Honors Program

Honors Program

The political science honors program recognizes the most distinguished majors and requires the completion of an honors thesis over the course of three semesters.  To be eligible to apply, the minimum cumulative GPA is 3.5, and the minimum GPA for Political Science coursework is 3.7. Applicants should develop a topic for their honors thesis and secure the support of a thesis advisor in the department. The honors program requires students to take a 0.5-unit independent study, PLSC 490 Research Prospectus, in their junior year in which they will develop a full proposal for their honors thesis under the supervision of their thesis advisor. The research and writing of the honors thesis will be completed in PLSC491 and PLSC492, taken in the fall and spring semesters, respectively, of senior year. Honors students must successfully defend their thesis before a committee of at least two readers, including the thesis advisor, and present their research at the School of Arts & Sciences Student Symposium in April of the senior year.  Honors students must complete 11.5 units of Political Science coursework including the 2.5 credit honors sequence (PLSC490, PLSC491, PLSC492). The thesis will fulfill the senior capstone requirement for the major and honors students are exempt from taking PLSC400.

 

Ideally, honors students will take PLSC490 in the spring of their junior year. However, if students expect they will not be in residence that semester, they should take PLSC490 in the fall of their junior year.  If a student plans to take PLSC490in the fall semester of the junior year, the deadline for application to the Honors Program will be March 15 of sophomore year. Students must have completed a minimum of 12 units to apply. If a student plans to take PLSC490 in the spring semester, the deadline for application will be October 15 of the junior year. Students must have completed a minimum of 16 units to apply.  All honors students must complete PLSC270 by the end of their junior year.