Honors Program

Honors Program Information

The Honors Program offers qualified students an opportunity to conduct independent research on an important topic and to write a thesis summarizing their findings. Students work closely with faculty advisors, who give the guidance and assistance needed to navigate the research, analysis and writing required to produce a good thesis.

Since no faculty member can effectively supervise more than a few theses at a time, students should talk to a prospective advisor as soon as possible (preferably before the fall of their senior year). Normally the advisor will be someone with whom the student has already worked. In the rare cases where the advisor is not a regular (or “by courtesy”) member of the Political Science Department, a member of the Department should be enlisted as a sponsor. In such cases, the advisor will determine the thesis grade after consulting with the Department sponsor.

Application Deadline for the 2008-09 academic year: Monday, June 2, 2008

Requirements

Students pursuing honors must complete the following by the end of Spring Quarter of their junior year: Methods requirement (POLISCI 150A,B,C, 151A, 151B, STATS 60, or ECON 102A), WIM requirement, and a completed research paper from an advanced undergraduate seminar (200-level course) or directed reading. Students are required to enroll in one quarter of POLISCI 299Q, Junior Research Seminar, in their junior year. This credit/no-credit course is designed to help students find a manageable thesis topic and adviser.


Students who are accepted into the program should plan to make the thesis the focus of their senior year. They should enroll in POLISCI 299A,B,C, which covers research and writing directed by the student’s adviser. In addition, students must enroll in POLISCI 299R, a 3-unit Autumn Quarter seminar designed to develop research and writing skills. In the Winter Quarter, students must enroll in POLISCI 299S which is a credit/no credit tutorial in which students work with other students and tutors to finish their research.


Most students find themselves in one of two groups: (1) those who already have substantial background in their thesis topic, and can expect to complete the honors program in two or three quarters for a total of 10-15 units completed in POLISCI 299A,B,C; or (2) those who have little or no previous work on the topic, and can expect to complete the program in three quarters with 15 units of work.


To complete the honors program, students must:
1.  Complete all requirements for the major.
2.  Enroll in one quarter each of POLISCI 299Q, 299R, and 299S.
3.  Enroll in at least 10 units of POLISCI 299A, B, or C, senior project. Students must take at least two quarters of Senior Project units.
4.  Complete a thesis of honors quality, for a grade of ‘B+’ or better.


Students cannot apply units from the POLISCI 299Q, Junior Research Seminar, POLISCI 299R, Senior Research Seminar, or POLISCI 299S, Senior Honors Tutorial, toward the 70-unit requirement for the major. However, students can apply up to 10 units from POLISCI 299A,B,C Senior Project, towards the "related coursework" section of the70-unit major requirement.

The Department nominates the best theses for the Firestone Medal for Excellence in Research, awarded by the University at commencement weekend. To be considered for the Firestone Medal a thesis should be completed by mid-May.

Ready to Apply?

The application deadline for the 2008-09 academic year is Monday, June 2, 2008. Complete an application and return it to the Political Science Department during Spring quarter 2008 in Encina Hall West, Room 100. Students applying for the Honors Program during 2008-09 academic year are subject to the requirements below.

To complete the honors program, students must:

  1. Complete all requirements for the major.
  2. Maintain a major GPA of 3.5 or above.
  3. Enroll in one quarter each of POLISCI 299Q, 299R, and 299S.
  4. Enroll in at least 10 units of POLISCI 299A, B, or C; i.e. Senior Project. Students must take at least two quarters of Senior Project units.
  5. Complete a thesis of honors quality, for a grade of ‘B+’ or better.

Students cannot apply units from the POLISCI 299Q, Junior Research Seminar, POLISCI 299R, Senior Research Seminar, or POLISCI 299S, Senior Honors Tutorial, toward the 70-unit requirement for the major. However, students can apply up to 10 units from POLISCI 299A,B,C Senior Project, toward the 70-unit requirement. Also, POLISCI 299R will NOT satisfy the WIM requirement.

Summer Honors College

What is the Political Science Honors College?
The Political Science Honors College is designed to give students writing a senior honor theses an opportunity to make rapid progress in developing the written research design that will structure their efforts for the rest of the year. Through a series of readings, discussions, training sessions, and presentations, participants will be able to concentrate full time on pursuing their research. Among the components of the research design are: statement of the research puzzle, initial literature review, methodology, time line, and working hypotheses. Among the initiatives in which students will participate are: review of previous award winning theses, discussing research with faculty from related sub-fields, orientation and training in the use of library resources, and completion of the ten page research design.

 

Submission Guidelines

Submission guidelines and deadlines for the 2008-09 academic year will be posted late in the Winter quarter.