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POLITICAL
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Honors Program
The departmental honors program is open to all qualified students
with a 3.7 G.P.A. in Political Science
and a 3.5 overall G.P.A. This program is geared to advanced students who wish to pursue
their study in political science in a more intensive manner.
The core of this program is the writing of a major research paper,
an honors thesis, which is completed in the senior year of study. The
honors thesis provides an opportunity for students to do in-depth research on a topic of their choice. For
students planning to attend either graduate school or law school, this program is highly recommended. Such schools tend to look
favorably upon students who have completed a major, independent research project
as undergraduates. Writing an honors thesis also allows for the development of a
stronger academic relationship between the student and the student's faculty thesis
advisor, and this in turn allows faculty to write more effective letters of recommendation.
The departmental honors program curriculum consists of the
following courses:
Fall Quarter: an honors seminar to introduce students to the
research process in social science. Requirements include regular attendance and participation in the seminar; a discussion early in the
quarter with the faculty honors program advisor about research interests; a discussion later in the quarter with the advisor about the
development of those interests over the quarter; a ten page paper due at the end of the quarter detailing, in
preliminary manner, the students research project; and establishing of initial contacts with a
potential thesis advisor.
Winter Quarter: an honors seminar to facilitate student
progress on the honors thesis. This course will involve an oral presentation early in the quarter of each student's research project.
The student will be expected to have done some work on their projects over winter break, and continue that work throughout the
quarter. Students will orally present the progress they have made once more at the end of the winter quarter. A first draft of the thesis
should be completed by the end of the winter quarter.
Spring Quarter: an independent studies course that the
student will talk with his/her thesis advisor for the completion of the thesis writing. When the thesis is completed there will be an oral
examination involving the student, the thesis advisor, and honors program advisor, and an outside reader of the thesis.
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