The Honors Program is a year-long research project for senior majors resulting in a written thesis to be publicly presented and defended at the end of the academic year.

Eligibility. Senior International Studies majors who have a grade point average of 3.4 or better, both overall and in the major can apply.  Students also need formal approval from the thesis advisory committee.

Procedures to Apply for Honors:  Students must apply for entry into the Honors Program during the second semester of their junior year. [1] Students should compose a proposal for a senior research project - preferably under the supervision of an appropriate adviser and second reader. The proposal must indicate both the advisor and second reader. That proposal should be submitted to the Director of the Program by May 1 and the thesis advisory committee will make a decision by the last day of classes. If the proposal is turned down, the student may revise it over the summer and resubmit it for consideration by October 1. Hunt Grant applications for funding for field research must also be submitted by September 21.

Procedures Once Admitted to the Program:  There will be a preliminary meeting in early September of all the honors students, their advisors and second readers, and the thesis advisory committee.

Students are expected to have submitted at least a research design or the equivalent by the end of the fall semester.  This work should be submitted to both the principal supervisor and the second reader and should be made available to other members of the committee and to the other honors students.  By the end of the semester, the student is expected to give the thesis advisory committee and any other IS faculty who wish to attend a brief presentation of the thesis.  Following that presentation, the thesis advisory committee will make a decision as to whether the student has made sufficient progress to continue in the Honors Program.  If the project is determined not to have honors potential, the student will complete the write-up and be graded on a one semester independent.  If progress has been substantial, the student receives a grade of IP, and the final grade given in May will be retroactively applied to the year-long project. 

Students are expected to submit a final draft of their thesis by the end of April .  A public presentation and defense will be scheduled shortly thereafter.  Students who successfully complete and defend their theses will graduate with “Honors in International Studies.”