one of them, one at a time. No. As you read widely but selectively in your topic area, consider instead what themes or issues connect your sources together. Do they present one or different solutions? Is there an aspect of the field that is missing? How well do they present the material and do they portray it according to an appropriate theory? Do they reveal a trend in the field? A raging debate? Pick one of these themes to focus the organization of your review.

Convey it to your reader

A literature review may not have a traditional thesis statement (one that makes an argument), but you do need to tell readers what to expect. Try writing a simple statement that lets the reader know what is your main organizing principle. Here are a couple of examples:

The current trend in treatment for congestive heart failure combines surgery and medicine. More and more cultural studies scholars are accepting popular media as a subject worthy of academic consideration.

Consider organization

You’ve got a focus, and you’ve stated it clearly and directly. Now what is the most effective way of presenting the information? What are the most important topics, subtopics, etc., that your review needs to include? And in what order should you present them? Develop an organization for your review at both a global and local level:

First, cover the basic categories

Just like most academic papers, literature reviews also must contain at least three basic elements: an introduction or background information section; the body of the review containing the discussion of sources; and, finally, a conclusion and/or recommendations section to end the paper. The following provides a brief description of the content of each:

• Introduction: Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such as the central theme or organizational pattern.
• Body: Contains your discussion of sources and is organized either chronologically, thematically, or methodologically (see below for more information on each).
• Conclusions/Recommendations: Discuss what you have drawn from reviewing literature so far. Where might the discussion proceed?

Organizing the body

Once you have the basic categories in place, then you must consider how you will present the sources themselves within the body of your paper. Create an organizational method to focus this section even further.

To help you come up with an overall organizational framework for your review, consider the following scenario:

You’ve decided to focus your literature review on materials dealing with sperm whales. This is because you’ve just finished reading Moby Dick, and you wonder if that whale’s portrayal is really real. You start with some articles about the physiology of sperm whales in biology journals written in the 1980’s. But these articles refer to some British biological studies performed on whales in the early 18th century. So you check those out. Then you look up a book written in 1968 with information on how sperm whales have been portrayed in other forms of art, such as in Alaskan poetry, in French painting, or on whale bone, as the whale hunters in the late 19th century used to do. This makes you wonder about American whaling methods during the time portrayed in Moby Dick, so you find some academic articles published in the last five years on how accurately Herman Melville portrayed the whaling scene in his novel.

Now consider some typical ways of organizing the sources into a review:

• Chronological: If your review follows the chronological method, you could write about the materials above according to when they were published. For instance, first you would talk about the British biological studies of the 18th century, then about Moby Dick, published in 1851, then the book on sperm whales in other art (1968), and finally the biology articles (1980s) and the recent articles on American whaling of the 19th century. But there is relatively no continuity among subjects here. And notice that even though the sources on sperm whales in other art and on American whaling are written recently, they are about other subjects/objects that were created much earlier. Thus, the review loses its chronological focus.
• By publication: Order your sources by publication chronology, then, only if the order demonstrates a more important trend. For instance, you could order a review of literature on biological studies of sperm whales if the progression revealed a change in dissection practices of the researchers who wrote and/or conducted the studies.
• By trend: A better way to organize the above sources chronologically is to examine the sources under another trend, such as the history of whaling. Then your review would have subsections according to eras within this period. For instance, the review might examine whaling from pre-1600-1699, 1700-1799, and 1800-1899. Under this method, you would combine the recent studies on American whaling in the 19th century with Moby Dick itself in the 1800-1899 category, even though the authors wrote a century apart.
• Thematic: Thematic reviews of literature are organized around a topic or issue, rather than the progression of time. However, progression of time may still be an important factor in a thematic review. For instance, the sperm whale review could focus on the development of the harpoon for whale hunting. While the study focuses on one topic, harpoon technology, it will still be organized chronologically. The only difference here between a “chronological” and a “thematic” approach is what is emphasized the most: the development of the harpoon or the harpoon technology.But more authentic thematic reviews tend to break away from chronological order. For instance, a thematic review of material on sperm whales might examine how they are portrayed as “evil” in cultural documents. The subsections might include how they are personified, how their proportions are exaggerated, and their behaviors misunderstood. A review organized in this manner would shift between time periods within each section according to the point made.
• Methodological: A methodological approach differs from the two above in that the focusing factor usually does not have to do with the content of the material. Instead, it focuses on the “methods” of the researcher or writer. For the sperm whale project, one methodological approach would be to look at cultural differences between the portrayal of whales in American, British, and French art work. Or the review might focus on the economic impact of whaling on a community. A methodological scope will influence either the types of documents in the review or the way in which these documents are discussed. Once you’ve decided on the organizational method for the body of the review, the sections you need to include in the paper should be easy to figure out. They should arise out of your organizational strategy. In other words, a chronological review would have subsections for each vital time period. A thematic review would have subtopics based upon factors that relate to the theme or issue.

Sometimes, though, you might need to add additional sections that are necessary for your study, but do not fit in the organizational strategy of the body. What other sections you include in the body is up to you. Put in only what is necessary. Here are a few other sections you might want to consider:

• Current Situation: Information necessary to understand the topic or focus of the literature review.
• History: The chronological progression of the field, the literature, or an idea that is necessary to understand the literature review, if the body of the literature review is not already a chronology.
• Methods and/or Standards: The criteria you used to select the sources in your literature review or the way in which you present your information. For instance, you might explain that your review includes only peer-reviewed articles and journals.

Questions for Further Research: What questions about the field has the review sparked? How will you further your research as a result of the review?

Begin composing

Once you’ve settled on a general pattern of organization, you’re ready to write each section. There are a few guidelines you should follow during the writing stage as well. Here is a sample paragraph from a literature review about sexism and language to illuminate the following discussion:

However, other studies have shown that even gender-neutral antecedents are more likely to produce masculine images than feminine ones (Gastil, 1990). Hamilton (1988) asked students to complete sentences that required them to fill in pronouns that agreed with gender-neutral antecedents such as “writer,” “pedestrian,” and “persons.” The students were asked to describe any image they had when writing the sentence. Hamilton found that people imagined 3.3 men to each woman in the masculine “generic” condition and 1.5 men per woman in the unbiased condition. Thus, while ambient sexism accounted for some of the masculine bias, sexist language amplified the effect. (Source: Erika Falk and Jordan Mills, “Why Sexist Language Affects Persuasion: The Role of Homophily, Intended Audience, and Offense,” Women and Language19:2).

Use evidence

In the example above, the writers refer to several other sources when making their point. A literature review in this sense is just like any other academic research paper. Your interpretation of the available sources must be backed up with evidence to show that what you are saying is valid.

Be selective

Select only the most important points in each source to highlight in the review. The type of information you choose to mention should relate directly to the review’s focus, whether it is thematic, methodological, or chronological.

Use quotes sparingly

Falk and Mills do not use any direct quotes. That is because the survey nature of the literature review does not allow for in-depth discussion or detailed quotes from the text. Some short quotes here and there are okay, though, if you want to emphasize a point, or if what the author said just cannot be rewritten in your own words. Notice that Falk and Mills do quote certain terms that were coined by the author, not common knowledge, or taken directly from the study. But if you find yourself wanting to put in more quotes, check with your instructor.

Summarize and synthesize

Remember to summarize and synthesize your sources within each paragraph as well as throughout the review. The authors here recapitulate important features of Hamilton’s study, but then synthesize it by rephrasing the study’s significance and relating it to their own work.

Keep your own voice

While the literature review presents others’ ideas, your voice (the writer’s) should remain front and center. Notice that Falk and Mills weave references to other sources into their own text, but they still maintain their own voice by starting and ending the paragraph with their own ideas and their own words. The sources support what Falk and Mills are saying.

Use caution when paraphrasing

When paraphrasing a source that is not your own, be sure to represent the author’s information or opinions accurately and in your own words. In the preceding example, Falk and Mills either directly refer in the text to the author of their source, such as Hamilton, or they provide ample notation in the text when the ideas they are mentioning are not their own, for example, Gastil’s. For more information, please see our handout on plagiarism .

Revise, revise, revise

Draft in hand? Now you’re ready to revise. Spending a lot of time revising is a wise idea, because your main objective is to present the material, not the argument. So check over your review again to make sure it follows the assignment and/or your outline. Then, just as you would for most other academic forms of writing, rewrite or rework the language of your review so that you’ve presented your information in the most concise manner possible. Be sure to use terminology familiar to your audience; get rid of unnecessary jargon or slang. Finally, double check that you’ve documented your sources and formatted the review appropriately for your discipline. For tips on the revising and editing process, see our handout on revising drafts .

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Jones, Robert, Patrick Bizzaro, and Cynthia Selfe. 1997. The Harcourt Brace Guide to Writing in the Disciplines . New York: Harcourt Brace.

Lamb, Sandra E. 1998. How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You’ll Ever Write . Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

Rosen, Leonard J., and Laurence Behrens. 2003. The Allyn & Bacon Handbook , 5th ed. New York: Longman.

Troyka, Lynn Quittman, and Doug Hesse. 2016. Simon and Schuster Handbook for Writers , 11th ed. London: Pearson.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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